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Obamacare

Obamacare

Dear Editor:
The assertion that Obamacare will destroy America’s working poor and middle class, and was likely responsible for the downfall of the Roman Empire too, must be addressed.

About 65 percent of American jobs are created by small businesses. There are no mandates or fines for businesses with fewer than 50 workers under Obamacare. In 2008, the uninsured consumed $116 billion of health care services and did not pay for 63 percent of their health care costs.

So those who have insurance end up footing the bill for much of that $116 billion, which increases the average premium for insured families by more than $1,000 per year.
In other words, those worried about having to pay even higher premiums should be clamoring for the individual mandate, not agitating for its repeal.

About 95 percent of Walmart’s uninsured employees qualify for, and receive, most social safety net benefits; and every Walmart store receive about $1.7 million in tax dollar subsidies — because Walmart feels no moral responsibility to pay adequate wages and benefits to its employees.|

Most Americans agree with Obamacare mandates requiring those who are able to pay their fair share for medical insurance. Opposing views demonstrate irresponsible selfishness!

As an aside, Obamacare was modeled after “Romneycare,” established when Mitt Romney was Governor of Massachusetts — with a mandate.

Lee Parker
Mount Pleasant, Nov. 3, 2013

Frankenpols

Dear Editor:
The Republican shutdown of the government has finally ended, but the nightmare continues through the Tea Party’s obsessive desire to obliterate the Affordable Care Act — denying 30 million Americans health care coverage. While this country lost $24 billion — and more than one million workers were furloughed — Tea Party politicians Ted Cruz and Mike Lee raised millions of dollars for their political war chests.
Tea Party Republicans have continually demonstrated they are willing to cripple America.

Jill Farber-Bramson
West Bloomfield, Oct. 17, 2013

The Real Record

Dear Editor:
During the first six years of George W. Bush’s presidency he issued no vetoes; the Republicans controlled both houses. When Democrats controlled both houses in his administration’s last two years, the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress; then he had a record number of vetoes; Congress also had a record number of filibusters by the Republicans.

Since 2006, when Democrats took control of the Senate, Republicans have filibustered bills 380 times. In 2007, former Senate Minority leader Trent Lott explained how Republicans were getting around Democratic majorities: “… the strategy of being obstructionists can work or fail, so far it’s working for us.”

The list of bills blocked by Republicans has no end; the latest fiasco was the federal government shutdown by these same people. They certainly enjoy the finest health care and yet they say big government is the problem. They proved they are the problem several times over!

Tony Parker,
Weidman, Mich., Oct. 26, 2013