Letters to the Editor 9/4

Decent health care is a right for all Americans

In the shameless campaign of lies and misinformation against health care reform brought to us by the health industry allies, nothing is more distorted than the public option.

Let's see, you don't want the public option. Well what do you think of Medicare? It's a plan designed by the government - check. It is run by government bureaucracy - check. It's subsidized by the government - check. It is able to compete with and drive out private insurers - check. Medicare dominates the over-65 market - check.

If you are against the public option you should be deeply, fundamentally, bitterly against Medicare. In reality, all the public option does is expand Medicare to those who need it. By insuring more people, Medicare will be stronger and more able to compete with private insurers. This will drive down costs and strengthen Medicare. That's the message that the private health insurers don't want you to hear.

Without real significant reform, all of us who feel like "We got ours" will be at the mercy of the health insurance industry. It's time to make decent, quality health care a fundamental right for every American, not a privilege.

Debbie Gardia

Minden

Homeowners need to guard against tax increases

I am a property owner in Jacks Valley who built a new house in 2006. Looking at my property tax bill, I noticed that each year the tax paid went up by more than the 3 percent cap mentioned on the Douglas County assessor's Web site.

According to the assessor, I should have received a postcard by mail that was to be returned, indicating that my home was my primary residence. Neither I nor several acquaintances received such notices and therefore paid more tax than necessary.

I suspect that Douglas County is not as diligent as they should be about this process. This may be true of Carson City as well. I suggest that taxpayers check their tax bills to see whether their tax increases have been capped at 3 percent.

Lee Elson

Carson City

Sen. Harry Reid, time to walk the walk

So, Sen. Reid, you and your cohorts Dodd, Baucus, Durbin and Schumer, et al., who appeared together, smiling like the cat that got the mouse, after emerging from the White House after lunching with the president are denouncing those of us who recognize the Obamacare farce for what it is.

Tell you what, if you and the rest of those in Congress and the president (wouldn't want to deprive him of same) want to pass this bill, you will first have to give up your health care, which we the American people are paying for, and join us in accepting this piece of tripe.

Before making your decision, don't forget to take into consideration that none of you is exactly youthful, which means you will, shortly, also be subjected to the government telling you if you qualify for treatment or if it's just going to tell you to prepare for death at its chosen time.

How about that, Sen. Reid? So the whole bunch of you can put up or shut up.

And, while I'm on the subject of health, get abortion the heck outta the health bill. There's nothing healthful about abortion. What part of "Thou Shalt Not Kill" do you people not understand?

Mary Santomauro

Stagecoach

Military wasting money with jet engine

Both the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Budget and Management released reports recently announcing that we are now facing a record-breaking deficit.

The OMB and the CBO reports estimated that the federal deficit will reach $1.6 trillion, the highest level in history. Now is the time that members of all parties must agree that we need to get this under control and cut out wasteful spending.

One easy cut is funding for an alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter. Not only has this garnered bi-partisan support from Congress, but the secretary of defense and military leadership have also concluded that the spending is a waste of taxpayer money. We would be funding an alternate engine that the military not only does not want or need, but also is five years behind from our current engine. This is something Americans cannot stand for at a time like this.

We need to let our representatives know that we will not tolerate wasteful spending, and that we support the elimination of funding for an alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter.

Stephen Shumaker

Reno