LETTERS: Obamacare law for Congress, too
To the editor:
Rick Reynolds’ letter (“Obamacare opponents ill-informed,” Tuesday Review-Journal) is typical of Democratic Party thinking or the lack thereof. Yes, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, proposed the amendment requiring Congress and its staffers to endure the same health care trials as the rest of us taxpayers. Sounds fair to me. The amendment was passed by both the House and Senate and was signed by President Barack Obama. It has become law.
Mr. Reynolds admits that Congress then asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to seek an exemption for them and their administrative workers. This, of course, would be in violation of the law passed by a Democratic-controlled House and Senate and signed by a Democratic president — a president who insists that it is the law of the land and must be followed, despite its failures. Oh, except for big businesses, which got a delay. Numerous other waivers have been handed out.
Mr. Reynolds provides no basis in his letter to support such action, except his attempt to tie the amendment to the military. Typical of a Democrat to always tie an issue to armed forces heroes. Somehow, an elected representative’s administrative aide becomes a hero on the level of a soldier or sailor. Perhaps it takes a special kind of hero to work daily for a Democrat in Congress, but that isn’t a reason to provide special treatment for such a person. If congressional staffers don’t like the law as written, they can quit and find a new job in the private sector.
Mr. Reynolds finishes with what I call the “Chatty Cathy” claim used so often by Democrats: that this is conclusive evidence that Republicans have no heart and of course are mindless. Pull the ring on her back, and Cathy spouts the daily talking points. How easy for him to dismiss a Republican debate point. Spout the Democratic talking points, and your IQ automatically increases above those of your opponents. Talk about mindless.
Should congressional aides be treated differently than the rest of America? Mr. Reynolds provides no reason why.
JAMES MAGNUSON
LAS VEGAS
Government overreach
To the editor:
Regardless of whether you’re a liberal, a moderate or a conservative, it’s hard to understand why in the world anyone would want this government to assume control of health care or any program dealing with money. This Congress and past members put us in this mess and really have no clue how to get us out. There’s a man in the White House who has his entire party scared to stand up and say what they really think, and a bunch of old Republicans sitting on their hands, scared to death that they can’t win the next election if they voice opposition to President Barack Obama.
The people who make the rules in this country don’t follow them, and they could care less about you or me, because they have immunity from the laws they pass. Sen. Harry Reid is a good example of the old boy network, having offered nothing new in the past four years, but always making the cunning remarks condemning people who are trying to put this mess behind us and come up with new ideas.
There is no majority in this country. Congress and the president just keep jawing back and forth, and no one in elected office has the guts to take a stand. I say, let them close down this government, let the cards fall, and maybe we can reverse the problems this country is facing. I don’t want to hear that we can’t do it. How about we give it a try?
DAVE MESKER
LAS VEGAS
