Letters to the editor: Nov. 22

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Submit your letter to the editor

HEALTH CARE REFORM

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Veterans die from denials

Due to lack of health care, 2,266 veterans died in 2008 while another 1.46 million working-age veterans still go without health care coverage. This is according to a Harvard research study conducted last year and published just this month.

Shame on my fellow Republicans for being against health care reform. Shame on our politicians for their inaction and ineffectiveness. The GOP should be working for reform on health care; instead, they are taking money to work against it. This is while they are enjoying the best that government-run health care has to offer! What exactly is wrong with every American having affordable health care? Sounds pretty “apple pie” to me. Instead, some of our politicians (Republicans) are taking bribes to allow the continued immoral and fraudulent acts of the insurance industry while other politicians (Democrats) are taking bribes to add unnecessary pork and loopholes to the reform legislation. Not so “apple pie.” These vets fought for better than this. We should all be ashamed.

Our country voted a bunch of corrupt politicians out of office in 2008. But we didn’t get them all. As long as “we the people” allow them to continue like this, “we” will continue to get the short end of the stick.

HEATHER MATTHIES

CHANDLER

THE ECONOMY

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Taxes drag everything down

Economic “news” and opinions flood the media lately, especially via political “leaders” with no actual, working understanding of economics. The public lacks that critical understanding also, and is misled by self-serving politicians. I have an economics education and I was a government employee. Some straight truth is in order.

Government interface with the banking system, not taxes, is what circulates the dollar. Taxes are unavoidably inflationary and are not economically necessary. They benefit politicians more than the public, and no tax-based economy has ever had long-term success. Government also takes in money (hidden taxes) from government auctions, foreign military sales, security assistance agreements, all the way down to Amtrak ownership and local traffic fines. Republicans and Democrats are both responsible for our economic woes because they’ve followed President Franklin Roosevelt’s command economics since 1932. It’s faulty and has bankrupted America.

Reinstate supply-and-demand economics. Only that, and the private sector, can be competitive and save us. The private sector can help its own and relief doesn’t have to be in dollars. That will make jobs, pay wages and heal the economy while healing the economy’s only valid supporters. Economics must be taught in high school as part of the three Rs. Taxes require 75 percent of tax dollars to be spent in-house by government. So $4 in taxes only directly benefits us for one dollar’s worth. Abolish taxation, spend half as much as currently is collected in taxes, and we will get twice the benefits.

BILL WOODFIN JR.

MESA

PINAL COUNTY

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Stop the Maricopa sprawl

Citizens of Pinal County, hold up your right hand and swear to the state of Arizona you’ll try and save your land, to keep it dear to yourself from the disease we call sprawl. Your neighbor (Maricopa County) is seriously contagious and terminal with greed and growth. The Sonoran desert will be consumed forever and lost. The indigenous splendor of Mother Nature’s creation will soon be exposed to a brutality that’s blatant. The dust cloud we call progress is at your border. You’re the next sacrifice to the mess of the masterminds who want to continue building their empires. This ode is a warning. Don’t believe their lies. Just look to the west (metro Phoenix) and open up your eyes.

If you love your lifestyle and slow pace and want to keep it from overdevelopment, “the perpetual race,” ballots, propositions, referendums and pleads, your voice needs to be heard. The future will appreciate the lobbying deeds. Pinal County (the land) doesn’t have a voice. The residents of it will have to make a choice. For nature’s way to flourish and thrive, from man’s oblivious demise.

LYLE ANDERSON

APACHE JUNCTION