I can only hope that Congress may get
off their fat a... OK, maybe not. Let’s just
hope that they can find their own coyotes
next year.
Peter Tildesley
Eugene
POLTICAL CHEERLEADING
I’m a Green and cannot vote in the
May primary, but later I will vote for the
Democratic Party’s nomination in the
general election. This one is too crucial not
to. Personally, I lean toward European-style
socialism. However, I do understand that
the president’s job is too multifaceted to
sum up easily. The job requires addressing
dozens of precarious global and domestic
issues every day.
What worries me the most about this
primary election is the naïve emotionalism
of fan mentality in Bernie vs. Hillary.
This isn’t football. Bernie and Hillary are
both incredible people! Isn’t our job, as
informed and participating citizens, to vote
for (hire) the candidate we see as having the
best skill set to meet the rigors of the job of
president? Surely, as things stand, we must
continue with a Democratic administration
in office. But some Democrats threaten
that if their guy, or gal, doesn’t get the
nomination, they will just stomp away.
(And hold their breath until they turn blue
and the nation turns red?) That would sure
make things much worse.
Please stay open and alert. Hang in
there, everyone!
Deb Huntley
Eugene
HILLARY IS PRAGMATIC
Bernie Sanders supporters like to
criticize Hillary Clinton for her support of
the Iraq War. Bernie Sanders, because he
is a senator from a small, relatively liberal
state, had the luxury of voting against
military force in Iraq. Hillary Clinton, on
the other hand, represented New York, the
site of the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. She
had no choice under the circumstances;
she was representing the voice of her
constituents.
As a woman, I think it is historically
important to elect the first woman
president. Too many generations of woman
have put up with visible and invisible
sexism. I resent Bernie Sanders and his
revolutionaries for once again telling
women that they will have to wait, that
electing a progressive woman president is
not important.
Clinton is a progressive woman who
has fought for liberal values for years. Is
she perfect? No, she is not, but neither
is Sanders. I absolutely disagree with
his views on gun control. Liberals and
progressives in this country should be
thrilled that we have an opportunity to
elect the first woman president; instead,
we are having the same old tired arguments
that have divided us for years. I don’t
personally agree with every political stance
taken by Clinton. I don’t expect politicians
to agree with everything I believe.
Sanders has a utopian view of
politics. He promises changes that are
unlikely to happen due to the diverse
political atmosphere in the U.S. Clinton
is pragmatic and tough and has a realistic
view of politics; she would make a great
president.
Irene Henjum
Springfield
BERNIECARE LEAP
U.S. per capita health care spending
is more than twice the average of other
developed countries (2016 Peter G.
Peterson Foundation). Now that Bernie
Sanders’ campaign has kindled the fire
for change in the hearts and minds of
millions of Americans, Medicare for
All is just around the corner! Berniecare
gives full (head to toe) medical benefits to
everyone. (Haven’t you wondered why in
our health care-for-profit-system vision,
mental health services and dental care cost
“extra”?)
Bernie’s plan is financed by a moderate
tax increase for most people and heavier
taxes for the rich. Gone are co-pays,
monthly premiums and the $5,000 to
$10,000 deductible you must first pay out
of pocket before your expensive policy
kicks in. This is a serious net savings to
the average person. A prosperous country
like ours can afford a health care system
designed to serve its people, not its
corporate elite. The Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act was neither, although
a slight improvement.
Let’s leap to Berniecare, and get our
country on par with the rest of the western
and democratic world with universal,
high quality and equitable health care for
everyone. Already over half of all health
care provided is publicly funded — think
Medicare, Medicaid and VA benefits
— and highly valued. This isn’t rocket
science. We’re working hard for it to pass
next year in Oregon, but a federal system
would be the big leap forward we need.
Patricia Hine
Eugene
eugeneweekly.com • March 3, 2016
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