LETTER: Taking on the nation’s problems

To the Editor:

The GOP’s prime interest is the GOP.

My late father used to say “if you’re not a liberal when you’re young you don’t have a heart, and if you’re not conservative as you grow you don’t have a brain.”

The GOP has taken some of the truth out of that statement. Generally speaking for the last three decades the cost of health care in America rose at a rate much higher than anything other than college tuition.

While this happened the GOP focused on tax cuts, national security and self-preservation. Two out of three are laudable goals. Sadly while the GOP focused on the GOP, the other side was driving another big government program which poorly addressed a legitimate concern.

Last week we were told the Affordable Care Act AKA Obama Care was constitutional and that while Obama himself denied and continues to deny, it is predicated upon a tax. I don’t believe we need additional taxes; we certainly don’t need more regulations, unfunded mandates or bureaucrats telling us what’s good for us. Tort reform would be nice but highly unlikely from a mob of ex-lawyers.

Now the GOP will try to do what they should have been doing for decades, pay attention to what their constituents are saying and address the high cost of health care. There is a fly in that ointment, a hefty piece of today’s cost is government regulation and intervention. That’s a lot like standing on the trap door while tugging at the handle.

Tom Winkler

Prescott

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion