Under Obamacare, temperate must pay for others’ bad choices Re: “Please show them the door,” March 28
Although I sometimes enjoy Noemie Emery’s blunt wit, I do not always share her opinions. Her March 28 column did not square with the fact that ex-Sen. Rick Santorum had already made disciples before he entered the presidential race.
From the very start, I was ready to help a man with convictions win against Mitt Romney — who, trying to please different audiences, does not dare present his ideas.
Now that Romney says Romneycare is just for Massachusetts and not applicable to the entire United States, I have one argument against the Obamacare mandate that has not yet been expressed in the media. When I choose not to drink too much alcohol or smoke cigarettes, why should I help pay for the health consequences of heavy drinkers and smokers?
And why should I pay for pills, including abortifacients, and abortions that my conscience finds repugnant?
Therese Mackie
Mount Airy, Md.
America has never really been united
Once again, the Obamacare debacle divides the nation. But despite Abraham Lincoln’s misguided attempt, the nation does not want to be united. Then as now, there is no United States of America, nor should there be in a country of such vast and differing opinions.
Our form of government should be treated just like any other commodity — chosen according to the people’s tastes and preferences. So what is wrong with letting those who believe in Obamacare have it, and let those who believe otherwise have a health care system they want?
But I certainly would not entrust my liberty to the partisan members of the Supreme Court.
David P. Mugan
Alexandria
Oil companies raise prices to maintain profits
Here’s my hypothesis regarding gas prices. In response to hybrid vehicles, which use less gas, the oil companies are raising the price of gasoline to maintain their profit margin. Imagine if a completely electric car became cheap and popular. A person would probably have to pay $100 to fill a gas lawn mower tank just so the oil companies could keep making billions of dollars quarterly.
The oil companies want offshore drilling opened up. They must really think the American people are asleep. Do they expect us to believe that this will lower the price of gasoline when drilling in Alaska would only save us about 3 cents per gallon?
Every time there’s a big oil spike, Exxon makes billions while appearing to have clean hands. The Saudis have to cut production to raise the price of oil, but it’s all gravy for Exxon.
Maybe the U.S. government should get into the oil business to provide the product cheaper. Something has to be done, because the oil companies are ruining the economy.
Andrew Liptak
Manassas
