Some non-insured are freeloading on the rest of us
Re: “Obamacare preys on the young, flouts the Constitution,” editorial, Sept. 20 & “Obamacare’s immoral imperative,” Sept. 21 It isn’t often that I get to write one letter that covers two articles at the same time. Your Sept. 20 editorial makes a big point about how the proposed health care bill will force people who don’t want health insurance to buy it. In Ms. Akers’ article the next day, she claims that she doesn’t want health insurance. Is it safe to assume that she and all the other people who have voluntarily chosen not to buy health insurance are paying 100 percent of their health care costs out of their own pockets? Or are they freeloading off the rest of us who do buy health insurance, knowing that the doctors and hospitals have to treat them even if they don’t have it? The people who write your editorials should do the right thing by supporting those who wish they could afford to buy their own health insurance — or can’t get insurance because of the “existing conditions restrictions” that health insurance companies impose.
George Bogart
Alexandria
If you don’t want Section 8, don’t take federal funds
Re: “It’s illegal to force inner city poverty on suburbia,” from readers, Sept. 28 & “Affordable housing laws aren’t stopping segregation,” Sept. 24 To Dexter Scott of Reston, who’s afraid of the “crime” that follows Section 8 housing and is wringing his hands over Rigel Oliveri’s call to desegregate white suburbia: You are scaring yourself and your white neighbors into a frenzy. Stop it. Westchester County is being held to its promise to further “fair housing” because it accepted “$50 million to build or acquire 750 affordable housing units in order to help desegregate some of its almost entirely white towns and villages,” according to Oliveri’s op-ed. If you are afraid that the poor, scary Section 8 people (who make 80 percent of what you make) are coming to invade Reston, please take steps to ensure your county/city/fair township does not accept any community block funds from the federal government and then lie about their intent for said funds. On behalf of those persons currently making below $100,000 a year, we promise to stay away from you and your neighborhood.
Cheryl Ingraham
Upper Marlboro
D.C. makes war on local cabbies
Re: “Many D.C. cab drivers stop work in protest,” Sept. 23 When I’m running late at the office, I often take a taxi to get to the train station on time. I have much admiration for our D.C. cabbies. They provide great service and follow the traffic regulations meticulously. Now I read that the District wants to impose expensive medallion certification on our cabbies, which will drive many of them out of business and ratchet up fares for consumers. I oppose this war on the free market and urge other taxicab riders to write the mayor’s office to complain. Let’s have laissez-faire in the cab business!
John Bernhardt
Baltimore
Never challenge spouse of St. Obama
Re: “Good idea, bad location,” from readers, Sept. 21 Laszlo Pentek wrote that Mrs. Obama should have put the farmers market in a park, as opposed to the middle of a city street. How dare he challenge the mate of St. Obama! As per the former President Carter, Pentek most certainly must be a racist.
Larry Krauser
Montgomery Village
