March 29, 2024

Letters 10-07-13

Oct. 6, 2013

Email your letter to: info@northernexpress.com

Please keep your letter under 300 words (one page).

Only one letter per reader in a two month period will be accepted. may be edited for length or to correct factual errors. Letters must be signed to be considered for print and a phone number is required for verification.

Picture this:

This is a political cartoon in words. In the background is a band: Karl Rove on drums, Grover Norquist on keyboard, the Koch brothers (not to be confused with the Allman Brothers) on guitars. They are all smiling, having a good time making music. They’re all corporate types, so I’ll put them in suits, but, just for fun, zoot suits. Look it up.

In the foreground there’s a couple trying to foxtrot/slowdance: John Boehner in drag (dressed up like a woman – high heels, a gaudy print dress, a blonde wig, lipstick, the whole nine yards) and a kind of heavyset guy –could be Benishek–with TEA PARTY on the back of his grey suit.

Boehner is NOT having a good time.

His partner is stepping on his foot, his wig is heading southeast, and it looks like he’s about to start crying.

Now we get to the good part. The balloons over both Boehner’s and his partner’s heads –you know, those spaces for the words or thoughts of the people in the cartoon --are empty, blank. This is an interactive cartoon! You get to put what you want in those balloons. Go for it!

Boehner:

Tea Party guy:

Ron Tschudy, Central Lake

Healthcare for fat cats

Our Michigan State Senators have feathered their own nests, garnering lifetime, full-family insurance coverage. The requirement is an astonishing minimal six years of service.

One would hope Republicans, Democrats and independents would take notice and hold each legislator that voted in favor of these benefits accountable come the next election.

Also, why is it our great Michigan think tanks haven't weighed in with their in-depth assessment of this use of tax dollars? This hypocritical acceptance of self-coverage while working overtime to limit that of others is glaring and troubling.

Bradley Prices - Northport

Tuttle & Obamacare

Stephen Tuttle’s editorial about "Obamacare" ("No Points Scored," Sept. 30) may be a decent attempt at a balanced analysis. However, the article contained a couple critical and glaring factual errors about that law.

First, Tuttle said, "If you currently have health insurance".... your "coverage can stay where it is." That is reminiscent of the well-known video clip of Barrack Obama proclaiming, " If you like your medical plan, you’ll be able to keep your plan."

But, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, through their customer service department, told me in August that ALL - 100% - of their current insurance plans are being terminated by March 31, 2014, as a sole result necessitated by Obamacare, and that any of their customers who wish to remain insured by them will ONLY be able to do so if they select one of the new plans now being "rolled out." So much for the diametrically opposite and false claims that if we like our plan, we can keep it, and need do nothing.

Second, Tuttle stated, "individuals and households with very low incomes won’t pay anything at all." That is wrong, too (fortunately for those of us who do pay). Because there is no such thing as a 100% subsidy under Obamacare; anyone who isn’t Medicaid-eligible will have to pay a percentage of the premium for any health insurance they subscribe to, no matter if they have any income or not. Those are the facts, contrary to what Tuttle wrote!

Tom North - Cheboygan

(Thanks Tom, but please note: "individuals and households with very low incomes won’t pay anything at all" does in fact, refer to those on Medicaid, the state health coverage for the poor, supported with federal funds. -- ed.)

Reckless behavior

Where’s the justice when a small band of zealots can wreck the economy and damage the paychecks of millions simply because they don’t wish to obey the law of the land -- a law that’s been upheld by the Supreme Court?

Despite the evident popularity of the health care exchanges on the opening day of Obamacare, our country is being held hostage by a handful of tea party extremists who oppose the principle of majority rule.

Why aren’t congressmen Dan Benishek and Dave Camp being held accountable for the poor behavior of their party?

Tens of thousands of visitors to our region flock to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, driving tourism in our region. Imagine how many of them have been disappointed by the park’s closing because of the reckless behavior of the Republican Congress.

Thomas Scribner - via email

MPA contest honors:

Northern Express Weekly took first place for Graphic Design in this year’s Michigan Press Association contest for class B weekly newspapers, with honors going to Colleen Zanotti and Kyra Poehlman. Investigative reporter Patrick Sullivan took first place in News Enterprise Reporting for his story, "Upland Forest or Forested Wetlands?" Stephen Tuttle took third place for "Best Local Columnist."

Our Extra newsletter took second place for Best Online Promo, with kudos for its layout and design.

Ad-wise, the Express took third place for Best Special Section with our "Spring Fashion" issue; and third place for ads for Threads and Dog Bakery.


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