Health care a responsibility, not right
Obamacare is nothing short of a government-controlled disaster, and the Republican plan is not much better. Government has no business in health care, it should be controlled by the free market based on competition, supply and demand. I do agree some assistance should be provided for people with physical or mental handicaps that cannot fully support themselves. Health care is not a right, but should be the responsibility of the individual. If you make bad life decisions — such as lack of education and training, children you cannot afford or addictions — the taxpayers should not be forced to provide insurance coverage. A responsible human being can find a job that provides coverage or if they don’t provide it, then set aside money to provide individual coverage. Every government-run social program is operated poorly and way over budget.
KEVIN COYLE, BETHLEHEM
Gwinnett bill to lead to more democracy
The Gwinnett bill paves the way for more than diversity “Bill would add seats to commission,” News, March 11. It paves the way for more democracy. Cobb has a similar situation. It is a big county, nearly 800,000, with few commissioners: 4.
Districts with nearly 200,000 citizens require expensive campaigns, which intimidate many good candidates from running. Citizens who are well-known in the community but aren’t friends of big contributors will never run or get elected. Friends of big contributors, who aren’t well known in their district, run and get elected.
If more democracy gives us more diversity, that is a wonderful thing. Less democracy gives us government by the few, for the few. They live in their bubble with little knowledge that there is another world out there.
We all deserve more democracy; Cobb too.
MIKE HOLZKNECHT, ATLANTA
