LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The public option

What does the American public have to do to get Congress' attention? Why is it so hard do the right thing?

Health care should be a right in our country. Why does the Democratic Congress sit there and twiddle their thumbs while Rome is burning?

There should be no trigger for the public option. Quit worrying about the other side. They don't care about you, and they don't care about the American public. They only care about obstructing progress.

Stand tall and stand tough. How can we have a majority and be pushed around by the minority? I know if I got hired for a job and failed to that job, I would be fired. If you don't want to be fired, get tough and pass this health-care reform with a public option.

I and my wife are currently unemployed and have to pay $1,200 a month for COBRA. Since I was born with asthma, I can't get health insurance unless it is with my employer.

I think the biggest problem is the elephant in the room, and that is the insurance companies that abuse the American public while making billions of dollars. You have to curb their ruthless practices of dropping people with pre-existing conditions.

Get this done now or you and your fellow co-workers will be remembered as the biggest group of failures to hit Washington, D.C. Now do it!

William Pucci

Gurnee controversy

I would like to respond to the controversy that has arisen in Gurnee and voice my concerns as a supporter of Kirk Morris and the Heroes of Freedom Memorial.

The mayor of Gurnee has expressed her desire to halt the progress that has been made thus far and to "go in a new direction." As evidenced by the overwhelming support for Kirk Morris, it is obvious that anyone involved with this project would like the existing committee members to move forward with the plans that are already in place. What is needed is support, not a new direction.

I have been deeply involved in various troop support organizations throughout Chicagoland over the past five years. As an involved citizen, I know firsthand how important this memorial is to the men and women who have bravely fought in this war on terror, as well as to the families and friends of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

I would respectfully ask that the greater Lake County area support the efforts that have already been made by the PFC Geoffrey Morris Foundation and the Heroes of Freedom Committee to see to it that this regional memorial is completed as planned. Delaying this project due to political differences is unacceptable, particularly at a time when sacrifices continue to be made in this war on terror.

If the goal is to complete the project in a timely fashion, I would urge Mayor Kristina Kovaric and the Village Board of Gurnee to work with the team of people already in place, to see to it that their mission is fulfilled. By working together, everyone wins and the village of Gurnee can have a regional memorial in their village that everyone can be proud.

Kim Pesavento

Criminal minds

Will someone please tell Chicago's Mayor Daley and our state lawmakers that it is not the guns that are the problem, it is the minds of those who commit these awful crimes and may or may not use firearms.

In 1908, there were 240 murders of all types in the entire United States and there were no gun laws -- none! In 2008, there were more than three times that many in just the city of Chicago, which has some of the strictest firearm laws in the country.

Has no one, besides me, noticed that when tougher gun laws are passed the crime rate goes up instead of down?

We already have enough laws on the books that if they were effective there would be virtually no crime. Illinois has a firearms owners identification card which is supposed to prevent anyone from possessing a firearm unless they are legally entitled.

I cannot help but wonder how many of the "gang bangers" are in possession of that card and how they obtained it in the first place when most already have a police record that would make them ineligible. Think about it.

Richard H. Eisenmann

Health reform

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the Senate health-care bill would contain a public option. If the main item liberals want in a health-care bill is the public option, let the bill be one sentence proclaiming it as the bill.

Amend the Medicaid Act for the current and future unemployed. Put them into Medicaid for as long as they receive unemployment insurance. This will cost some money, but since the states have to contribute to Medicaid, it would not affect taxpayers nationwide.

The health-care bill would not cost $900 billion even with the increase in federal Medicaid allocation money for the unemployed.

Then, come up with an insurance reform bill that puts limits on malpractice awards, prevents precondition cancellations and allows interstate insurance purchases. Obviously, this bill would require some stipulations and restrictions, but no cost to the taxpayers.

Bob Druktanis