

Letters: Who can replace Sen. Carl Levin?

Mar. 11, 2013
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I offer my heartfelt thanks to Sen. Carl Levin for his distinguished career of service. As a political leader in neighboring Indiana, I urge my county chairs and vice chairs to look to Sen. Levin as an example of true leadership.

Throughout his career, he has shown the courage to fight for the poor, our country's working men and women, and those who suffer discrimination. Sen. Levin constantly has exhibited humor to defuse potentially serious situations. He also has shared compassionate wisdom with all of us, so we would believe in ourselves and use our talents to make the world a little bit better than when we found it.

Jeffrey S. Fites,
Democratic Chair

4th Congressional District of Indiana

In Congress too long

I'm skeptical of politicians who remain in Congress for decades, as Sen. Carl Levin has done for almost 35 years. Experience is important, but to make a career out of being a senator or representative is detrimental to a healthy democracy.

Thomas M. Doran,

Don't worry, Dems

Fear not, Democrats. Sen. Carl Levin's seat will remain safely in the Democratic column because the Republicans will nominate some wacko Tea Party person who won't have a chance of being elected in a statewide election.

Patrick Peirce,
Clinton Township

Deeper in debt

Carl Levin is part of the political class that has brought the United States to its knees, awash in debt, because of his "progressivism." I wish him well personally, but as for his decision to step down -- way too late for Michigan and the country.

Carman Conforti,
Chesterfield Township

A vote against women

I didn't vote for Congressman Kerry Bentivolio, but I could accept the reality of his representation until he voted against the Violence Against Women Act. Statistics show one in five women will be abused in their lifetime, which is why it is unconscionable that any person would vote against a law that only helps the thousands who have suffered.

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Bentivolio should be held accountable for his negative vote on this landmark law and his reasoning should not be kept secret. The thousands of women in this district deserve to know why he doesn't support them.

Devon Roberts


Congressional inaction

The caregiver in Florida who refused CPR to a dying woman cannot really be blamed. After all, she was only following Congress, which has refused to give virtual CPR to a country falling into ill health due to their inaction. The sequestration is supposed to be so onerous no sane person would allow it to happen. Then, by definition, there are no sane people in Congress. The impact to the economy will be huge.

James Foley


No more 'hunger'

Patrick Ventrell of the U.S. State Department criticized North Korea for "spending money to wine and dine foreign visitors when they should be feeding their own people."

I'm sure glad we don't have that problem here. The people in the U.S. can't be "hungry" anymore; the government has changed that wording to "food insecure." So with 17 million households, that's one in seven, not "hungry" but "food insecure," it's all right if the U.S. entertains foreign visitors!

Richard Gyolai


For better public health

The Legislature is considering bills that can make an unprecedented contribution to the public health. One will expand the Medicaid program to allow more people access to health care. A second will create a health insurance exchange to provide a competitive market with subsidies for low-income purchasers. These programs will reduce economic barriers to health care, enable treatment and less costly settings, and improve the health status of Michigan residents.

A coach once said that "win" is an acronym for "what's important now?" What's important now is for legislators to set aside partisan posturing and make health coverage available to all.

Dennis Paradis, MPH


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