Going up in smoke

Re: "Smoke-free military may be a pipe dream" (Page 2A, Aug. 30):

You've got to be kidding. The government is trying to control what people can and can't do. Doesn't our military have enough to worry about already? And they want to take a stress reliever away from them?

So many things need to be fixed in this country, and the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department want to waste time and money on a study that should be none of their business in the first place.

If people choose to smoke, what gives others the right to judge and tell them they can't? If smoking is our military's way of saving grace for themselves, then leave them alone. I don't fear my country is in danger if our service men and women have a cigarette.

- Judy Zulewski, Kirby

If no one listens ...

One word in the subhead over Elaine Ayala's article ("Town halls marked by fear, anxiety," Aug. 30) hit the mark: frustration.

Many Americans feel frustrated with their government. We write letters and e-mails to our representatives only to receive no response or a response that fails to address our questions. When we call their offices, we only speak to disinterested and often rude staffers. We write letters to the editors of our newspaper and attend tea parties. But it all seems to be in vain.

While those in Washington don't get it, Ayala and UTSA Professor Bruce Daniels do. His comment that the town hall reaction "was a little about health care and more about a cluster of issues," was on point.

Ayala wrote that fear and helplessness is at the root of our anxiety. Yes, fear of the proposed health reform, skyrocketing deficits, the ill-conceived cap and trade legislation, the CIA debacle and socialism creep.

When nobody seems to be listening to us, we get that feeling of helplessness and frustration that, unfortunately, doesn't always bring out the best in us, but so be it.

- Eldon Kramer, Boerne

... frustration mounts

The article by Elaine Ayala demonstrates why the responsible people of this country are so angry. She quoted NAACP officials and academics who, of course, brand anyone speaking up against the wasteful spending of the current Congress as misinformed racists.

Democrats and the press should realize that the reason Democrats now control Congress and the presidency is because Americans were angry at President Bush and the Republicans for their fiscal irresponsibility during the previous four years.

The mandate given Democrats was for responsible government, not the free-spending socialism they now seem to embrace.

The loud voices are those of well-informed, tax-paying Americans telling their elected representatives they want a responsible and accountable government.

Democrats and the majority of the press, including this newspaper, aren't listening. The anger will intensify until the voices of the people are heard.

- Gary Hall

T.R. 'in howlers' camp'

T. R. Fehrenbach ("The core questions might make you sick," Aug. 30) puts himself squarely in the howlers' camp by saying that the government shouldn't run the health care industry.

I guess he would much prefer the people who have run our economy into the ground like the bank and automotive leaders to be in charge. They've done such a great job, haven't they? The bureaucrats in the insurance and pharmaceutical industries are cut from the same cloth.

We have allowed our industries to grow so large they are too big to fail, and in doing so have destroyed competition or capitalism. When there is no competition in capitalism, the government has a duty to step in and stop the monopolistic pricing that can destroy a country.

- Walter Johnson

T.R.'s words 'wise'

Oh, how wise T.R. Fehrenbach is. His Aug. 30 column should be required reading for all 535 members of Congress and the president. Then, they should all be required to write a summary of what they just read and, most importantly, describe just what they think he means.

Then, all news media, print and broadcast, should be required to publish these impressions "throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." Perhaps then there might be some sanity exhibited regarding the discussions about what to do about health care.

- Bob Harper

Canada care not free

When I finished reading Charmaine Noronha's article ("Canadian system not perfect, but it's free," Aug. 30), I thought, "That's cool!" Then I did some research and found out that there's no free lunch.

People in Canada do pay a health care premium. I read where one family of five paid only $90 per month. So far so good. However, I discovered that the lowest federal tax rate in Canada is 15 percent, which applies to all income up to approximately $41,000 Canadian.

Adding in the provincial tax rate that is typically 12-15 percent, the result is a total tax rate of approximately 27-30 percent on the folks in Canada's lowest income brackets.

How does that compare to the U.S.? Well, those rates aren't reached in the U.S. until you are almost making enough to be considered "wealthy."

- Paul K. Biever

Canucks aren't griping

I was glad to read the article in Sunday's paper on the Canadian health care system. I have a friend in Montreal who can't understand the bad rap it's getting.

Obviously, we have people who feel threatened after hearing things that are not true. These lies are from special interest groups who aren't interested in the welfare of all people in the United States. Health care is the right of all.

Why is health care cheaper in other countries? Don't give me the quality response. Canada seems to be doing just fine. Besides, insurance companies are starting to encourage out-of-country procedures to save money. If the government gets involved, the prices are bound to become more fair.

I'm proud of what Obama is doing. He's fixing what should have been done by the Republicans, who had their chance but were more interested in fattening their wallets. It's time for us to get behind Obama.

- John Kirsch

An all-star review

I just finished reading Robert Rivard's column about the Little League team ("A city's cheers await a winning team's return," Aug. 30). It is absolutely wonderful and says what every San Antonio citizen should be feeling.

I am so very proud of those players and the way they conducted themselves as people as well as players. Thank you for such positive statements about their successes and journeys.

Sign me "A proud citizen of San Antonio."

- Marie Schaper