Advertisement

Friday's letters: Medicare Advantage cuts would hurt seniors' care

 
Published March 17, 2016

Medicare Advantage

Cuts would disrupt seniors' care

As executive director of Elder Care Advocacy of Florida, I am concerned that the administration in Washington has proposed changes to Medicare Advantage that would disrupt health care coverage for 3.2 million retirees. The administration announced recently that it is seeking cuts in funding for Medicare Advantage retiree plans.

Retirees like myself depend on Medicare Advantage for access to good health care, as well as access to vision, hearing and dental benefits. We are very satisfied with Medicare Advantage. Washington's decisions could reduce benefits and increase out-of-pocket costs for retirees. They could also lead to reduced access to affordable care under Medicare Advantage. We cannot afford this while on a fixed income.

Every year Washington makes changes to the Medicare program. For them, it's often just about crunching numbers, but their decisions could have a real impact on what is covered and on our bills next year.

Austin R. Curry, Tampa

The civil life must start in schools March 13, Perspective

Combat the negativity

Thanks to Maurice Elias for his wonderful perspective on civility in America. As we look at the politicians who are hoping for the presidential nomination of their party, Republicans in particular have shown that negativity prevails.

Our children need to aspire to civility, honesty and integrity, but it seems these have not been taught in many homes and are not seen in many of our politicians.

Marilyn Satinoff, Palm Harbor

Campaign 2016

Trump peddles falsehoods

Donald Trump explains the hate-filled behavior of "his people" by telling us that they're angry because our country is failing. GDP, he says, is below zero; no jobs have been created; our military has been destroyed; unemployment is at 43 percent. Who wouldn't be waving pitchforks?

His problem, however, is that none of this is true. The real gross domestic product is in the trillions. In the first quarter of 2015, the GDP did fall by 0.7 percent. But that's hardly unique. In the past 68 years, GDP has shrunk in at least 42 quarters. This is not a development that should cause the panic seen in his crowds.

Trump tells his minions that 100 million people are looking for jobs. He justifies that number by saying this includes people "not employed, but no longer looking for a job." Yes, it does, since he counts everyone in America, from ages 16 to 80. In reality, 7.9 percent of us are unemployed using the standards always applied to this statistic. Even if we include an additional estimated 2 million from the category of "no longer looking," we get nowhere near his outrageous claim of 100 million.

It is true that the military budget is less than in the past, largely due to the debt ceiling crisis, the Budget Control Act of 2011, sequestration budget cuts and two decades of continuous war. But the idea that we are at risk because our military can't defend us is not only untrue, it is offensive to the military community he claims to support.

The definition of demagogue is a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument. Who could deny that Trump epitomizes this label?

Jackie Gavrian, Brandon

TV networks cashing in

If there's any question why Donald Trump has dominated the TV networks, note the recent statement by Les Moonves, head of CBS, that Trump's candidacy "may not be good for America" but "it is damn good for CBS. … The money keeps rolling in, and this is fun. … Bring it on, Donald."

Shame on Moonves and all other TV executives who have placed their selfish interests above what is "good for America."

Stan Jay, Belleair Bluffs

The right to a peaceful rally

Candidates from both parties are accusing Donald Trump of inciting violence at his rallies. I find that to be an unfair and self-serving claim. The anarchistic individuals who went to his rallies did so with the clear intention of disrupting a peaceful rally. I believe it is reasonable for Trump to tell his followers to defend themselves when a person suddenly becomes violent.

George Niemann, Dover

Immigration solution

Immigration has been debated extensively, both in the presidential primaries and over the past 15 years. Amnesty, deportation and enforcing our borders have dominated the conversation.

But when the opportunity to earn a buck is what drives foreigners to enter this country illegally, why has there been virtually no mention of punishing those who hire them? If people were more reluctant to employ illegals, there would be less incentive to sneak across the border. Wouldn't that be a less expensive, more humane approach than building a wall or exporting millions of individuals?

Chip Thomas, Tampa