Letters to the editor on Afghanistan, health reform cost, need for public option

Why not to send more troops

Here are reasons not to send more troops to Afghanistan:

Al-Qaida's main base is in Pakistan, with centers in at least six other nations. Some of the Taliban's actions are despicable, but the Taliban are not surrogates of al-Qaida.

The situation in Afghanistan is essentially a political one for which there is no military solution, as the British and Soviets discovered. The presence of American troops is a potent recruiting tool for al-Qaida, which views our troops as oppressing another Muslim country.

Corruption characterized the recent election. President Hamid Karzai's government lacks authority, and his goal of establishing a central government is not in tune with Afghan political traditions. Our support of Karzai puts us on one side of its civil war.

Another surge will not be helpful; any success of the surge in Iraq largely was because of Iraqi groups, not the U.S. military.

Sending more troops is not a necessity. It is a choice.

DON ANDERSON

Winfield

Betrayal of faith

No matter how much we Americans express our displeasure on health care reforms mandated by the government, Congress seems bent on jamming it down our throats. It supplies us with no details on how to fund such programs, just "trust me." What do lawmakers care if it doesn't work? They have a free ride for life on their health care provisions.

The costs of the reform proposals are estimated at about $900 billion, but when was the last time Congress wasn't off by 200 percent or more? I can't afford to pay for another of its mistakes. Can you?

Demand the right to control your own health insurance. Make providers fight for your business. Let the markets keep them efficient. Insist the government keep them honest, and spare yourself the trillion-dollar betrayal of a faith you should never allow anyone to require from you.

BENNY TEAGUE

Wichita

Need public option

Health care is a moral issue and a human right. The only way the United States is ever going to attain the goal of universal health care is if the final bill contains a national public option (supported by a majority of the populace, according to polls). We already have national health insurance. It's called Medicare, and most of us who have it feel fortunate and grateful.

The Senate Finance Committee bill is worthless trash that is mostly a windfall for Big Insurance. The so-called compromises are ludicrous.

A national public option would help contain costs, give real competition to Big Insurance, and offer the consumer a choice. If you don't want it, you can keep what you have or choose a private sector plan.

It is disgraceful that America is the only industrialized nation that fails to offer its citizens universal health care. More than 44,000 people die in the United States every year because they don't have health insurance.

My great fear is that we will end up with a health care bill that is in no way "reform" and does not address the vital issues concerned. It possibly will be a bill that tries to please everyone while it pleases and helps no one — except the health insurance companies.

LINDA WARREN

Garden Plain