Letters on Fed interest rate, Medicaid renewal form, merit pay for Brownback

Fed should also focus on value of currencies

The Federal Reserve raised a key interest rate by 0.25 percent. The reasoning was that the employment picture is better now, and the rate has been at zero for all of a decade. The thought is that we have to go back to normal at some point, and with a healthy economy, now is that time. The Fed’s focus is maintaining employment while controlling inflation.

This is the problem. What used to be considered normal is not normal in this environment in which most of the central banks around the world are devaluing their currencies to take advantage of us in this global marketplace.

Technically, you could have interest rates at zero forever. What you cannot do is run a trade deficit forever. We have run a trade deficit for not one decade but four decades. You eventually have to borrow the difference or sell your assets to make up this difference. This has made us a debtor nation.

The Federal Reserve’s focus should not be on just employment and inflation but on the value of our currency compared with our trading partners. A stronger currency makes our exports less competitive.

This is why we should not consider these normal times and zero interest rates shouldn’t be considered unusual.

Simplify renewal form

Every year around Dec. 27 my elderly mother-in-law receives Medicaid renewal paperwork that’s due back in Topeka by about Jan. 4 if she is to retain her coverage. The forms are pretty confusing, and the short turnaround during the holidays just adds stress she doesn’t need.

I understand the need to verify and ensure the data is correct each year. But why can’t the forms simply list last year’s information (the state has it), with boxes to check either “no change” or “change” and fill in any needed explanation? So simple. Whole sections of the form could be passed over with the simple checking of a box. It would be less confusing, too.

I implore whoever is in charge of this to please take a look at it. This might take a bill in the Legislature, but with the session just ahead, that shouldn’t be an issue. It certainly would make life easier on our seniors and others who use KanCare coverage.

Merit pay for Brownback

Regarding “Gov. Brownback wants to see merit pay for teachers” (Jan. 5 Eagle): As a governee, I suggest merit pay for governors first. Sam Brownback’s record of lowering taxes and shifting the burden to those less able to pay certainly shows negative merit.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on Fed interest rate, Medicaid renewal form, merit pay for Brownback."