The Columbian | Serving Clark County, Washington

Tuition increases are unreasonable

In response to the Feb. 4 story “WSUV students raise voices, protest potential cuts,” I am a Clark College student who plans to transfer to WSUV next year, but if the cost of tuition continues to rise and financial aid continues to drop, I along with many other students will not be getting a degree. In these economic hardships, it is the time to support and stand behind education and the future of our country. We have grown up in a country that supposedly supports education and building toward a brighter future. Budget cuts are doing exactly the opposite.

Jessica Koonce

Vancouver

Be diligent in finding elder care

I was saddened to read recent stories on abuse in adult family homes in Washington state. In any industry, unfortunately, there are always the few that can give an industry a negative image. I want to speak up for the many excellent adult family homes that provide a safe and caring home environment for so many seniors and developmentally disabled adults. As a RN delegator for the state, I am in homes weekly and witness caregivers who value the dignity of the individual and advocate for their choices and rights daily. An adult family home can provide a nurturing, more personal, less institutional environment than a nursing home at a more affordable cost.

Do your research by looking up the home’s license, history and the qualifications of the caregivers. Background checks are required of all who work or live in the home. Ask questions, show up unannounced. Communication is of utmost importance. Approximately 6 percent of adult family homes in Clark County are owned and operated by registered nurses. Let’s be more diligent and alert to prevent the horrors of elder abuse. Let’s also give credit to caregivers who give selflessly every day to make a positive difference for vulnerable adults.

Laurie Davis

Ridgefield

Obama’s hypocrisy is stunning

It seems our “teleprompter president” cannot speak without his electronic crutch notes. In a recent news conference, he identified a Navy corpsman as a “corpse-man.” National news media denigrated Sarah Palin, having written a few reminders in her palm when speaking at a recent rally. The hypocrisy is stunning.

Our Founding Fathers embroiled strong debates, like health care now, but their conduct was rooted in different principles — and the premise that men can disagree and still be respected, that the core of this great nation is a faith in God, and the slowly evolving Constitution was a work of great promise. Every facet of this president has been questioned, from his tenure in a church cemented in vitriol, to his reluctance to wear a patriotic pin on his lapel, to his tongue-in-cheek moniker as “Chief Apologist.” Why should the opposition bow to a man who claims to be a leader, yet leads through condescending insolence? His credibility is ruined. This is Obama’s economy now, his job losses, and his responsibility to fix it. Americans are waking up to this “Anointed One,” as Massachusetts demonstrated, and so can we all.

Dave Anderson

Vancouver

President’s achievements listed

In her Feb. 13 letter, “President should have more influence,” Ann Harris asked was her vote wasted on Barack Obama? What has he accomplished in a year? I would answer: the stimulus package; tax reductions; elimination of the F-22 fighter program, saving millions; Sonia Sotomayor; Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; expansion of SCHIP to cover 4 million children; public lands bill for 2 million acres of protected wilderness; credit card reform; comprehensive ban on lobbyists; regulation of tobacco by the FDA; stem-cell research; expansion of AmeriCorps national service programs. In addition there are accomplishments on the world stage; the Cairo speech; not turning over Afghanistan to the Taliban; strengthening of the Department of State; renewed engagement throughout the world; leadership in world climate change; ban on torture; organized and effective response to H1N1 and Haiti disasters.

I also voted for Obama, and I’m proud of these accomplishments and they are significant. I don’t regret my vote. Of course, it’s not enough. I’m impatient for health insurance reform; closure of Gitmo; re-regulation of banking; ending Iraq and Afghanistan wars, ending don’t ask, don’t tell; passage of “Card Check”; and carbon cap-and-trade. Do I wish I had voted for McCain-Palin? Nope, not for a minute.

Jim Ebacher

Camas

Now is not the time to give up

As a person who survived a heart attack and the ensuing quadruple bypass surgery, I have a personal stake in getting health reform passed. My total for the two hospitals and the surgery was well over $175,000. Thank God I had insurance through my employer — then. In this tough economic time, I have changed jobs. Now I don’t have the medical insurance to make myself feel secure should I have another major medical situation come up that I won’t go broke and lose my home due to huge medical bills. A new federal study shows that health care spending rose to an estimated $2.5 trillion last year, or just over $8,000 per person.

If we don’t stand up to the Republicans and the conservative Democrats now, the economic burden will continue to mount, with more lost jobs, more families pushed into bankruptcy and even more foreclosures. If our politicians stand up again and insist on health care reform, we can make it happen still. I urge my elected representatives to fight hard for health care reform and not let a single vote be the difference between passing comprehensive health reform and doing nothing. Nothing isn’t working.

Bob Travis

Vancouver

Republicans have better answer

Real health care or Obama care? Barack Obama and his Democratic Congress often challenge Republicans to produce a better health care plan than theirs. What Democrats will not acknowledge is Republicans have a common-sense plan to help lower premiums, cut the deficit, and expand coverage without government intrusion. This bill will not raise taxes or add to the deficit. It will, however, allow for small businesses to keep and hire new workers without any government takeover.

To drive down health care costs for all Americans, this bill will end lawsuits which drive up costs with real medical liability reform; allow small businesses to pool together to purchase affordable coverage; allow Americans to buy insurance across state lines; bolster free market health saving accounts; prohibit taxpayer funding for abortion; expand coverage for those with pre-existing conditions; and lets employers reward workers who lead healthy lifestyles.

All of the above has been suggested by the alleged party of “no.”

Richard J. DiVincenzo

Ridgefield

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