Unaffordable health care

TO THE EDITOR:  President Obama named his signature health reform the Affordable Care Act.

Unfortunately for some of my fellow students at SUNY Plattsburgh, this bill made health insurance a lot more unaffordable.

Since the college requires its students to have insurance, I paid $383.50 this past semester to receive up to $10,000 in coverage through the university. For a healthy, young guy like me, that was plenty.

Obama’s health care bill – which my congressman, Bill Owens, voted for - eliminates these low-cost plans with capped benefits.

Plattsburgh State says it’s going to have to raise its premium to as much as $1,600 to meet the requirements of the health bill. I graduated last month, so I’ll personally avoid this 76 percent hike. Some of my fellow students, however, won’t be so lucky.

I personally could not have afforded an additional, mandatory cost of $1,200 per semester. I worked up to 30 hours a week while taking a full course load, and still had to borrow money from friends at least twice a semester to pay my rent, cellphone or car insurance bill.

I went to college so that I could earn a degree and give myself a better opportunity to be successful. I was not as fortunate as many of my fellow students who have health insurance through their parents’ employers.

I’ve been learning more about how this health-care bill will hurt families, retirees, health providers, medical-device manufacturers and students. The more I read, the more I wonder: Why is Congressman Owens making it more difficult for all of us to live a better life?

JUSTIN WEAVER

Plattsburgh

Dismantle NATO

TO THE EDITOR: Recently, NATO leaders met in Chicago to discuss how to end the war in Afghanistan.

But former Congressman Dennis Kucinich calls it all a sham: “The war will go on for years, and the talk was about how to finance it.”

NATO was created as a balance against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Today there is no need for it, because, so Kucinich says: It is a benevolent organization, it is not about the North Atlantic, and it is not about our collective defense.

Instead, it is now an organization sharing the costs of aggressive wars (Lybia, now Syria? Pakistan? etc. etc.). It is benefiting nobody but our billionaire weapons manufacturers; (yes, part of the maligned 1 percent).

Kucinich finds NATO should be dismantled. I think so, too.

Also, why do we have troops in Germany? Why do we have bases in more than 100 countries? Why is our military budget larger than those of the next few nations combined?

Why do we have a gigantic embassy in Baghdad, where they hate us, naturally?

If NATO is discontinued or we get out of Afghanistan today, who will get hurt? The top 1 percent, that’s who.

So, meanwhile, let’s cut some food stamps. Maybe we can start a war in Honduras (It’s sure brewing there...).

HANNS STREULI

Jay

Cadyville fundraiser

TO THE EDITOR: The Cadyville Volunteer Fire Department recently held its 47th-annual Field Day.

It was a beautiful day, and we hope everyone enjoyed themselves.

As this is our major fundraiser, we would like to thank all who attended and bought raffle tickets.

We would also like to thank the following for their donations: Father Deno and St. James Parish, The Bootleg Band, The Too Big for the Corner Band, Northern Sanitation, Casella Waste, Clinton County Landfill, Duquette Farms, Chris LeFevre/Northeast Irrigation and Landscaping, Norm Baker and Sons, Town of Plattsburgh and Clinton County highway departments, City of Plattsburgh, Giroux Bros. Equipment, Paul Yost/Bimbo Foods, Tedford’s Shell, Plattsburgh Distributing Co., Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Altona Correctional Facility for their community work crew, WIRY, WOKO, Studley Printing, Denton Publications, Penny Saver and the Press-Republican’s Community Calender.

And to those who assisted: members of the Champlain and Dannemora fire departments and auxiliaries, Clinton County Fire Police Association, friends and family.

Lastly, to the department members and junior firefighters for your help throughout the week.

Again to all, thanks for your help and support. See you next year.

BOB ROBART

Field Day chairman

Cadyville Fire Department Promoting sportsmanship

TO THE EDITOR: It’s time again to congratulate all of our high-school athletes who represented their schools during the past school year.

Congratulation to those teams achieving league and sectional championships and those participating in the regional and state championships.

Special congratulations to those who reached state championship play and to those athletes who won championships at the state finals.

The Section 7 Athletic Council would also like to recognize the administrators, coaches, players and fans for providing a continued effort in promoting good sportsmanship in all of our athletic games.

ROBERT M. GARROW

Commissioner of Ethics

Section 7 Athletic Council

Wonderful column

TO THE EDITOR: to Steve Ouellette’s column on July 1, “Happy Birthday, America,” was truly a “work of heart.”

Always enjoy his columns, but this was wonderful. It’s a keeper. Thank you, Mr. Ouellette. Hope many readers took the time to read it.

MARY E. GARRAND

Mooers

Healthy alternative

TO THE EDITOR: My husband and I attended the recent Relay for Life. As a survivor, I have attended for the last five years, and every year it gets even better.

This year, there was a fantastic addition. The Butcher Block Restaurant provided a wonderful meal of grilled chicken breast, baked potato and salad. Healthy food choices are so important, especially to cancer survivors. I just wanted to thank them for their community support for relay and for offering this healthy alternative free of charge to participants.

Kudos to all the hard-working volunteers who make this event so special.

BARBARA LaDUKE

Lyon Mountain

American Spirit

TO THE EDITOR: On the July 4th edition of the Press-Republican, I was very pleased to have seen the Declaration of Independence printed.

It is truly refreshing that the main foundation of our freedom was highlighted on this important day, the birth of our country, as it should be recognized. Kudos to the Press-Republican and Parker Chevrolet for expressing their American spirit.

I, also, wish to thank all of our men and women serving, or who have served, for affording us the opportunity to celebrate the Fourth with friends and family.

TONY ANDREWS

Peru