Editor, OBSERVER:
To Chautauqua County legislators and County Executive Greg Edwards: the County Home is not for sale and as a resident I would like to tell you why I say that.
I am a resident and will be 80 years young in November, God willing. First of all, let me say that I did not appreciate the implication that the film "The County Home is Not For Sale" was staged and the residents were rehearsed.
Where ever did you get that information? Please believe me when I say many of the residents here are able to articulate very well and you do us an injustice to think we are mindless followers.
It behooves you to come to the County Home and see for yourself how things are conducted here. In fact, I am issuing an invitation here for all you legislators to visit us and meet us and see for for yourselves just whose home you are contemplating selling. Not mine, I trust.
I look forward to seeing you and bring your wives and husbands. This is an open invitation. Thank you, in advance.
FRANCES HARPER,
Dunkirk
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for Medicare
Editor, OBSERVER:
The Medicare program was first signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson as a counteraction to the senior citizen population increasing to 9.4 percent of the total population of our country.
Today that percentage has grown to 13 percent of our population. This 13 percent depend heavily on Medicare, so why should we let the government take it from them? The answer is ... we shouldn't!
As House Republicans prepare their latest budget, one thing is certain: millionaires will be protected while seniors will have to pay the price once again. It is an outrage that we would ask seniors, who have worked hard for their Medicare benefits, to sacrifice their health and the money in their pockets, while millionaires and Big Oil aren't asked to sacrifice a dime. Republicans try to tell us that their premium support scheme doesn't end Medicare but it clearly does!
Premium support ends the Medicare guarantee and shifts substantial costs onto seniors.
Last year's Republican budget would cost seniors $6,400 more for their health care. That is $6,400 more during a time when we are supposed to be helping the people, not hurting them.
This shouldn't be about politics and Republicans versus Democrats. This is about the seniors, the ones being affected by this bickering and inability to compromise. This is about the values and priorities of society as a whole.
We cannot just sit back and let government take Medicare away from seniors. We must have a budget that is fair and protects Medicare, while creating jobs, rebuilding the middle class, strengthening small businesses and reducing the deficit. This will not happen if we don't speak up and let them know what we want.
We need to come together to support Medicare and to stand up for the seniors who are being silenced by the politicians who could care less about what they need.
BRITTANY GILBERT,
Fredonia
