Susan G. Komen Central and Northern Arizona supports Governor Brewer’s Medicaid Restoration Plan.

Regressive thinkers like Paul Ryan and Harvard economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, who just had their invalid austerity facts exposed by three researchers from UMass, are running scared now. So scared, in fact, that they are talking CRAZY.

To those people who are petitioning the Gilbert School Board to not raise their property tax by an average of $36 a year so there will be some minute chance for the employees to get any increase in pay, I say this: Who is your employer? How about we all petition the CEO of your company and beg them not to raise the price of their products so you can’t get a raise? How about we ask them to cut back and lay you off instead of raising their prices?

We had a shoplifter at our store just waltz out with a bag of chips, a peach (that he was eating) and a bottle of whiskey. I demanded the items back, he raised the bottle with “come and get it”. Now, my work has a strict no-physical-confrontation policy and I don’t want to risk getting fired. I told him that I just wanted the items back or I’d call the police. “Go ahead and call the police”, he said, and continued walking away. So I called Mesa’s non-emergency number and explained what was going on.

Buzz words such as “subsidies” and “loopholes” have been thrown around by politicians for decades. If you’re seeking to impose punitive financial policies, these words are certainly more appealing than terms like “tax” or “penalty.” The Obama Administration is currently pursuing tax increases on the oil and gas industry under the guise of ending accounting loopholes.

America has always made a commitment to putting a good education within reach of anyone who is willing to work for it. The promise of a good education for everyone is part of what makes America great. As a person who works in the high tech industry, I am deeply committed and concerned about the success of all students.

American oil producers are in the crosshairs of the Obama Administration once again, this time the president is promising to force the Big 5 oil companies to pay their “fair share.” This begs the question: Who gets to decide who’s not paying enough? Who gets to decide which American taxpayers or businesses need to pay more?

At one time, the community of Gilbert had a great reputation. It had great schools and a proud economic future that led to Gilbert being one of the best communities to live in in the United States.

My mother submitted a letter to the editor back in 2003.

The plan to build a new 500 bed maximum-security prison is bad public policy and bad economics for Arizona. Every other state is downsizing or closing maximum security prisons because they have learned that they are inefficient (they cost much more than regular prisons) and they are ineffective (they cause more problems including violence and mental health issues).

Which one would be more hypocritical:

I am constantly amazed by how difficult it is for so many Americans to add two-plus-two and come up with four, and who continue to vote against their own economic self-interest. The facts are out there if they would only take a moment to consider the facts!

“Despicable, unconstitutional, ridiculous, immature, idiotic, and mendacious.” And that’s just how Tennessee newspapers characterized the state’s “ag-gag” bill now awaiting governor’s signature.

So President Obama wants to end so-called “tax loopholes” for American oil and gas companies? Sounds like a good idea, until you learn that what the president is really asking. The “Close the Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act” essentially asks American taxpayers and businesses to shoulder the economic brunt of the Administration’s ambitious green energy objectives.

The fight to expand Medicaid in Arizona continues as Gov. Brewer pushes the Legislature to pursue legislation to expand coverage to include folks up to 133 percent of poverty guidelines.

As “Opponents of Brewer’s Medicaid plan speak out” it rapidly becomes obvious that they are obsessed with forcing their personal, misguided value systems on we citizens.

I find it so routine, the negative comments regarding the recent “Mirandizing” letter to the editor. The comments as to which TV news reporting agency is the most biased is a banal and moot point which will never be put to rest. As are the comments about watching Law & Order, et al. Those readers have missed the issue; why isn’t the ‘suspected’ bomber being adjudicated as a terrorist instead of a poor Islamic refugee who enjoys blowing up his fellow citizens in the name of Allah? And yes, the shoe bomber was 2001; and again the issue was missed. That of, “Did the government learn nothing from it?” I sense people suffering political shame.

Horrible, the loss of three innocent lives in the Boston bombing! Then what word could one use to express the fact that between 158,000 and 202,000 civilians have died as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan? It is understandable that the attack in Boston is a national tragedy for the United States. Our sympathies and prayers go out to the victims. But why is it that the loss of innocent lives in the Middle East has been hardly worthy of a second thought, if any, on our part?

The Governor’s plan to add more than 300,000 Arizonans to the Medicaid rolls will do nothing more than facilitate and expand ObamaCare. Voters clearly expressed their will to reject implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) via Proposition 106 in 2010. If this expansion goes through, nearly one fourth of all Arizonans will receive free taxpayer-paid medical care. This isn’t a ”safety net” for the poorest citizens. It is an incentive program for socialized medicine.

The Medicaid Restoration plan put forth by Gov. Brewer is a prudent economic option that helps our state stay competitive while serving those who are most vulnerable. We need a solution that works with us to reinstate coverage for those in need, while remaining fiscally responsible by reigning in the out of control costs of uncompensated care. The Governor’s plan is an excellent solution for Arizonans since it allows our hospitals and providers to continue giving the very best standard and quality of care, while reducing stress on taxpayers and the general fund to pay for the costs of uncompensated care.

I just spent some time running numbers. The most successful gun control law in the U.S. was passed in Kennesaw, Ga., in 1982. The crime rate dropped 89 percent in the city, compared to the modest 10 percent drop state-wide, it has stayed at the same low level. If you are going to look at gun laws, shouldn’t you take the most successful one into account? Well, maybe not in Marietta, Ga., it is illegal to spit from a car or a bus, but perfectly legal to spit from a truck. Couldn’t find out how that’s working out.

I now believe, because of what happened in Missouri recently, that expanded background checks are simply a federal back-door universal gun registration perpetrated by the Obama administration. I am totally opposed to it.

It is now being reported the Boston bombing suspect was unnecessarily ‘Mirandized’ in the midst of the FBI interrogations from which the FBI was obtaining important intelligence re present and future terrorist activities. The question now is; did the attorney general’s Boston representative jump the gun by rushing a Federal Magistrate and lawyers to the suspects hospital room to ‘file a criminal complaint’ and ‘Mirandized’? By doing so it placed the suspect into civil proceedings which we find out is not a necessary decision at this time. It has effectively limited further FBI interrogation(s).

Folks, when did America’s greatest treasure, United States citizenship, become a bartering commodity for votes with the Hispanic/Latino community as per Sen. John McCain? When did America’s greatest treasure, United States citizenship, become a bartering commodity with the Hispanic/Latino Community for converts to the Mormon religion or the recapturing “fallen away” parishioners of the Catholic church or more donations in the Sunday Mass collection basket or monthly tithes.

So, the town of Gilbert, that bastion of conservatism heavily populated with tea party extremists, is being attacked by that paradigm of conservative virtue, the Goldwater Institute, for daring to operate a gym that appeals to many. Talk about irony!

My Mom & Dad were born in 1921, married in 1943. They grew up during the Great Depression and lived through WWII. Tonight on PBS I watched “Celebration: Stephanie Blythe Meets Kate Smith” where an opera singer sang songs made famous by Kate Smith during the 30s-40s and WWII era. I only vaguely remember Kate Smith, but apparently she was more successful than about any other star of the time, and I remember my Mom loved Kate Smith. One of her iconic songs was:

Every time I am stopped by the police I tell them I am taking the Fifth and refusing to answer their questions.

On March 1, Congress failed to come to an agreement on a federal spending package, leading to the implementation of sequestration resulting in an $85 billion cut in government spending over the next seven months. Hardest hit are programs that serve our community’s most vulnerable. But, there is hope and that hope lies within us.

The new link between meat consumption and heart disease, discovered by Dr. Stanley Hazen of the Cleveland Clinic, is just the latest evidence linking meat consumption to killer diseases that cripple, then kill, 1.3 million Americans annually. Hazen’s study showed that carnitine, an amino acid contained in all meat products, is a major factor in heart failure.

Once again, an Arizona senator has failed to follow the will of the nation but rather serves his pockets and a lobbying group. THE MAJORITY of Americans want some type of gun control. No one is asking to repeal guns... just control the psychotic individuals that can get a hold of weapons.

I am a longtime Republican Conservative and Business owner. I congratulate Arizona State University and the many other colleges that are banning smoking and other forms of tobacco use on their Campuses. Smoking does NOT belong in an Institution where today’s best are being prepared to be tomorrow’s leaders.

I was surprised to learn from the Friends Committee on National Legislation that 37 cents of every dollar we pay in federal income taxes go to pay for current and past wars. At the same time, education, diplomacy, and help to the nearly 100 million people living in poverty in this country get only pennies on every dollar.

Republican Sens. McCain and Flake have become prime examples of why Republicans are suffering from the “why bother” syndrome when it comes to voting and reason for the GOP going down the tubes. We elect them to represent ‘we the people’ and our principles and what do they do? ‘Turn-tail’ and take the most lucrative way out. Back to ‘what’s good for me’, not for the U. S. of A.

“Rape is the only crime in which the victim becomes the accused. It is she who must prove her good reputation, her mental soundness, and her impeccable propriety” — Freda Adler, Criminalist.

This letter is in response to Kimberly Miller’s letter published April 12.

I wrote a Letter to the Editor last week and got a lot of comments about being racist and questioning a woman- only right to abort a male-conceived fetus at will.

Let’s say it’s a Tuesday and you need to be in Idaho next Thursday. Allegiant Air’s website states that only three tickets remain and the Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport terminal sells tickets ONLY on Sunday and Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Coming home from the D-Backs game (Wednesday), a group of mentally challenged adults boarded the light rail escorted by three very impressive female escorts. God bless you girls.

What is the job of a rodeo clown? Jump out and distract a raging bull from goring the fallen young fool who tried to ride him. They trick the bull into charging aimlessly about until the ring is cleared and danger averted. Compare these clowns to the ones who write to newspapers with silly analogies and diversions from the issue of universal background checks for gun purchases. What would be the difference?

It is beyond belief that we have a handful of senators that want to filibuster to prevent even a vote on sensible gun control. When 90 percent of America is saying universal background checks are needed now. When over 75 percent of gun owners and NRA members are saying the same thing.

What are the ethical standards of hunting? For hunters to be so actively ignorant is understandable; they have been able to bamboozle the public for generations. Morons, bullies, and brutes are trapping and baiting millions of innocent animals for sports, trophies, heritage. None of their lamebrain excuses should ever be taken seriously by anyone.

So our State Legislature has decided once again to drop the ball on banning texting while driving. When will it get its act together? Everyday, Every minute on every street throughout this state and I am guessing every other, there is some moron who is texting while driving. For example a genius in Georgia was recently pulled over while “double- texting.” (evtnow.com/5cp)

Public safety is not a partisan issue, as it is the most important function of government. Few elected officials understand this better than Rep. Bob Robson, Rep. Jeff Dial and Senator John McComish.

A letter in the April 3 Tribune referred to the Philadelphia Inquirer as “the city’s major black newspaper.” The writer is entitled to his opinions about why stories he considers important are not given more prominent display in that paper.

Sadly, again, we see a crazed attacker going on a rampage against innocent victims. This time it was in a community college in Houston and the attacker had a knife instead of a gun. Should we anticipate that Harry Reid, Diane Feinstein, and President Obama will now be calling for background checks when trying to purchase cutlery? Should knives of a certain length be outlawed? Will we see politicians surrounded by family members of the injured speaking out against Swiss Army?

Once upon a time there was no drug-related crime in the United States.

Hats off to the City Of Bisbee! Voting to legalize civil unions within its city Limits speaks volumes for an issue that is not going to go away. Attorney General Tom Horne wants to again waste time and taxpayer dollars on an issue he is going to have a hard time fighting. This is not about gay marriage it is about civil unions. Better yet rights of people that are in civil unions. This again will point to Discrimination something very familiar with the Courts coming from Arizona. Pure rights of citizens of Bisbee that are in civil unions. The State of Arizona will lose again and taxpayer dollars will again be wasted.

It’s a sad state of affairs when legislators we elect to protect us ‘can’t see the forest through the trees’.

The national dialogue is misleading. To have a “meaningful discussion” we must identify the issue correctly.

I’d like to respond to the discussion of SRP purchasing Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP) share of the Navajo Generating Station.