The harms of lost health care last a generation
Manhattan: As a certified child life specialist and higher education professional with decades of experience supporting children and families in health care, I have witnessed the systemic failures firsthand. The inability of a substantial portion of our citizens to afford basic health care is not just a moral outrage, it is a profound threat to our entire society.
The potential for deep cuts to essential support like Medicaid will have catastrophic ripple effects that extend far beyond the marginalized. Our hospitals, already operating under immense strain, simply can’t absorb the overwhelming financial burden of countless uninsured individuals seeking emergency care. This sudden influx threatens to destabilize a health care system that is already precarious, pushing it toward imminent collapse.
It is myopic to believe this is a problem confined to one demographic. We are all profoundly interconnected. What harms one sector of the population, especially one as fundamental as health, eventually degrades the wellbeing of us all. When we provide comprehensive care for the marginalized, we are, in effect, investing in the resilience and stability of society as a whole.
The consequences for the next generation are particularly dire. Children without reliable access to medical care have severely limited futures. If children truly represent the future of America, then our collective failure to guarantee their health speaks volumes about the value we place on our nation’s longevity and prosperity. Ensuring universal access to health care is not merely an act of compassion, it’s an essential act of self-preservation. Deborah B. Vilas
Withered opposition
Manhattan: Republicans did what they set out to do, take health care away from millions of people, and the Democrats did what they always do: nothing. Democrats had the upper hand. Republicans couldn’t pass the bill to end the Affordable Care Act subsidies without Democrats’ votes. And the Democrats, being the pathetic, disorganized, inept, gutless, cowardly people that they are, caved. Now no one in the middle class will be able to have insurance. This is a tax increase for the middle class. This is on you inept, disorganized, dysfunctional Democrats. Republicans wanted to destroy Obamacare and Democrats allowed it. Edward Drossman
Time to move on
Manhattan: Re “Long Island rapist, killer back in prison after violent attack while out on parole” (Dec. 11): Highlighting one individual does not erase the incredible transformations and accomplishments of countless aging incarcerated people, and they deserve a fair chance to return to their families and communities. Research consistently shows that elders released from prison have extremely low recidivism rates, and that giving aging people a pathway to parole actually improves public safety and reduces costs. Lawmakers must focus on fair, just and data-driven parole policies — including passing the Elder Parole bill. Stanley Bellamy
Personal, not public
Floral Park, L.I.: Congratulations to the town of Glen Cove in Nassau County for being the first to exercise common sense in banning the open use of marijuana in public places. Ever since our wacky state government legalized it, children and adults have had to endure horrible-smelling clouds of pot smoke engulfing them as they walk through their neighborhoods. It defied logic that anyone would allow rather than eradicate a harmful drug from our society, but maybe now things will start getting back to normal. Glen Cove clearly values its residents’ quality of life, and hopefully, other towns and our government will follow suit. Angelo Vetrano
Let walk
Sea Isle City, N.J.: The Mets brass, and that includes the owner, just let one of the best baseball players walk away! Why? I guess the casino is more important than keeping one of the best home-run hitters in the game who is/was a fan favorite. Jim Fusco
All gassed up
Ithaca, N.Y.: Daniel Ortega has made up his own set of facts (“Hochul must veto the 100-foot rule bill,” op-ed, Dec. 11). No surprise, since he represents a well-funded gas lobbying group. Between the deal Gov. Hochul made with President Trump to approve the NESE pipeline and the incessant pressure from the gas lobby, Hochul has backslid on implementing clean energy laws in place for six years. Her stalling on signing the repeal of the 100-foot rule is more of the same. Homeowners don’t get free gas hookups now. The cost of building the extra pipes is spread among all ratepayers. The more homeowners adopt heat pumps and electric stoves, the fewer gas customers to share that cost. That’s how repealing the 100-foot rule saves ratepayers money. Ortega is skewering state Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon to deflect from the gas industry’s control of Hochul. Nancy Ramage
Forced forgetting?
Brooklyn: Maybe I missed this in the coverage of the Dec. 7 anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The incident was the catalyst for the U.S.’ entry into World War II. I didn’t see or hear of any acknowledgement from the leader of our present administration or his minions of such an important part of American history. Maybe it’s part of the movement to disavow any participation of Black servicemen and women who served with distinction on the ground and in the air. After all, the president wants to change the history of our country on so many levels so America comes across as always noble and true, without any blemishes or dishonorable behavior. How dare we remember the bad with the good? Sorry, but Reuben W. Chambers, my dad, was so proud to serve in the Army during this time, yet still faced discrimination upon his return. Justine Chambers
Insignificant infantry
Whiting, N.J.: National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom died from her injuries while doing her duty and serving her country at the will of Trump. Charlie Kirk similarly died from a gunshot wound while speaking at a rally. Flags were flown at half-staff for Kirk. Can someone explain why Beckstrom was not similarly honored? Bill McConnell
DC charade
Whitestone: Let’s get something straight. The congressional hearing with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and these ignorant elected members was a disgrace. The shooting of the two National Guard soldiers was a murder and an attempted murder — no accident. The only unfortunate accident was the election of these moronic representatives conducting this hearing. God bless Noem and all the Border Patrol and ICE agents out there keeping America safe. Gene O’Brien
What’s the procedure?
Rockaway, N.J.: Just a quick question: The 25 people arrested in the Home Depot theft ring in Queens — were they separated from their families? Michael Ilardi
Go and see
Brooklyn: When Trump was running for president in 2024, he was talking about high prices and promised to end them on day one. Now that he has been president for almost a year and many prices are still going up, it’s a hoax. There is only one way for that issue to be resolved. Instead of spending all his time with his billionaire friends, visit the average person. He should visit grocery stores unannounced with his Secret Service protection. It should be Georgia, Missouri, Brooklyn, Iowa and Pennsylvania, a good cross section of America. Only then will he know if affordability is a hoax. Alan Podhaizer
Plain ol’ piracy
Philadelphia: To Voicer Myra B. Goodman: The tanker Trump illegally seized wasn’t falsely flying the flag of another country. The “flag of convenience” international law allows ships to be registered to countries other than those of the ship’s owner. It’s an extremely common practice used forever by ship owners to avoid, among other things, taxes and labor regulations. Since the value of the oil on the tanker was worth close to $100 million, you can rest assured that there will be a lawsuit over the ownership of that oil, which means we can look forward to another lawsuit Trump will lose since he acted illegally in seizing the tanker. There were no U.S. sanctions issued to stop shipment of oil from Venezuela prior to the seizure. Trump had no legal right to seize it. The U.S. issued sanctions a day after against the Maduro family and ships containing Venezuelan oil. Diane Doberman
Further honors
Mamaroneck, N.Y.: This just in: Trump is ramping up threats in the Caribbean region in hopes of winning the famed Major League Baseball Peace Prize, which comes with a stick of stale chewing gum. Paul Matthews
