Here we go again. In Karen Parrish Norskog's My Turn article, once again President Obama is a socialist/communist, while the conservative candidate, Mitt Romney, would have been the answer to every prayer had he been elected. What is not being said is that when Romney was governor of Massachusetts, he actually initiated a health care law for the state, which a lot of Obamacare was based on.

The fact is this: There are thousands of Americans who have been forced to declare bankruptcy because of outrageous medical bills. Now at last, people will be protected to a degree if a major medical emergency does occur, when they sign up for Obamacare.

By the way, I am aware that Obamacare is really called the Affordable Care Act, but in the Republicans effort to diminish President Obama's accomplishment, they thought if they called the Affordable Care Act (AFA) "Obamacare," their derision would somehow make President Obama less of an effective president in the eyes of the American people. So from now on, Obamacare is my proud choice to refer to the AFA.

So now, the American people are "stuck" with Obamacare. There is a letter to the editor in the paper how this poor man had to pay "gasp" more than $300 dollars for health insurance per month on a $30,000 income. When I retired, I had to purchase my own health insurance through COBRA, and it cost me (just me) more than $800 a month, and that only lasted for 18 months. I then had to purchase a private insurance policy, which cost approximately $1,000 a month until I turned 65 and finally earned my right to Medicare. All this was on

see MY TURN, C12

MY TURN

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a retirement income of less than $35,000 a year. C. Tryon of Coeur d'Alene should thank his lucky stars that that's all it's costing him a month. Just one major illness or injury would more than justify the monthly premiums you pay. Also, I don't see how your costs would go from $0? for three years to $10,800 for health premiums, unless you were one of those people that had no insurance and caused us who did to essentially pay for it. Have you looked into a reimbursement from the government for part of your premiums? Do you realize that just a little more than 10 percent of your income goes to insurance for you and your son's health coverage? It's like an auto or home insurance policy, God forbid you should use it, but it's there if you need it.

This is what I don't understand about the American people. Here is an opportunity, for the uninsured (read most of the young people 26+), along with millions of other Americans who are not yet eligible for Medicare, to pull their own weight when it comes to their health (good or bad) by purchasing health insurance through Obamacare.

But I digress. Ms. Norskog cited Bill O'Reilly, which leads me to guess that FOX News is her media source for her opinions. I have actually watched the conservative FOX media channels, and have come away shaking my head. Rush Limbaugh and his cohorts cite very little facts and use more scare tactics when discussing any subject pertaining to Obamacare, President Obama, the Democrats, current affairs, etc. Right now the big deal is "Oh no, he shook Castro's hand at Mandela's memorial service." Geez, people, get a life.

Just for clarification purposes, I am a Democrat who leans toward the middle rather than the extreme left. I believe that it is fundamentally wrong of Americans in general to pontificate about what other Americans should believe, whether it's pertaining to lifestyle choices or a woman's right to choose when it comes to her body. I don't particularly like or understand why someone needs a 15-round whatever or an automatic weapon outside of war usage, but my opinion is my opinion, which I'm entitled to by the Constitution of these United States. So is Ms. Norskog entitled to her opinion. My purpose in writing this is simply to present the other side of the coin.

As for Ronald Regan, I have stated in prior columns that he is the one who started the "trickle down" theory of American economics, and look what that got us. A top heavy bunch of "fat cats" who make millions of dollars a year, and the majority of us Americans, who are slightly above, at, or below the poverty level. There is no middle class any longer.

If companies who pay their CEOs an obscene amount of money every year, and their investors who expect profits (who, I ask you, can afford to invest in the stock market nowadays?) would think logically for a minute, it would make them realize that if they paid their employees a LIVING WAGE ($10+ AN HOUR), they would profit in the long run. The problem is greed, and the need for instant gratification.

Comparing us to Russia is an insult. A similar insult comes to mind: People who believe the American people would elect a president not born in the United States and the millions of Americans who still believe that lie and other outrageous and untrue assertions, all perpetuated by the conservative right. We are a democracy. Millions of Americans elected, then re-elected, President Obama. Americans have spoken through their voting power. I say to the Republicans, tea party, big business, Ted Cruz, etc. GET OVER IT. You're all becoming bitter and whiney sore losers. I am weary of listening to you. The old saying, "it is what it is" comes to mind. Take it to heart and go through the democratic process to change what you don't like. That's what a majority of Americans did in 2008 and again in 2012.

God bless America and our President Obama, who is doing all he is allowed to do (by our do nothing Congress) to better the American way of life for the 90 percenters.

Fiona Gressler is a retired police officer, a Democrat, and a resident of Rathdrum.