Views in brief

A poor model for health care

MAYBE YOU'LL find this interesting. I live in Massachusetts where having health insurance is mandatory. My job offers health insurance, and we recently went over our health care options.

The first option was a renewal of our current health care plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield. My annual premium for a family of three is $29,000. I make about $50,000 a year, and my husband was recently laid off. How in the world can we afford to pay that for insurance? We would have health insurance, but live on the streets.

I can't believe that the crappy system in Massachusetts is the insurance model for the nation. I just had to share this lunacy with someone outside of my circle of friends. As it currently stands, my family and I will be out of health insurance so that we have a roof over our heads and food to eat.
Aisha, from the Internet

Solidarity with a gay Marine

IN RESPONSE to "A Marine faces bigotry and abuse": I am a currently enlisted member of the United States Air Force. I felt the need to reply because this Marine deserves more than standard Marine treatment, he deserves the best of humanity, and I am his brother.

Be well, Corporal, and please know that there are pockets of resistance in the U.S. military to this horrendous tendency.
Zach Wigham, Garland, Maine

A socialist looking for help

I WAS reading the article, "Why do we need socialist organization?" by Alan Maass. It was a very interesting article in my opinion. Yet even after I finished it, I felt like socialists don't work together much.

I know I'm new to the whole political field. I'm only 17 years old, but I feel like the socialist movement isn't getting anywhere really. Then again, I have never seen any socialist movements in my area. I feel like I'm the only socialist in the area.

I tried creating a socialist-like party in my area and on Facebook. I didn't get a lot of support from those in my community, and on Facebook, I was surprised to see the lack of interaction of socialists on some socialist groups pages on Facebook.

Socialist ideas are something I would really love to make come true in the U.S., yet everyone I know hates socialism, but wants government-provided programs. I've tried explaining the true side of socialism as opposed to the stuff we all were told in school, but I was ignored. I know I'm not a good public speaker, but I thought someone would at least want to support socialist ideas.

Anyway, I'm asking for help or advice. I live in New York and I'm wondering if there are any of this site's supporters near the town of Jamestown or Dunkirk. I would like to join or help out in anyway I can.
Seth States, from the Internet

Has Monbiot gone off the rails?

I HAVE long admired the work of author and British Guardian columnist George Monbiot.

Recently, Monbiot surprised many when, in the wake of Japan's nuclear catastrophe, he announced his support for the continued use of nuclear power.

Monbiot's argument is that, given reality on the ground, a shift away from nuclear power now would lead to increased burning of coal. Bad as nuclear power is, Monbiot says coal is worse. Not only does coal contribute more to global warming, but burning coal does more harm in the immediate short term as well. Accidents, lung diseases, water supplies contaminated by runoff from mining operations--all these, Monbiot claims, take a much heavier toll on human life and the environment than nuclear.

Might Monbiot have a point, or has he gone off the rails?
Dennis Fritz, Chicago

Why we need a strike in Wisconsin

IN RESPONSE to "Do or die in Wisconsin": I completely agree that the people of Wisconsin need to stand together now and strike. There is no other way.

The recall process will take too long and in the meantime, Scott Walker can do a lot of damage. Grilling hot dogs and pulling money out of M&I bank are supportive gestures, but pretty low-stake. Maybe when Walker moves to remove firefighter and police force rights, the cobbles will get thrown into the wheel.

Until that happens, Walker is running the show. The poll numbers are just numbers. Numbers changes like the wind.

Even if his little bill passing gives him the power to fire strikers, he can't very well fire everyone now, can he? If Wisconsin union workers all strike, the state will shut down. That is the bottom line. Who is responsible for running the state and for ensuring that all financial, environmental, educational and health and welfare functions are executed appropriately and effectively?

If the state fails to perform, Walker's job will be on the line. With ultimate authority, comes full responsibility. Let him and his handful of lackeys become a performance issue. Recall is a joke. Striking is deliberate and impactful. Running to the state house in the thousands is commendable, but what is the purpose?

To protest a bill that he bullied through? It's done. He won't pull it back now. Instead, he will let the dust settle and move to the next rung. Who will it be in the next round?
Paula Pelletier, Chandler, Ariz.