PA Viewpoint Letters for Oct. 16

One day, two visions for America

The nation saw two starkly contrasting visions for America on Sept. 1 from the current and former president.

President Joe Biden delivered a powerful and passionate defense of democracy and noted its endangerment at the hands of "MAGA Republicans": those with blind loyalty to a thoroughly corrupt former president whose lie about the result of the 2020 election continues to imperil the country and to hold us hostage.

The former president delivered a stunning and outrageous defense of the criminals who rioted and ransacked the Capitol on our modern day of infamy, January 6, 2021. Trump, who has never expressed regret that law enforcement officers were taunted, insulted, and beaten at the hands of his crowd on that day, continues to express affection for them, on the day of the Biden speech referencing the thugs as "incredible." He asserts that he is helping some of them financially and promises to consider full pardons for them if he runs for president again and if he wins. It is important to note that he is laying the groundwork to win fraudulently by fighting to replace honest members of Congress and election officials with those who support him.

The divisions in the country have not been so severe since perhaps The Civil War. But we have the power to continue the United States of America on the path of its values and tenets, to say no to hatred, division and autocracy. As we vote this year and in 2024, we can and must choose the path of honor, integrity and truth.

Oren Spiegler

Washington County

Doctors' jobs are hard enough

I appreciate what a difficult job doctors have — especially in the age of COVID-19, economic uncertainty and rising inflation. But practicing medicine will be even more difficult if Medicare enacts its proposed cut of 4.2% to physician services. These cuts come on top of years of cumulative cuts — making it harder to provide care.

Now, when many patients who avoided regular health screenings due to COVID-19 are returning to getting care, is the wrong time for cuts. With lower reimbursement for Medicare services, radiologists and other practices will be under pressure to cut back on the number of Medicare patients, limit services, or reduce investment in new innovative technologies. Screening helps save lives, but if access is cut and diagnoses are delayed, more Americans will face unnecessary suffering.

Medicare must mitigate these cuts for doctors and work with Congress on policies that will ensure stability for physicians.

John Singer

Philadelphia

This article originally appeared on The Intelligencer: PA Viewpoint Letters: Presidents' visions for America; Medicare cuts