Letters to the Editor: The cause of high costs

Beware the allure of free healthcare. It isn’t free. Taxpayers pay the bill. We already have a single-payer system - Veterans Affairs. It’s a labyrinth of paperwork, often with long wait times and long drives to facilities.

In the United Kingdom, under nationalized health care since 1948, people suffering a heart attack wait an average of 90 minutes for an ambulance. Further, over 400,000 have been awaiting hospital treatment for over a year.

In Canada, the median wait for hip and knee replacement is 35 weeks. Single-payer systems control costs by capping the amount spent which results in fewer treatment options and fewer doctors.

We have some of the best cancer treatment facilities in the world, such as M.D. Anderson, St.Jude Children’s Hospital, Siteman, just to name a few. Cancer treatment centers in single-payer systems don’t have the success rates that American facilities do.

The root cause of exorbitant tuition costs is government-subsidized student loans. Student loans escalate college enrollments, increasing demand. As demand increases, costs go up, creating an education inflation in which people get degrees that aren’t marketable or necessary. “Free” tuition will ensure that costs stay astronomically high.

Lastly, we have baseless diatribes that Republicans are racists and misogynists. Someone should tell that to Condoleezza Rice, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Ben Carson, and the many other women and men of color who proudly represent the GOP. Remember it was the Democrats who elected Robert Byrd, a Ku Klux Klan member, as their Senate Majority Leader.

Mallory Hayes, Belleville

Navalny had character, integrity

A brave hero, Russian Alexei Navalny, died on Feb. 16 in a Russian prison.

Donald Trump’s boyfriend, Vladimir Putin, is responsible.

Navalny had more guts, character and integrity than Trump and all his MAGA morons combined.

Lastly, be kind to all animals and always vote Democrat.

Jim Walters, Belleville

More social workers urgently needed

National Social Work Month is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the crucial roles social workers perform that we might otherwise miss. Social workers often serve on the front line of the mental health workforce, providing counseling and working closely with mental health professionals, alerting them when people are in crisis.

Increasingly, mental health challenges are adversely affecting individuals and communities across our state. Untreated mental health conditions can result in unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, suicide, poor quality of life, and more. We don’t have enough social workers for outreach to everyone suffering now. It’s not even close.

Social workers enter the profession because they truly want to help others. They go through years of education, training and supervision to prepare them to provide counseling, advocacy and resources to those in need.

As president and CEO of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, I see the tragic impact of insufficient mental health services and qualified social workers on the vulnerable children and families in our foster care program. They face inadequate access to services and prolonged waiting lists, hindering their ability to heal and rebuild.

To address this urgent issue, we must call on government officials and policymakers to support legislation and initiatives that empower and sustain the social work profession and mental health access.

Let National Social Work Month serve as a beacon for positive change, inspiring us to build a more extensive and capable social work workforce for the well-being of our community.

Mike Bertrand, President and CEO, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois

Delusion born of madness

“Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of The Crowds” is a book written in the 1800s by Charles Mackay.

It explains how, over the centuries, ideas that have no basis in fact, take root, flourish and ultimately cause widespread mayhem, destruction and death in many cases.

Over the past 38 months or so, many people in our country seem to be engaged in one of those episodes, brought about by one man sowing the seeds of fear, which breeds hatred.

While our system of government is not perfect and never has been, we now seem to have millions of people who have come to believe that our current administration, our election system, members of the former GOP, the Department of Justice, the FBI, the court system, with our judges, prosecuting attorneys, and even court clerks are all corrupt and distrustful.

Millions believe and support the idea that only one man will be able to rebuild the three branches of government if reelected as President and restore some perceived loss of greatness and take away the fear that he alone has sown in his supporters. One man who has little self control and is controlled by no one or any group of supporters and is loyal to no one and wants total immunity while in office.

An uncontrollable man with total immunity for President.

That has to be a popular delusion born of madness.

Dave Schueler, Columbia

At Biden’s expense

During a recent interview with a correspondent from Russian state television, Vladimir Putin publicly declared his preference.

“[Joe] Biden, he’s more experienced, more predictable, he’s a politician of the old formation.” Putin went on to say, “But we will work with any U.S. leader whom the American people trust.”

Meanwhile on the U.S. liberal cable TV circuit shameless John “Pinocchio” Brennan warned anyone who would listen of Russian influence in the 2024 election, trying to get Donald Trump elected at Biden’s expense.

As the election approaches, believe your own eyes, ears and vote accordingly.

Bill Malec, O’Fallon