Is ‘Obamacare’ unconstitutional?

Dear Editor,

“Obamacare” has reached the U.S. Supreme Court and the arguments have been interesting. Is it constitutional to require Americans to buy a product/service just because we are alive?
I still point to the fact that health insurance costs could be relieved if we were able to buy insurance across state lines. Right now, you can only buy insurance from a company in Washington and therefore you are missing on hundreds of other companies.
Washington state currently has 58-mandates in your coverage whether you need it or not and that drives up the costs. A few of the mandates are: acupuncture, massage therapy, naturopathic, chemical dependency, and injuries caused by intoxication or narcotics.
We should be able to customize our own health insurance. Costs for most procedures are increasing due to the coverage mandates but others that aren’t mandated, thus are open to the free-market are lowering in costs. Lasik surgery, not mandated, has dropped 30 percent in cost.
We need to give individual citizens more control over their healthcare decisions and the prices will decrease if we can shop around.
If you are a fan of single-payer system, government complete control, then who will pay the price? The price of health care will skyrocket.  If you don’t have to pay, then you will use the service without concern for the price and it will drive this country right into a bankruptcy.
 
Todd Welch
Lake Stevens

Friends of the Library need help

Dear Editor,

The Lake Stevens Friends of the Library group is a primary sponsor of children’s programming at the library.  They organize and host fund raising events throughout the year so that children from birth to teens can have a positive library experience. 
Recently, Friends of the Library (FOL) purchased new rugs for story time and the children’s area of the library.  They hosted a “Doll and Me” tea party in the fall that brought together over 100 community members. 
There is a critical need at this time for new and active members to help organize and work with Sno-Isle to continue the great work and children’s programming that we currently have.  Please contact the Lake Stevens Library to let them know of your interest in becoming a member of the Friends.  For only $5 a year you can be a member of this very worthwhile organization.

Janice Stepp
Lake Stevens