Tim Ryan will bring further stability to seniors
Whether we live in cities or way out in the country, most Ohioans agree that none of our seniors should have to choose between food and medicine. However, as a Meals on Wheels volunteer, I see many older people in Knox County who are forced to make this terrible choice. It is clear that our elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors should be free of worry about the runaway costs of prescription drugs.
More:Biden plan to slash pharmacy fees, cut seniors’ out-of-pocket costs delayed until 2024
Fortunately, Congress recently passed and President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act. It includes multiple provisions that will, over time, bring down the costs of medicines and provide a clearer understanding of what a prescription is going to cost.
Sadly, no Republicans in Congress voted for this bill. They did this in spite of the fact that most Republicans recognize that the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable and favor federal government negotiation of drug prices. The Republican leadership is out of step even with its voters.
We can come together to bring further stability to our seniors by voting for Tim Ryan for the U.S. Senate in November and ensure that Congress continues to pass common-sense legislation to address our health care needs.
Every person, young or old, should be able to wake up in the morning knowing they can afford both fresh and nutritious food and their needed medications.
Peggy Dunn, Mount Vernon
What about unity?
In an attempt to keep one campaign promise about forgiving student debt, it appears that President Joe Biden may have broken another campaign promise regarding unity.
I have heard it loudly and clearly from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents that your $10,000 loan forgiveness with taxpayer dollars is unfair and misguided, especially for those households earning $250,000.
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By some estimates, your proposal will cost taxpayers a half-trillion dollars. Some have questioned whether you have the authority to do this, including Nancy Pelosi.
Debt forgiveness will not help the current economy, and neither will the Inflation Reduction Act. If you want to help the economy, we should return to the Bill Clinton days. You should mandate to all able-bodied individuals that they have 6 months to return to the workforce. If they refuse to return to the workforce, then their public assistance will either be eliminated or substantially reduced.
The affordability of healthcare is an issue when returning to work. Therefore, healthcare costs should be gradually increased commensurate with their earnings.
More:Opinion: You must admit Joe Biden is off to a ‘helluva start. Big wins just the start.
It appears that a divided country has become even more divided as a result of debt forgiveness. I, for one, do not know how you are going to solve this problem.
Gust Callas, Canton
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Addiction treatment changes lives
The 2022 National Recovery Month theme is “Recovery is For Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.” This year’s theme reminds us that while the path toward recovery can be different, recovery is available to everyone.
We must thank community-based substance use treatment programs, drug courts, support groups, public health, and loved ones, for it is with their help that thousands of people find the road to recovery each year.
More:Roberts: Fentanyl ‘unknowingly and silently kills people.’ That doesn’t have to happen.
Treatment for addiction is as successful as treatment for other chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, yet it is still complex. Drug and alcohol addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease. Treatment helps return the individual to productive functioning in the family, workplace and community, and it saves lives.
The benefits of treatment accrue to individuals and their friends and families, but to society as well. According to the CDC, Ohio’s drug overdose rate was fourth-highest in the nation, and over 100,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S., more than any other year on record, per National Center for Health Statistics.
More:Franklin County’s slight drop in drug overdose deaths in 2021 belies ongoing problem
Research shows that, a year after treatment, drug use was reduced by 50%, criminal activity dropped by 80%, employment increased, and homelessness and dependence on public assistance decreased.
Let us take a moment to remember that treatment is effective and that lives can change because of it.
Tia Marcel Moretti, president, Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions
A small tip costs nothing but kindness
When businesses and restaurants opened up earlier this year staffing was, and still is, an issue. Many employees are doing double duty to keep the doors open.
More:‘It’s coming at a really bad time’: Omicron has Columbus restaurateurs feeling deja vu
This is when my sister and I began tipping workers more than we had in the past. We branched out with those in the carry-out windows, some of whom declined. As the summer progressed, we found ourselves tipping the cart wranglers at the grocery store, the attendant at the laundromat, and the random servers who refill our drinks in a restaurant.
More:Fare Share: Restaurants still 728,000 jobs below pre-pandemic levels
We surprise a lot of people and those that are permitted to accept tips are very thankful. We don’t tip a lot but we want them to know they are appreciated.
Please consider this when you are out and about and if you aren’t able to leave a tip, please be kind. It costs nothing.
Linda Lewis, Westerville
School must be ‘a safe haven’ for kids
I always ask my patients this time of year if they are excited to start school. My patient surprises me when she says, “I’m excited, but nervous about going back in person.” She is apprehensive because she is scared to be shot.
More:It’s not just Uvalde, Texas — gunfire on school grounds is at historic high in the US
Toward the end of summer, we nationally celebrate kids going back to school. As a pediatrician, I do too. Schools are the backbone of child health, fostering social and academic skills, while also giving meals, relief from home, and resources to kids who need it most.
More:In the wake of Uvalde, what is the state of local school safety as students return?
For kids to benefit from schools, they must feel safe in schools. As I attempt to comfort my patient, I know I can’t ease her worry or secure her safety in school. For her, school may not be a safe haven anymore, but I hope one day it is again.
Charu Gupta, Columbus