We need protections government provides

I wonder why there is such anti-government rhetoric. Without the government, how would:

타 we know what publicly traded companies are doing (SEC reporting)?

타 we know our food is safe (FDA).

타 we ensure a healthy, productive nation (WIC, Medicaid, Medicare, student financial aid, and strong public schools).

타 states have the ability to protect consumers (strong attorney general offices that are often the only line of defense against private sector zealousness).

I also don’t believe that the vindictiveness, mostly from the Grand Old Party, is prudent or becoming. Were we not recently told to respect the (previous) president come what may? I don’t believe that the private sector wants to police itself. If the private sector didn’t behave in such a manner, it could be argued that the significant demand for a modicum of regulation since 1929 would not have been present.

While Democrats have not been as prudent as they could’ve been regarding how the Health Care Reform and/or Dodd-Frank legislation were initiated, I’m in complete agreement with the need for both pieces of legislation. Also, I was disappointed to not have seen any alternative from the other side of the aisle. Tort reform and buying health insurance across state lines won’t correct the current system that is in objective need of significant revision.

Further, being able to purchase health insurance across state lines may make it more difficult for the aforementioned state attorneys general to support citizens in the enforcement of state-specific laws.

Marc Feldstein

Grayslake