Mediaboss Marketing

J. Scott Applewhite, The Associated Press

Re: No repeal for Obamacare a humiliating defeat for Trump, March 24 news story.

For seven years, the Republican Party talked about repealing Obamacare but never developed an alternative plan. Likewise, seven years ago, the Democratic Party sold Obamacare to the public on false pretenses. Itis harming the public and getting ready to self-destruct, and the Democrats have done nothing to fix the problems. Both Republicans and Democrats with their selfish desires and political motivations have failed the American people. The problems with our health care system, including Obamacare, have always been in the hands of Congress, and not the president. If Obamacare was the mandated health plan of members of Congress, the current mess would not exist, as theywould put aside theirpartisan issues and take care of themselves first, which in turn would benefit the American people. We need a universal health plan that includes everyone and treats them equally.

Garry Wolff, Denver

It may be nave, but Id like to believe that the American Health Care Act bill failed because it was a bad idea and the American people knew it. Ultimately our representatives in Congress felt this pressure and, in this case anyway, reflected the will of the people. If the AHCA is the best Republicans could come up with, then it went down to a well-deserved defeat.

With this failure of ideas, it is incumbent that Republicans now accept what the American people already know: the current system (yes, Obamacare) is working. President Donald Trump, cruelly, hopes for Obamacare to explode. But how does Sen. CoryGardner feel? He dodged a bullet by not having to commit, pro or con, to the AHCA. Will he now commit to all the people of Colorado by helping make sure our current health care system works even better in the future?

William Pincus, Denver

House Republicans did not fail their constituents regarding their effort to fix the disastrous Obamacare law they did exactlywhat our representatives are supposed to do. They read every word, every semicolon. They debated, and argued, and negotiated every provision of the bill. Unlike Democrats, the Republican Party does not speak with one voice. There are different groups, different political theologies, and quite different creative approaches that Republicans bring to problem-solving all in the interests of those they represent. That is precisely the way democracy is supposed to work.

The great Republican victoryin the current bills failure is that they showed, rather dramatically, they will not make new law unless it benefits every American and is financially efficient. There will be another Republican attempt to fix Obamacare. It will be met with the same rigorous, all-night debate and negotiation. And we will all be better for it.

M.V. Loucks, Cherry Hills Village

I am thrilled that the health care bill was pulled from a vote. Now I urge Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner to work to improve the Affordable Care Actin a non-partisan, cooperative way. To expand Medicaid. To encourage insurers to join the marketplace. And to improve access to mental health services, particularly for children.

If our representatives are reading this, I urge you to remember that every single one of your constituents deserves health care including those who are poor, disabled, elderly, pregnant or in need of mental health services. If a plan isnt good enough for your own family, dont try to pass it on to the public. Remember that you are in office to serve your constituents. Your job is to work together to solve problems for the public good, not find ways to give tax breaks to billionaires and strip services from the most vulnerable.

Sherry Knecht, Littleton

President Donald Trump said that the best thing is to let Obamacare explode after the Republicans failed to get enough votes in the House to repeal it. This is leadership? To hope that the program that has allowed 20 million Americans to have access to basic health care fails? The Republican leadership has worked for years to undermine the Affordable Care Act. Why? So they can replace it with a law that cuts Medicaid for the poor and use the savings for tax cuts to the rich? If the ACAhas problems, please give a detailed listing of what they are and how you plan on fixing them. Show some leadership, Republicans, and stand up for the American people instead of corporate interests.

Edward Dranginis, Centennial

Thank you to Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives who stood together to protect health care for Coloradans and all Americans.

President Donald Trumpnow says Democrats own Obamacare. Yes, and proudly so. There was not oneRepublican vote to pass Obamacare in 2010, so it has always been owned by Democrats. Imperfect though it is, at least we know that millions of our friends, family and fellow citizens still have Obamacare and the precious health care that it provides.

And to the many citizens who valiantly called, wrote and showed up to testify to the life-saving value of Obamacare through demonstrations and town halls, an enormous thank you. Without you, we would not have succeeded in protecting our health care.

But please know that all of us must remain vigilant to continue to protect the health care we have.

Vicky Henry, Estes Park

In his postmortem comments on the failure of the GOP plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Speaker Paul Ryan said it was the result of his members desire for the perfect and the perfect being the enemy of the good, or very good. The problem was, their plan was not even in the same time zone as the good, or very good.

Its time the GOP return from their outpost on the far-far-right of the political spectrum and admit to their constituents that the ACA is, in fact, a conservative approach to health care. A liberal plan would have been single-payer, a system that most FirstWorld economies have proven provides health care at lower cost and with better results. But the ACA was based on plan from a conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, put in place as a test by a Republican governor, and is still a market-based insurance coverage system.

Come on, GOP, come back to your ownhealth care plan, admit youve been playing politics for eightyears, and lets fix the current act to make it better, rather than create a catastrophic solution, which will only make things worse.

Martin Ward, Littleton

In my imaginary world, Republicans and Democrats would do the unthinkable and get together by defining the Affordable Care Actas stage one of health care and then progress to repairing some of its shortcomings. For example, a good starting point would be to consider incentives for insurers to cover low population-density areas and to reduce the impact on small businesses, which have widespread bipartisan support. In the process, both Congress and the White House would also significantly enhance their sagging popularity ratings. But dream on.

Vic Viola, Golden

Submit a letter to the editor via this form or check out our guidelines for how to submit by e-mail or mail.

More:
Republicans' decision to pull the American Health Care Act (8 letters) - The Denver Post