We need 21st-century Constitution

(PNI) After this week's Supreme Court rulings, I believe it is time for these United States to call a constitutional convention.

All the checks and balances in government are broken and being abused. It is time to create a new Constitution to reflect the realities of the 21st century and not the 18th century.

For consideration, we remember the events that started the creation of the United States of America. Taxation without representation, although King George, at the time, was well within his rights as king of England to set up the tax on tea. Now the Supreme Court has said the same thing.

One will argue that the health-care law was enacted by elected representatives, but who still believes that the representatives in Washington, D.C., still represent the majority general population?

If serious action is not taken by the states, our country as we knew it will soon be in chaos.

--James Fry, Waddell

Democrats ruled by groupthink

The all-out effort to secure the Hispanic vote this November illustrates the utter ignorance of both the pursued and the pursuers.

Liberals thrive on groupthink. Their market is not individuals that can assimilate and digest information about candidates. Their market is comprised of groups, i.e., Hispanics, Blacks, unions, teachers and women. They are expected to cast their vote for the party that other members support. To do otherwise would label you a thinker and an individual, both undesirable liberal traits.

Guess what? Not all members of these groups fit the above profile.

I am a native-born Mexican, and I refuse to fall for the age-old myth that Democrats are for the poor and the Republicans are for the rich. This utter falsehood has been perpetuated through the years since Roosevelt.

--Saul Arredondo, Peoria

GOP challenge: Make this law work

In 1935, FDR pushed approval of Social Security, which went through the same exact fight that the current Affordable Care Act has gone through. It went to the Supreme Court, with opposition from the right, and was upheld, as was the health-care act this week.

My problem is this: I have just watched the leaders of the Republican Party, every one of them acting like a spoiled little kidwho wasn't allowed in the sand box.

They all promised to come up with a better plan. Well, they had eight years under Bush, and I don't remember one idea being presented.

They all promise to repeal it, but instead, why don't they work within it? It sure can be better.

I look at all of the top contributors to the Republican Party; they are the insurance companies, followed by the pharmaceutical companies. What a surprise.

We are the richest country in the world, until this bill, without any national health care. I ask all of my Republican friends to help make this work; don't fight to start from zero.

This bill isn't perfect, but it is a start that this country needs. It can be improved upon. Let's all, as Americans do that. Let's not make this another political fight. No one wins if we do.

--Bob Hamilton, Sun City

Ruling, act both convoluted

The Supreme Court's decision regarding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act is as convoluted as the act itself.

The Affordable Care Act is an unworkable combination of federal control and private enterprise. Private companies will sell policies that will be written by federal bureaucrats. Private insurance companies must pay out 80 percent of their gross revenue to their customers in claims. This will have the effect of locking in a guaranteed gross profit of 20 percent for these companies.

This act can only take us down the road to total government control of health care.

The Supreme Court's decision has, in effect, rewritten the act. Those who do not buy health-care insurance are not breaking a rule for which they must be penalized; they are putting themselves in a category which requires them to pay additional taxes to the IRS.

--Sam Mardian III, Phoenix

Obama's change is finally here

Now we know what Barack Obama meant when he said he was going to fundamentally change America.

--Jim Dewalt, Sun City West

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