Dear Editor: 

In response to "Paul Ryan vs. the People," the author portrays Paul Ryan to be against the people. Mr. Ryan is for the American citizens and for a government that lives within our means. As one person so aptly put it, "socialism is a wonderful things until the government runs out of money," as is the case in Greece. 

Mr. Kirsch apparently is advocating distributing the wealth and thereby making all people poor as in Greece. There will always be rich and poor among us. In America, if an individual gets an education or trains for a good trade, works hard, spends and invests wisely, opportunities for achieving the American dream have been possible. The rich make it possible to pay down the $18 trillion plus the additional $1.1 trillion in debt recently approved by Congress and President Obama. Economists have said that once the debt reaches $20 trillion, our government will be unsustainable and will then shut down. 

Mr. Ryan is attempting to reduce expenditures so we don't reach this level of debt. From what I have read, there are many frivolous expenditures in the budget recently approved, which if removed, would make it possible for money to be used to help upgrade our infrastructure and perform other necessary services. 

My dad worked hard for the state highway department, maintaining the roads in order to support our family of seven. He never expected the government to pay for our needs, and certainly never received an annual $3,000 in cash for each of us five children as is the case today for low-income parents. My three sisters that have college degrees borrowed money from the government, worked part-time jobs, and after graduating and working, paid back every dime of their loans. My parents were not in the position to help financially. 

As far as health care goes, Mr. Ryan would like to see that all Americans have healthcare, but Obamacare is not the answer. Sure the Affordable Care Act helps about 1 percent of the people who previously didn't have healthcare, but is doing so on the back of 80 percent of the middle class. Individuals who previously could afford insurance cannot do so today because they make a dollar or two over the income which would allow for government subsidy. With health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, their annual deductible and premiums have been greatly increased, and benefits have been greatly reduced as is the case with my son's insurance. 

Prior to the Affordable Care Act with Blue Shield, my son was charged an annual deductible amount of $900, allowed two office visits a year, a yearly wellness exam, and other generous benefits. Last year the deductible amount was $6,250 with fewer benefits, and this year the deductible is $6,500, with benefits being greatly reduced from co-pays of 30 percent or 40 percent on x-rays, imaging, drugs and many other services to the insured paying for the full cost of the treatments until the deductible of $6,500 kicks in. 

Insurance under the Affordable Care Act is not affordable for the working middle class. The insurance companies are getting rich and taking full advantage of the Affordable Care Act to the extend of this law by charging as much as they can and offering as few benefits as they are allowed under the rules of Obamacare. 

Next November, Americans need to vote into office a president and representatives who desire and will follow the laws of the Constitution and are for the hard-working, law-abiding, taxpayers of our country. We need a Congress that can offer a fair Affordable Care Act for all. 

Martha Morrissy-Call
Downey