Gee, GOP, what happened?

This is what the GOP leaders are telling me: "Look, we got into some wars we shouldn't have, we got out of hand with some tax cuts that somehow didn't create jobs like we promised and we bailed out some banks that don't want us to regulate their practices. Now we're going to have to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits to pay for those mistakes."

In other words, old people are going to have to pay for misguided wars and tax breaks. Oh, and I saw they allocated more money for the Defense Department in the House budget than the department asked for.

Sums it up for me ... good luck with that.

-- Grace P. Olrun

Anchorage

Thanks for genetic analysis story

In response to "new approach to leukemia brings glimpses of the future":

It seems commonplace for most media outlets to ignore the latest news in the frontiers of science, given when they are so relevant to us all. The fact that your article, on the use of genetic analysis as an approach to treating cancer (an illness that affects so many), made the front page both refreshes and gives hope.

-- Brandon Mommsen

Anchorage

What should schools do?

Re: "Schools must engage students as they are."

Hi, my name is Shawn and I am a high school student who used to receive poor grades. So, I was wondering whether colleges should lower admission requirements so males are accepted ...? How should schools engage people as they are? What do you think needs to be changed? What do you think we should do to solve the gender gap?

-- Shawn Hastie

Anchorage

Health care issue is personal

I have read a lot of opinions on "Obamacare," some calling it unconstitutional, others ready for a change.

I have not had access to reasonable health care in about eight months and came down with a horrible infection of strep throat for the first time in about eight years on July 6, with an important interview on the 11th. Being underemployed and not willing to miss my interview for any reason, I decided to go to a clinic for antibiotics. It cost me $260 to get a $13 penicillin prescription.

As a part-timer, my company surprisingly offered health care to me, but at 35 percent of my net pay with a $500 deductible. Sadly, declining the benefits is still the far cheaper of the two evils. Access to reasonable health care could be the difference that allows me to pay my mortgage if it happens again!

-- Cory Arlian

Anchorage