THANK YOU ...

... to Walmart manager

My wife and I stopped exchanging gifts a few years ago, because we didn’t need anything, and thought it would be a far better holiday to share. It worked well as we had a friend in the food brokerage business. That is until he changed professions. I thought “no problem,” my grocer, where we have shopped for years, would surely help me get 100 turkeys. When I asked, the meat manager said, “Too much of a hassle!” I went to another “local” chain and was told “call corporate.” My third contact said “too much of a problem!”

Remember, I was not asking for a donation; I was using my cash. In desperation I went to Walmart, knowing they probably had more bureaucracy than the others. Much to my surprise, their meat manager said no problem, and this year got me 163 hams. He salvaged our holiday, and we donated the 163 hams and 50 toys to the Salvation Army. I can truly say it feels much better to give than to receive! So to the nice gentleman at Walmart, happy, happy holidays. To you other “local” markets, I say shame on you, and bah humbug!

JOHN TREHARNE, Boise

HEALTH EXCHANGE

Insurance agents will help

I am thankful that Gov. Butch Otter is taking the first steps to protecting Idaho’s rights by declaring Idaho would build its own state-based health insurance exchange! Gov. Otter’s leadership and recommendation is a step toward making sure that Idahoans will get the best help during uncertain times.

Without Gov. Otter’s leadership, Idaho might have simply defaulted to a federal exchange, a one-size-fits-all option. Jobs would have been lost, and Idaho would have lost control of its future health care options.

Exchanges may still be limiting, but with the right resources and leadership, a solid bipartisan program can be developed. Idaho health insurance agents will be there to help people with the overwhelming and confusing process of choosing a health insurance plan. Agents are the people Idahoans trust when it comes to choosing their coverage, not a call center on the other side of the country. Thank you, Gov. Otter, for taking the right first step in the direction of establishing a state-based exchange. I challenge the state legislators to do the right thing for Idaho and accept the recommendation Gov. Otter’s office has proposed by supporting the Idaho state-based exchange.

DAVID MARSH, Meridian

Make regulations work for Idaho

Like it or not, the law is the law, and Obamacare is here to stay. It’s time to start making this regulation work for Idahoans. That’s why I’m so grateful to Gov. Butch Otter for declaring that Idaho should build its own health insurance exchange, rather than sit back and let the federal government do it for us.

For anyone shopping for health insurance, this exchange is going to play a major role. The way it will operate will help determine cost and efficiency of getting health insurance. Thank goodness Idahoans will be a part of this process.

Otter is right. If this is going to happen one way or another, then Idaho should do everything it can to make it work for all of us. The alternative is to let the federal government come up with a one-size-fits-all solution. I appreciate Gov. Otter for keeping Idaho citizens involved.

Let’s continue to move forward. A decision has been made, and I hope that we continue down the path that’s been paved by Gov. Otter.

SUE BOSWELL, Boise

Governor made the right call

Gov. Otter made the right call when he announced that Idaho would pursue a state-based health insurance exchange, pending legislative approval. This is good news for Idaho businesses and citizens as they will now have an input on both the cost and how the exchange will be operate. Currently, Idaho has some of the lowest health care rates in the country. These low rates positively affect industry in the state and are just another contributing factor to the quality of life in Idaho.

I understand this will now go to the Idaho Legislature to approve. Gov. Otter has shown us the way forward on this issue, and I hope that this momentum continues in the 2013 Legislative session.

RON OSBORNE, Boise

OBAMACARE

Those who work are ‘sitting ducks’

Did anyone notice that in Dr. Oz trying to explain the Obamacare that he mentioned those with religious objections do not have to pay the premiums? (Everybody else does.)

Guess what? Muslims have religious objections to insurance. Does that mean they won’t be drawing on the benefits? Don’t be ridiculous. It just means that those who do pay will be carrying their millions. How do you like that? Did they show the same consideration to the Catholics?

Our legislators and the rest of us have been manipulated shamelessly by a person with an agenda — to bring down the successful and change our way of life. And they are succeeding. Those who spent a lifetime working and saving to be self-sufficient are sitting ducks for the nonsaving of the country — hurray for charity, even if it’s involuntary and undeserved.

MARTHA WENDT, Boise

GRAZING RIGHTS

Article promotes old ideas

In Mr. Barker’s Dec. 10 editorial on grazing rights, he offered several suggestions on how to improve grazing on public lands. Many, if not all, of his suggestions were implemented decades ago.

No one has a greater interest in the overall health of the public lands than the rancher who owns the grazing rights thereon. Mr. Barker’s negative article does not include any of the positive aspects of grazing on public lands, i.e., hundreds of thousands of developed watering holes in the 11 Western states that benefit all living creatures, fire control and suppression, toxic weed control, erosion control and more.

SOLLIE R. CALLENDER, Payette