I noticed an ad in the newspaper Sunday for a legislative human resources director that stated the state’s share of retirement is 17.07 percent of the employee’s gross pay. The pay scale for this position is between $69,000 and $83,000, which means that taxpayers will be paying an additional $11,778 to $14,168 into this one employee’s retirement fund per year. It is no wonder we have budget problems in this state. Are legislators, the governor, department commissioners included in this type of windfall? Is that why no one has done anything to protect taxpayer cost? Why are not all state employees, including our elected officials, treated equally as are those under Social Security? Is this why the state has not paid its fair share into the retirement system and has taken COLA away from state retirees trying to get by on a fixed income?

The central issue of Obamacare approval is the belief in the common good. If American health care delivery to all of our citizens is to succeed, this involves the belief that everyone, including those who are young and healthy, see themselves as part of caring for the common good of all.

On July 18, the newspaper published a commentary by Texas Sen. Wendy Davis regarding that state’s state law banning abortions after 20 weeks, requiring women’s clinics to meet levels of safety and requiring abortionists to have hospital admitting privileges. Her commentary was a classic example of doublespeak.