Going backward

Going backward

America, welcome back to the 19th century. Combine the ignorance of the Midwest with the prejudice of the South and you get Donald Trump and his Republican cohorts: a frenzied dictator throwing out presidential edicts and his Republican lemmings on their knees, ready to service.

Women, prepare to give up your rights. Their biblical interpretation states you are second-class humans, so actual citizenship is incomprehensible to them. Another Supreme Court justice who heeds his Bible over the rights guaranteed by our Constitution is upcoming. Those women who voted for the serial molester must have low aspirations to put their future and their daughters' future in the hands of Trump and the Republican stooges.

The lowest denominator now drives policy. Rules Republicans denounced are now embraced every day. Hitler, Stalin, Mao and even Vladimir Putin did not have a more accepting legislature. Putin is proud of his ever-growing influence.

Democrats and Independents, wake up. Start to spread your legislative agenda. Fix Obamacare.

Let America compare new policies versus elimination. Allow for policies that appeal to the young and healthy. Allow for negotiations for medicines. Limit the right to malpractice suits. Finally, restrict Medicaid coverage, under the old adage: You get what you pay for.

Don't stop every energy opportunity because one Earth zealot gets upset. Have a true economic plan for those who want to work; instead of entitlements for those who don't. We will win back 2018 by having positive plans for working-class Americans; while respecting our diversity.

ALAN McALLISTER

Severna Park

Medicaid program

I am asking that The Capital bring focus to a real concern within the State of Maryland and possibly the entire nation. However, my real concern is within the agencies of Maryland.

The concern is the time and process for our seniors to qualify and be accepted for the Medicaid Long Term Care and Waiver Program. Just in Anne Arundel County, there are 65,000-plus seniors, age 65 and up. Anne Arundel has 100-plus licensed assisted living facilities, of which only 36 accept Medicaid waivers.

You may ask: "Why are there only 36 facilities that accept the program?" The answer lies within the state agencies. If you were to ask the owners of such assisted living facilities, they would all say that it has just become too difficult to work with the state agencies.

The state has over 24,000 seniors on a Medicaid waiver waiting list. This equates to approximately a 10-year period before a senior gets approved and placed. We have seniors living in cars and on the streets.

Let's be advocates for our seniors and rally for the solution!

FELICIA GALENTINE

Arnold

Official prayers

The County Council starts out with a prayer given by one of the councilmen. It usually ends with the words: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

The prayer is followed by all the councilmen leading the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Occasionally, a Boy Scout troop will lead the audience and council in reciting the pledge. Everybody present then promises to support "one nation under God."

At the Anne Arundel County delegation winter meetings at Friday at 8:30 a.m. in the House of Delegates building, the delegates open the meeting with the pledge. They and their audience promise to support "one nation under God." The pledge is followed by a prayer ending with the delegates and audience saying "Amen."

JOHN W. BAER

Annapolis

Immigration

In response to Denise Rich's letter (The Capital, Feb. 22):

She appears to be totally unhinged as to what point Glen Somes (The Capital, Feb. 21) was trying to make, which is simply:

If you are in the U.S. legally, you are a legal immigrant, entitled to all of the benefits of a U.S. citizen. If you are in the U.S. illegally and failed to follow the laws required to gain citizenship, you are an illegal immigrant and therefore subject to being deported, since you are a criminal - period, end of story.

CLIFF DEAN

Annapolis