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Detroit Free Press readers 12:04 a.m. ET Jan. 21, 2017

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., then House Budget Committee Chairman, introduces his controversial Path to Prosperity budget recommendations, on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2011.(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)

In April 2011, the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives passed, in a 2012 budget blueprint, a proposal to replace traditional Medicare with vouchers. This ignited a firestorm of opposition from congressional Democrats, Americas seniors and the general public.

Back then, an analysis of the proposal by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) concluded that turning Medicare over to private insurance plans would result in a skyrocketing cost to seniors and higher administrative costs

It is astonishing that after the bashing delivered to Republicans on the voucher proposal in 2011 that they would be reviving it again. U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Rep. Kevin Brady, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, and Representative Tom Price, Chairman, Budget Committee, President Donald Trumps nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, are among Republican leaders in the U.S. House who support legislation to privatize Medicare by converting it to a premium support system.

Just because the Republican Party has majorities in the House and Senate and a Republican President-elect, it is not a mandate to destroy Medicare with a voucher plan to pay outright subsidies to insurance companies who make big contributions to many members of Congress.

Randy Stuck

Southfield

Vouchers give tax dollars back to the people

A government that is truly of the people ought to allow the people to spend their education dollars as they see fit. The idea that the people are mindless twits who need to be told by the government what they should do is contrary to the founding principles of this country.

Public education money does not belong to the government but rather to the taxpayers, and the taxpayers should be able to use it as they see fit. Vouchers allow for the free market to select winners and losers, and, in the long run, the free market has been shown to perform better than centralized government planning. Bring on vouchers. Bring back individual liberty.

Jim Miller

Bloomfield Township

A lesson in buying a cabinet position

I really tried to keep an open mind on Betsy DeVos. However, after the strong endorsement from Gov. Snyder and her initial answers in the confirmation hearing, I wonder, who thought she was qualified?

DeVos may care about education with a passion. She may donate millions to improve the education system. But can anyone tell me if she ever taught in a classroom? Does she have a teaching degree? It seems the only qualifications Betsy DeVos has is organizing a Republican Party and being a key donor. You can buy this office?

God help our schoolchildren especially in the inner cities. I went to Detroit Schools and have a teaching degree! I am more qualified than Betsy DeVos. I just do not have an extra $4 million to give to the Republican Party!

Jim Fox

Shelby Township

Much to miss about Obama, Biden

I am really going to miss having President Obama and Vice-President Biden in the White House. They have shown exceptional expertise in world affairs and running the United States. I believe that President Obama will go down as one the best presidents since Franklin Roosevelt. He is kind, caring, trustworthy and highly intelligent. We need more kindness on this planet. It seems that there is very little if at all. President Obama embodies kindness, integrity, character and intellectual insight. President-elect Trump is quick to condemn and belittle people who disagree with him and call him out when he does not speak the truth. He diminishes the press and our own intelligence agencies. He seems to me to be a child in a mans body. Four years of Trump? God help us all.

Jim Jeziorowski

Wayne

Trump has nothing to do with GM investment

I object to the headline of a story published on freep.com last week: GM to invest $1B in U.S. after pressure from Trump. This is entirely inaccurate, as the article itself quotes the manufacturer as having been working on this investment for a while, and stating they were not influenced to do so by Trump. These decisions take time, and the headline gives Trump credit for something he didnt actually do. You have a sub headline asking about this, but the print is small. I am a longtime reader, and require that my newspaper, now more than ever, report truth and avoid influencing the reader, not make untrue assumptions and contradict the article in question. I look to the Free Press to be a beacon and uphold the First Amendment. Do not fail us now.

Susan Hendricks

Grand Blanc

The world needs more like Rep. Lewis

Lets compare renowned civil rights activist and U.S. Rep. John Lewis with President Donald Trump. Congressman Lewis has a record of putting his life on the line for civil rights, and many years service in Congress. Trump has a record of building structures emblazoned with his name. Lewis began his life with virtually nothing, Trump began his with the total backing of a millionaire father. Lewis conducts himself with humility, dignity, thoughtful speech, and honor. Trump conducts himself with braggadocios statements of his abject wonderfulness, seems to take great joy in belligerent fighting, and with a need to win more than a desire to enjoy meaningful discourse with others. The list of differences goes on and on. I pray the world, and especially our country, will be inhabited by more John Lewises and fewer Donald Trumps.

Virginia Franklin

Lathrup Village

Trump responded, Lewis started it

An article about the dispute between U.S. Rep. John Lewis and President Donald Trump should have been titled: Trump responds to John Lewis attack.

John Lewis attacked Trump first! A civil rights legend should have known better than to talk so disrespectfully about the Trump presidency or any presidency. He owes Trump an apology. And this newspaper should not be blaming this on Trump. Your bias is showing.

Carol Maynard

Northville

Detroits most struggling areas need Habitat stores

The Habitat for Humanity re-sale stores were intended to be located in areas where the lower income and financially impoverished residents of the city would have easy access to them. These stores were designed to sell items donated from the average person as well as appliances, hardware furniture and building materials donated from contractors and merchants .

The soon-to-close store on Detroits west side, is located in an area that serves middle and lower middle class and income-assisted residents. It is located in an area currently devoid of hardware and furniture and appliance stores.

My worry is that Detroit Habitat Executive Director Ken Cockrel Jr. may suggest a new location in an area that is already viably served by the business community. This is one of the main reasons the west-side store lost customers: Donations were going to Habitat stores in more financially stable areas.

Arvie A Green

Detroit

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Republicans revive outrageous plan for Medicare - Detroit Free Press