2000 Issues

The world’s developed countries have single-payer health care systems. Yet, none of the presidential candidates mention single payer in their proposals to fix our nonsystem (Feb. 13).

Do they prefer spending more for less? Or are they afraid of TV ads calling them “socialists”? And a decrease in insurance company contributions?

Single payer is less than perfect. It resembles Winston Churchill’s characterization of democracy as the worst form of government except for all the others.

SAUL ISAAC HARRISON MD

Pacific Palisades

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I have followed your coverage of the Republican Party’s candidates for president, the caucuses and the primaries and the impending South Carolina battle. The Times has done an excellent job of examining how the candidates stand on pressing domestic issues including abortion, the economy, Social Security and taxation.

However, I am concerned with how the candidates stand on foreign policy issues and the fact that this is not even being mentioned in the primary contests. There are several hot spots in the world, including Northern Ireland and Lebanon, and the next president, no doubt, is going to have to address them. China is a growing naval power, as it has recently launched a destroyer (Feb. 12).

I would like to know the candidates’ positions on foreign policy. As governor of Texas, George W. Bush has yet to enter that arena. At the same time, Sen. John McCain spent over five years in a Vietnamese prison camp, so I worry how he will deal with China and the conflict in the Middle East.

I think the media have an obligation to pin the candidates down on issues important to the nation.

VERNON BLACKBURN

Los Angeles

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The “tiny-brained” folk, Democrats and Republicans, need to understand that there’s a bit more to being the president of the greatest nation in the world than how one feels about abortions.

BILL GOURLAY

Westlake Village

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The list of viable candidates is now down to four: George W. Bush, John McCain, Al Gore and Bill Bradley. Just think: A year from now, one of them will be president. Scary, isn’t it?

GEORGE ARMERDING

Irvine