We invite the public to respond to this column with their comments by writing to the Editor, Bristol Bugle Newspaper, P.O. Box 414, Bristol, IN 46507. Or email: Bristolnews@aol.com.

The Bristol Newspaper reserves the right to edit comments and make final publication decisions. Comments stated herein do not represent the
opinion of the newspaper or its staff.

National Health Insurance:

National Health Insurance can be affordable if we just combine all government health programs into one to reduce bureaucracy and compensate for the large numbers of people retiring from government service rather than staff so many different  programs. This “new” department would be responsible for maintaining public health at all levels. Instead of trying to save money by denying health care, vaccinations and medical treatments the way for-profit systems do, we would vaccinate and follow preventive medicine guidelines in order to lower costs by expediting early medical treatments that are generally more cost effective than treating more advanced stages of illness. Instead of wasting time over deciding if treatment is needed because of work, service related, personal, or other accidental circumstances just treat the person in need of care! To pay for what we should already be getting all we really need to do is apply fair taxation for a change; in other words all persons pay the same percentage of income taxes for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, NO CUT-OFF POINT!

While some would call this a tax increase I would call it a long over due adjustment in      fairness to taxpayers overall. Why should “POOR” people pay a higher percentage tax at any level than “RICH” people?

The ECONOMY as a whole cannot afford to create classes of ever more desperate people through inadequate levels of retirement income, medical care, unemployment compensation, or educational grants and service for training programs. Desperate people may need to file bankruptcy, may have their homes foreclosed upon, but some may even turn to crime, all of these are destabilizing to the economy!

David  A. Shepard, Bristol

Thank you Bristol Homecoming Committee:

Thanks to the Bristol Homecoming Committee for Inviting the Humane Society of Elkhart County to Participate in the Bristol Homecoming Parade.

On behalf of the Humane Society of Elkhart County and the Volunteer Guild, we would like to thank the Bristol Homecoming Committee and the town of Bristol for inviting the Humane Society of Elkhart County to participate in the Bristol Homecoming Parade on Saturday, July 11.  We also wanted to thank the Committee for awarding the Shelter a second place         trophy.  The trophy is proudly displayed in the Shelter lobby.

We wish to thank our Guild Volunteers for walking the dogs in the parade and for the welcome response we received from the parade spectators.  The dogs had a great time visiting with everyone along the parade route.   With any luck, some of them may even find a forever home as a result of their participation in the parade.

A special thanks to Stephanie Krol for organizing the event and providing the handlers and dogs with their costumes.

Elaine Bays,
HSEC Guild Secretary