LETTERS: Spending on luxuries, health care reform, safe air travel

Somebody's got

money to burn

I have a financial solution for this country's debt that will shut up tea party activists, Democrats, Libertarians and Republicans alike. According to various sources, it's estimated that the video-gaming industry grossed $60.6 billion last year, the movie industry grossed $77.1 billion, and the cosmetics industry grossed $290.9 billion.

If we can only give up video games, movies, porn and makeup, this country could actually afford to save lives (health care) and support the elderly (Social Security).

Apparently, somebody's got money to burn.

Jo Ann Sweezey

Huntington Station

Voters have

faulty memories

I am puzzled about the claim by the new class of Republican lawmakers that the American people want Obamacare repealed. According to the polls taken after the election, the people who want it to remain and those who want it repealed are divided almost equally.

The exit polls also showed that more people blame the Bush administration rather than the Obama administration for the state of the economy. Yet, they voted to return to power the same Republicans who were part of the party of "no," bringing more gridlock to the process.

The lack of memory of voters would be comical is it wasn't so sad.

Frank Geffrard

Central IslipWaiving privacy

is a fair price

Regarding "Airline security's unpleasant reality" [Editorial, Nov. 17]: Unfortunately, we need to protect ourselves from terrorism. I'd rather suffer the humiliation of a full-body scan or a pat-down than suffer another 9/11 because someone got through with explosives or weapons.

Virginia J. Ciccotto

Massapequa Park