Save a thought today for all who served in uniform

As we Americans pause to celebrate this Memorial Day our immediate thoughts go, as well they should, to those in the military who go into harm’s way on our behalf.

But we should also include in those thoughts the hundreds of thousands who also wear uniforms in the service of their fellow Americans, our first responders — law enforcement, fire fighters and emergency teams — who rush into crisis situations, placing themselves between the source of danger and us.

But not all of them are remembered for their courage in crisis. Some, like Tempe Police Detective Tim Barber are remembered for their dedication to educate their fellow citizens. Tim died of prostate cancer August 27, 2011 at the age of 42.

When he was diagnosed he was told the cancer was so advanced and aggressive that it would be fatal. On the way home from the doctor’s office he told his soon-to-be wife that he was not going quietly.

He was soon in touch with the founder of Prostate Onsite Project (POP), an organization dedicated to getting young men, to which prostate cancer is most deadly, early testing. Diagnosed early, prostate cancer is among the most survivable, yet is one of the most common, cancers.

Tim became a board member and the public face of POP for the two years before he lost his battle. He spoke before large groups and small, appeared in TV and newspaper interviews and, along the way, made possible the free testing of every male employee or employee spouse in the City of Tempe.

He was interviewed for TV during his final month, even as he had trouble finding words for what he had to say due to damage in his brain from the disease, but he would not give in.

On the day he entered the hospital for the last time, he insisted on showing up at the fundraiser being held by his fellow Tempe Police officers and friends.

After being, literally, carried in he gave his last interview, still carrying the standard against his horrific disease, to a tearful Tram Mai of 12 News.

Many times since that day my family has had men tell us that Tim saved their lives. I’m proud of him. He makes Memorial Day personal. He is my son.

— Mesa

I am sure everyone knows this, but perhaps it bears repeating. Insurance companies do not have a money tree. They must take in more revenue from premiums than they pay out in claims, otherwise they go out of business.

When someone gets thousands of dollars more in claims than they pay in premiums then others must get less in claims than they pay in premiums.

The current ACA mandates that some people must consistently pay more than they receive so that others can consistently pay less. The people paying more realize this is not a good deal and choose not to purchase insurance.

As the number of people paying premiums shrinks the premiums must rise resulting in more people now getting a poor deal and choosing not to purchase insurance.

In the end the only people left paying premiums are the chronically sick who must then pay premiums greater than their claims.

This is the reason we are seeing the large premium increases and insurance companies choosing to leave the ACA marketplace.

Someone who consistently receives more in claims than they pay in premiums must recognize this cannot continue.

No one will consistently agree to pay more for a product so someone else can pay less. — Cave Creek

Steve Benson, you are one hate-filled man and you reserve your hate for one person only, our president, Donald J. Trump.

You would rather support terrorists than your own president. Shame on you and your fellow hacks at the “failing Arizona Republic.”

Also, President Trump did not care one iota about the general election popular vote, not even a smidgen. And Hillary only cared after she lost.

Making America safe and great again, one “obsolete” NATO meeting at a time. —

So, all you never-Trumpers, what do you do now that Trump has courageously condemned radical Islam in the heart of Islam (Saudi Arabia), projected a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine and is meeting with the Pope to solidify Christianity?

Looks to me like we now have a real leader. — Goodyear Peoria