We must decide what kind of nation we are

I appreciated the commentary by Ken Segel, “Healing Is the Mission: Ideology and Health Care — A Bad Prescription” (April 29 Perspectives). It is appalling that the Freedom Caucus and even more moderate Republicans are willing to have millions of people without health care because they believe in less government. At the same time, they have good coverage through their government jobs.

It is so disheartening to hear things like “Why should a young, healthy person be paying for a 50-year-old having a heart attack?” For one thing, that is how insurance works, by having a large pool of people who don’t use it. Also, no one can predict when he or she will need it, and it doesn’t take a very serious illness or accident to lead to huge bills that may take years to pay and possibly lead to bankruptcy. The cost may end up being absorbed by the hospital.

The health care debate has been going on for decades. Obamacare was a start to addressing the problem; it didn’t cause the problem. All other industrialized countries have managed to come up with systems that provide care for all of their citizens. I believe that we have not done so yet because we are trying to work with two incompatible positions: that there can be affordable health care and that individuals can have the option to remain uninsured.

I feel that the crux of the matter comes down to this:

We need to decide if our country is a loose collection of individuals mainly concerned with our own material needs, or are we part of a society in which citizens have concern for our fellow citizens and recognize that we are each going to be better off when all of us are doing well? CATHERINE LALONDE

Harmony latest round of social engineering will be your own home. The already high realty transfer tax is one of those many fees and taxes that you pay when you buy or sell a home. It most assuredly and quite substantially reduces the proceeds you get when you sell or increases the costs you incur when you buy.

We are being sold the false notion that this tax will only be raised a paltry 1 percent. However, that is only the increase in the the actual tax

will jump a whopping 25 percent! Again, call it what it is.

Do you think you own all of your home? LG Realty thought they owned all of Penn Plaza too. JIM ABRAHAM Squirrel Hill

On May 2, the Post-Gazette published a letter from Rebecca Simpson of Amwell (“Murphy’s Good Work”) defending the record of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, claiming he is being “harassed into holding a town hall meeting so a few members of a disgruntled political party can arrange a nonproductive shouting-match protest.” This was one of three similar letters that Mr. Murphy shared on Facebook, all claiming he is justified in avoiding constituent requests for a town hall.

I helped organize a town hall meeting on April 19 with more than 200 of Mr. Murphy’s constituents. We requested Mr. Murphy attend via the meeting request form on his website, phone calls, emails and in-person rallies. Despite Mr. Murphy’s refusal to acknowledge our request, we held a civil and engaging town hall without our congressman. It opened with the pledge of allegiance and national anthem, followed by an expert panel on health care, and we heard constituent questions about health care, veterans’ issues, the environment, and other legislative priorities.

Ms. Simpson discussed Mr. Murphy’s bill, HR 2646, and the praise it received from President Barack Obama. As a mental health care advocate, I and many others are confused regarding his position on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The attendees at our town hall would have loved the opportunity to hear his plans to ensure his continued commitment to his constituents.

I sent a followup meeting request to Mr. Murphy to share video and transcripts of questions that were posed during the town hall. I hope that he responds this time. He has a responsibility to represent everyone in PA-18, not just those who agree with his policies.

Perhaps Ms. Simpson can help to facilitate this meeting, since she has always found his door open for business. VALERIE FLEISHER

Mt. Lebanon