I once asked my father the difference between Democrats and Republicans. He answered, “There’s no difference, they’re both Americans, but Democrats seem to vote with their heart where Republicans vote with their heads. The heart can lead you down a path your head wouldn’t travel.”

An Oct. 15 letter (“Put an end to Republican rhetoric”) caught my eye.

First, I’m glad my letter brought laughter into her life. We need more of that today. She stated if Republicans had a better idea on healthcare she’d like to hear it.

This isn’t my idea; it’s been known to our government for decades, and it wouldn’t take a thousand pages to put it into law.

The idea is simple—eliminate the age restriction of 65 from Medicare. This would make sense, as all the regulations and support mechanisms are already in place, therefore an instant public option.

The problem is the government would never do this because it would bring public attention to how mismanaged the Medicare system already is. It already has an estimated $35 trillion to $40 trillion in unfunded liabilities and this in only 44 years of existence.

On average, that’s $800 billion per year. Most educated Americans would realize that our government has no business being in the healthcare business.

To address another letter that caught my eye (“Gallegly just doesn’t ‘get it’”), the writer seems to think that the Republican idea to deliver tax cuts rather than tax hikes would be bad for America. Let me explain as simply as possible. You have two trains going from point A to B carrying 15 passengers each, charging $1 for a round trip. One is owned by a Democrat, the other owned by a Republican. The cost to run each train is $15 a day. Hard times hit, both trains lose five riders.

How to make up the $5 difference?

The Democrat raises tickets to $1.50, the Republican lowers tickets to 75 cents.

The Republican ends up carrying 20 people to work, and the Democratic train is left empty in the station. Todd Lundy Thousand Oaks