JAMES RUFFIN, Richland

When Barack Obama was running for president in 2008, he predicted his economic stimulus plans would cut the unemployment rate to 5.6 percent by 2012. The current rate of 7.8 percent does not consider the estimated 9 million people who have given up looking for a job. But, recently Obama said that the private sector was doing fine.

In 2008, Sen. Obama called Bush unpatriotic for adding $4 trillion to the debt in eight years. Although the debt is up more than $5 trillion since Obama took office, Obama recently said that in the short run, the debt was not a problem.

Three years after the health care bill passed, we still do not know the effect of the plan once it is fully implemented.

Some doctors have said they will stop taking Medicare patients. Employers are considering dropping health insurance for retirees and employees. Who will ultimately pay the cost of the 21 new or higher taxes in the plan?