Your 2 Cents

Creigh Deeds is focusing on character assassination -- something Democrats always do when they can't win on the issues. This is not new for liberals. It's the first play in their playbook. Deeds wants voters to focus on something Bob McDonnell wrote in graduate school and not on jobs, taxes, and other problems that Virginians face. This tactic only proves that Deeds doesn't have the answers for the real problems of Virginia and McDonnell should be the next governor.

-- Joe Schooff, Richmond

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The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. is self-funded, so no taxpayer money will be used to fund the $2 billion loan and loan guarantee to Petrobras of Brazil. Should those funds be accessed by Petrobras, all loan distributions will be made directly to U.S. companies in payment for equipment and services, directly funding economic growth and job-creation in the U.S. Since 1992, the American people have netted more than $4.9 billion and numerous jobs created via export activities due to the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. To echo Gene Mrava's final sentiment in last week's Your 2 Cents, "Wake up America!"

-- Matthew Mahoney, Richmond

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Gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's master's thesis has come under scrutiny and analysis. Why are we unable to similarly scrutinize President Obama's college writings and records? What is he hiding? I think the answer is obvious. Openness? Transparency?

-- Max Maizels, Richmond

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What a tragic accident for Robin Starr's family. Let's hope the media won't make more of this than exactly what it is. Starr could have said nothing and just let her beloved pet die. No one had to be the wiser, but that is not the type of person she is. Starr would have done anything in her power to prevent this. But accidents do happen. Robin, keep your chin up and keep fighting for animal rights.

-- Pat Stelle, Quinton

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney is speaking out defending the torture tactics he endorsed. He doesn't seem to realize that our soldiers held in captivity will now be subject to greater torture.

-- Mike Gilletto, Henrico

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Thank you for your Op/Ed section and to Terry Mitchell of Hopewell for his letter reminding us to acknowledge the Lord in our lives. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

-- Paul Barker, Richmond

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I am one of the 60,000 people who have cancelled their membership in AARP over the past two months. I do not support this political action committee that masquerades as a senior advocacy group. It is now one of the most radical organizations that we have in the U.S.

-- David Packett, Richmond

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It's really easy to fix health care. It just takes a few things: Stop the frivolous lawsuits. Open up insurance to everybody in every state. Give a voucher to every American turning 65 and let him shop for his own health care to take the pressure away from Medicare. Give the truly needy Americans vouchers. I bet money it would fix our system.

-- Leslie Cabrina, Prince George

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Regarding the death panels and the myth and slander that will not die: What people who are against health care reform don't seem to realize is that we already have death panels, only they're run by insurance companies. Every time anyone is denied coverage, what do you suppose happens to these people? Many of them die because of lack of care. It is not doctors who make these decisions at insurance companies, it is employees. The majority of them have absolutely no empathy for patients.

-- Annette Jackson, Petersburg