We all want affordable healthcare

In the Village News article “Candidates power up for November 7 election” (9/22/06), you quote Mark Hanson as saying “every resident should have affordable healthcare available that he would finance using money saved on prison reform.” Affordable healthcare is something we all want, but it is unlikely Mark Hanson would have much influence over the insurance industry. Whatever amount is allocated to California prison reform is insignificant compared to the price of affordable insurance for everyone.

Considering the horrific state of our prisons, diverting funds from prison reform would be criminal itself. Almost all inmates will be released at some point. We will all benefit financially if they can find and hold jobs as a result of prison reform and rehabilitation, and we will all be safer too.

Marie Callahan