To the Editor:

I do so hope that Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, read the Oct. 2 issue of The Smoky Mountain News. The lead story details how much this government shutdown is damaging his own home district economically.

I am one of Meadows’ constituents, and even though I am approaching the age of 70, I am still working part-time, self-employed in my profession as a craftsperson. I am grateful that I am old enough to be covered by Medicare, but were I younger I would be quite excited about the possibilities of The Affordable Care Act as I always had to fund my own health insurance.

I hope Rep. Meadows would please be so kind as to give me a clear and concise explanation as to why the ACA is such a bad law. I have never heard an explanation that I have been able to understand. Why can’t the richest country in the world assist its citizens to have decent health coverage?

I am deeply distressed by the actions of the current Congress. We elect people to represent us and to go to Washington to sit down, discuss and compromise, not to shut down the government.

Please compromise, Rep. Meadows.

Kaaren Stoner

Haywood County