‘Band-aid on a bullet hole’ approach won’t work

The Tea Party members in Congress are demanding cuts to Medicare, the government insurance program that provides health care to millions of elderly and disabled Americans.

Unfortunately, they are taking a “Band-Aid on a bullet hole” approach to cutting the costs of this program.

Every year, approximately $60 billion is lost in this system due to fraud. So, instead of cutting the fraud and $60 billion in cost, they prefer to take away the life support systems for the elderly, poor and disabled.

The Tea Party members are proving themselves to be more gnat-brained than patriotic Americans.

Putting the criminals responsible for the fraud in prison for a very long time is the solution to this problem.

Can you think of anything more patriotic than that?

Jim Hartje — Otto, N.C.