Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The letter by Bill Wallace (“A dangerous change,” Oct. 26 Readers Write) caused me to think again about the reasons that we do things for the common good or as it is written in the Preamble to the Constitution to “promote the general welfare.” These concepts are worth serious and thoughtful conversations.

Moral and ethical reasons aside, does it benefit society to have healthy citizens? In a 2015 report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that productivity losses linked to absenteeism cost employers $225.8 billion annually in the United States, or $1,685 per employee. Promoting safe and healthy work practices boosts profitability and productivity among employers of all sizes. Providing access to health care is an investment that pays many dividends including the jobs that are generated in the health care industry.

Moral and ethical reasons aside, does it benefit society to have an educated populace?

Educatio...