Speak Out 2/26/06

Fear of government

DESPITE MY attempt at refraining from paranoia, I still have many fears: bird flu, cancer, terrorism. However, the only fear that I have that concerns me more than the apparent apathy of the American people is the U.S. government. Some of its actions -- and, in some cases, inaction -- have become horrific to the point of scaring me. I never imagined I would ever fear my own government.

Insurance fairness

REGARDING SHARON Feldman's op-ed column about Missouri health coverage, this plan would force the self-funded plans of state universities and other state employees to effectively subsidize the insurance rates of those folks who's massive utilization of insurance makes them high cost so they can't afford insurance. This would just make state employees bear the cost of higher health insurance premiums to fund a social welfare program, and state employees don't need this. We already pay a large part of our health insurance. We are faced with increased rates. Self-funded plans help us to control our costs by paying attention to our costs. We shouldn't be forced to subsidize the health-care costs of the general public, which doesn't care about insurance rates because it doesn't have to pay a fair share.

Crazy system

I LOVE the legal system in this country. If a woman wants to have an abortion, it's legal because she has the right to do with her body what she wants. But while on her way to get the abortion, if she doesn't put her seat belt on she can get a ticket. If she had a wreck and wasn't wearing a seat belt, she might be charged with involuntary manslaughter if her unborn baby died. Think about it.

Drastic changes

I WANT to thank the Southeast Missourian for putting on the front page exactly what should be done about our health care. Something drastic has to be done. When forecasts say by 2015 over 20 percent of our GDP will be spent on health care, there's something wrong. We are out of touch with the rest of the world. Until we get to the point where we're in line with other major industrial countries of the world, something has to be done.

Bothersome mailings

SOME OF the mailings I get disturb me. One wants to impeach a judge who believes it's unconstitutional to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school. I assume someone elected this guy to office. If not, someone elected the people who put him in office, so I assume that's what the voters want. I thought impeachment was more than a difference of opinion.

Parental failures

SOME PARENTS let their children dress like they're in a cult: shoes untied, pierced body parts, tattoos. Where in the world are the parents? You're supposed to learn decency, respect, cleanliness and values in your home. Many parents of this generation have failed us, and they've really failed the children who will suffer.