Speak Out 8/1/09

Higher bills

IT'S funny that AmerenUE did so many commercials saying it wouldn't raise our bills, and now we are paying at least $40 more on our monthly bills.

Health care message

FOR more than an hour in St. Louis on July 27, one thousand angry and remarkably informed citizens gathered to give a straight message to U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill about socialized medicine as promoted by the current administration. At least four of 20 or so speakers had read the entire bill. That's a higher ratio of people who've read the legislation than found among members of Congress. The message from the people was loud and clear: Keep your hands off my health care. Speakers read passages from the bills, including provisions for the government to spy on your checking account and other spending, provisions to order end-of-life services if the government believes a patient is not worth saving and more horror stories. A nurse recounted a time she was coerced into participating in a partial-birth abortion at a St. Louis hospital. Under ObamaCare, doctors and nurses will be forced to perform late-term abortions regardless of religious or personal beliefs. ObamaCare cares nothing for morality, civility or decency.

Beer diplomacy

A beer summit at the White House. Is this how President Obama is going to settle every dispute he steps into when he doesn't know what he is talking about but gives his opinion anyway? Or is it his attempt to apologize without having to admit he was wrong?

Perception, reality

I heard on a radio talk show that we have a right to affordable health care and shouldn't have to choose between paying health-care insurance and paying for food. Did I miss something about the right to health care and a right to food? People don't have any more right to health care than they do to a Big Mac. I don't like paying my premium any more than the next guy, but it is a choice I make for me and my family. Some folks choose to buy big-screen TVs instead of buying insurance. I wish the premiums were more affordable, but they're not. And I don't think Uncle Sam will make it any better. People better come back to reality soon before the last few rights we have go bye-bye.

Bill's impact

DEMOCRATS in Congress don't want the American people to see a chart detailing their government-run health-care labyrinth, which exposes as many as 53 new federal programs, agencies and commissions under the deceptive cover of health-care reform. Demagogue Democrats beating their chest about honest government and transparency are trying to hide the razor blades in the big red apple that they demand we all close our eyes and bite into without question. One Republican with guts stood up on the floor of the House and exposed it anyway. According to a model developed by the president's own Council of Economic Advisers chairperson, this proposal will cost Americans some 5.5 million jobs over the next 10 years. The National Federation of Independent Business says that at least a million small-business jobs will be lost. And the Congressional Budget Office has made it clear that this will cost low-wage workers an opportunity to get a job.

Legislative process

OUR federal legislators do not write the bills that pass through Congress. That is the duty of staffers supposedly under their direction. Staffers do a lot of political trading in that process. Senator A will support Senator B's bill if this or that is added to Senator B's bill. We are witnessing the corrupting influence of that process when we learn that the final bills that staffers have drafted are not even read by our elected officials before they vote. The executive branch sends recommendations to Congress on a bill so that the wishes and guidelines of the president are known. President Obama has deferred to the members of Congress on the health-care bill. He probably won't read the bill either. Therefore, a bill in which various segments have been written by various staffers with various political paybacks will be signed and enacted into law without one person knowing what it is about. This will dismantle our health-care system and replace it with whatever bureaucrats want to do. Better let your elected officials know how you feel.

Check the 'facts'

A far right-wing friend sent me an "open letter from a Canadian on health care." The first "fact" was that he paid 55 percent of his income in tax. I went to the Canadian government website and discovered that the top tax rate in Canada is 29 percent. The rest of the "facts" were just as fabricated. Does anyone ever check these things out? It's easy with the Internet.

MD test scores

SOMEONE recently asked whether or not we would want a doctor operating on us who had made a 34 on the ACT or a 25. Even if the one who had made a 25 had built a reputation that he was the world's leading surgeon, I would still take the one who made a 34 because he had a higher test score.

Privatize trash

I don't understand why the city isn't considering privatizing waste collection rather than retooling the system. I've lived in a city with 10 times as many people, and trash collection was done by private companies. As a resident, you simply hired the company of your choice. The city could license any interested companies, collecting a portion of their revenue, and get out of this business altogether. The city could transfer current employees to other departments through attrition in those departments, reducing the overall size of the city work force and saving money in the long run without laying anybody off. One well-organized person could administer the whole program. Of course, these companies would also need workers who in turn would be employed by private enterprises. The mayor couldn't have been more correct in saying that we are behind other communities. He just doesn't know how far. Don't cry for smaller government and then miss opportunities like this to make it happen.

Good idea

USING ancient Greek mythology as an analogy, David Limbaugh suggested that sinful capitalism might be offered up to the goddess Gaia. Since Gaia brought order out of chaos, I sure hope she would accept and be pleased with the offering.

Loyal to U.S.

DAVID Limbaugh recently wrote that "if this [health-care] bill goes through, people will likely revolt when they fully realize the unconscionable, intrusive hellfire it contains." What kind of revolt is he talking about? I can take another round of often humorous tea-party protests. I could even dust off my bell bottoms and participate in a 1960s-style protest. But if Mr. Limbaugh is advocating something on the line of 1776's armed resistance, then I think he is crossing the line and should be prosecuted and punished for sedition. I generally like protests, but I am a patriot and loyal to the government of the United States.

Need shelter

WE should use the old federal building for a homeless shelter. We have a huge problem in Cape Girardeau. I am sorry if you never get to the "slums" of Cape. Open your eyes and see the problems. We have gangs, drugs, murder and so much more. People who don't want the homeless shelter need to spend a day and a night on the south side of Cape. The city is hurting, and we need other things to help. We need a shelter for people who aren't being abused. We need a soup kitchen. We need a rehabilitation center to teach people to get back on their feet. Your fellow man is hurting, and you're turning your back.