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Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009

This is Viewpoints for Sunday, Oct. 18

Where we stand

While the debate on national health care goes on and little progress is being made, one would think that our leaders in Washington could implement a simple plan (which should have been adopted some 60 years ago) instead of this complicated program which has everyone at odds.

Ervin Hill (Viewpoints, Sept.25) asks where the religious right stands on national health care. The church is in favor of it and the religious leaders are in favor of it. However, there is a segment of our population that is violently opposed to it, which was all too visible in the recent town hall demonstrations.

To quote Father Allan McDonald of St. Joseph Catholic Church:

“ I would like to make an editorial comment on the nature of our public discourse with one another in our country today. We’ve all seen how divisive our politics have become, in particular with proposals concerning health care reform. What we hear and see comes across almost like a scene from Dante’s “Inferno”! Contempt and disrespect for those who hold particular political and religious views have become commonplace, and are like scenes from hell. The ratcheted rhetoric can be politically destructive and morally degenerative. While we may disagree with one another on a variety of topics, we should always show respect to one another in our dialogue. As Catholics, we are taught to respect authority, both religious and secular. This does not mean that we always agree with our politicians, and we certainly have a right to vocalize our sentiments in appropriate ways. However, name calling, raised fists, shouting, acts of violence and the like are against love and civility.”

— Johanna Sohacki

Macon

@MA Letterhed:Beacon of liberalism

For years, The Telegraph has been the beacon of liberalism in Middle Georgia. Once in a while, a tidbit is thrown to conservatives in columns by Kenny Burgamy or Erick Erickson. Once in a while, the Telegraph even decides to give a conservative a space in the Letters to the Editors page, which normally has at least a weekly spot reserved for liberty- and Republican-haters Daniel Schlafer and Frank Gadbois. Even if we are “chosen” to get a letter printed, it’s normally so heavily edited or cut we barely recognize it.

— Bill Knowles

Macon

Obama deserves prize

President Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for “inspiring hope” and not for accomplishments. A lot of people are saying that he didn’t deserve it. Who else is trying to sponsor goodwill among the nations? After having endured nine months of relentless professional and personal attacks from the GOP (and their minions) without losing his cool and going ballistic on them, Obama does deserve the Noble Peace Prize.

— William D. Carter

Bonaire

Help neighbor directly

I agree with Lindsay Holliday on preserving the Forest Hill Road forest and neighborhood, but not with his reference to Jesus in his letter of Oct. 14. Yes, Jesus said “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” but does that require a “middle man” such as Big Government or Big Insurance? The Good Samaritan did not call on government or insurance to help his neighbor, but did so directly.

We Christians (and good Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc.) often insulate ourselves from those of different races or economic classes (which Jesus did not). Thus, we “default” to government and insurance companies to help our neighbor instead, paying unnecessary taxes and steep premiums.

— David B. Conner

Macon

The role of public option

No one should suffer or die simply because they do not have the money to pay for medical care. Do not believe that you can get the care for yourself or a loved one and go bankrupt on the bills later. That is not always a possibility, and should never be necessary. No one is guaranteed that they will never be in a position of need. More people should speak out as Lindsay Holliday did. Thanks, Lindsay. Jesus also said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” We will find it impossible to love one another as much as Jesus loved us.

He was perfect; we are far from perfect. Still, can’t we love each other enough to pay a little more money if necessary?

Reform without a public option will never work. We are already being told how much insurance premiums will increase. If you have the choice of a public option, they are not likely to increase at all.

Presently, everyone who earns less than $106,800 a year pays a flat (OASDI) tax of 6.20 percent on all of it. If you are fortunate enough to earn more, even millions more, you still do not have to pay this tax on anything above the $106,800. Many wealthy people do not mind paying more in taxes so that everyone can be covered. Of course, some of the wealthy do mind, probably most of those who took millions in bonuses when you and I bailed them out. Is it not a form of discrimination for some people to have to pay this tax on all of their earnings and others to pay it on only a small percentage of their earnings? Years ago, we paid a luxury tax on items such as perfume, jewelry, furs, etc. Why not reinstate this luxury tax?

— Judy Stupalsky

Macon

What makes racial issue?

We are now having a problem with Rush Limbaugh buying a professional sports team. It appears to be a racial issue. I am asking the American people, what constitutes a racial issue?

When the Black Panthers blocked voters in Philadelphia during the last presidential election, was that a racial issue? When the Black Panthers, seeking justice, worked to make sure the Duke lacrosse players were properly punished for their crimes against a couple of hookers, was that racism? When Jesse Jackson blamed the flooding of black neighborhoods in Albany on city engineers during Georgia’s flood of 1994, was that racism? When Van Jones blamed the environmentalists for directing pollution to neighborhoods of color, was that racism? Could someone please provide insight into these particular incidents to help clarify what the racial issues are?

As soon as someone disagrees with our savior and president Barack Obama, it is a racial issue, but there are no complaints about all the accusations against other people of color or lack thereof. When are we going to act like Americans, regardless of color? Our country is in very poor shape, and our dollar is worthless. Unless we do something soon and work together as one nation, we are doomed.

Quit pointing fingers, America. Stand up for our nation. Don’t make excuses or apologies for our country, but stand up for all we have done for ourselves and what we have done to help others. We are a proud and Christian nation, and will not be regarded as anything else. Let us hold our president, Senate and Congress accountable for their actions, and if they don’t support their constituents, send them packing. There are too many other folks that would make excellent representatives, that hear the call of the American people.

God bless America

— Robert S. Kovarovic

Warner Robins

What about the savings?

I read with interest the article published in The Telegraph on Oct. 8 covering the monthly meeting of the Peach County Board of Education. As reported in the article, Superintendent Susan Clark gave a progress report on the school system’s adoption of the four-day school week. Nothing negative was mentioned about the policy, and the positives mentioned were:

1) Fewer student discipline incidents.

2) Fewer teacher absences.

Wouldn’t these results be expected if the number of days per week for students and teachers to report to school was reduced by 20 percent? Why not go to a three-day week? The results would be even better.

I was hoping she would report on actual savings for the school system for the first two months of the school year, since the four-day week went into effect. Wasn’t this the main reason the four-day policy was put in place to begin with, to cut costs due to decreases in state funding?

I find it troubling that the superintendent believes that students and teachers are so busy that Monday has become a much-needed day of rest. Besides the school system, no one else has that option.

— Carl Wayne King

Byron

Why we need Fox News

I assume the article about congressional ethics on the opinion page in Thursday’s edition was written by a staff member of your paper. It is just another reason why Republicans need the Fox News channel. Fox News and talk radio are constantly being attacked by the White House and every arm of the media that the Democrats have in their back pocket.

Since the article made a point of letting us know that Sen. John Ensign is a Republican, I think it only fair that Charles Rangel, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, be pointed out as a Democrat. It is a small matter, but one that drives a very large number of your subscribers nuts. It just shows us what party to whom you are partial.

— Bess Perry

Dublin

Editors: The editorial in question was from the Miami Herald.

Cumbersome laws

When he was the supreme allied commander in the European Theater during World War II, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted battle plans to be as brief as possible. He preferred no more than one page.

Legislation as complicated as health-care reform cannot be reduced to a few pages. But is a package of more than a thousand pages really necessary? Should amendments, some of which only further complicate the measure, be added as a matter of course?

It’s not just HR3200 that is cumbersome. Many laws are. The federal tax code is voluminous. It’s been amended so often that there’s no telling how many library shelves it can fill.

Winston Churchill said we have mastered a language when we can express ourselves clearly in as few words as possible. Washington’s elite would do well to hire wordsmiths who are, as described by Webster, “professional writers skilled in the use of language.”

Only then will we have laws which are concise and precise.

— Robert L. Lehane

Fort Valley

Legalize polygamy

The time is upon us to end marital discrimination based upon people’s religious beliefs. End laws against polygamy now!

— Don Sweat

Macon