Letters to the Editors

Alexander failed as a statesman

As a Tennessean, I wanted to be proud when one of our senators began to make opening remarks at the health care forum on Feb. 25. Unfortunately, Sen. Lamar Alexander failed to be the statesman many of us had hoped for.

Alexander talked about a Tullahoma woman who was denied health insurance, but offered no realistic solution for the millions of people like her who have pre-existing conditions.

While I have "good" health insurance, I know that America desperately needs comprehensive health care reform for a host of reasons, including control of spiraling medical costs which are increasing the national debt.

Meanwhile, most Republicans are still using selective, distorted factoids in an attempt to make a phony case against sensible reform.

I watched the whole health care forum and had hoped for better representation from Alexander. I still hope that he will wake up and stand up to the selfish fear-mongers before it is too late.

Tennessee needs senators who will work for its people instead of being a partisan toady for insurance and pharmaceutical corporations and their lobbyists.

KATHERINE FRAZIER

Sewanee, Tenn.

Allow us to spend own health funds

I am not asking anyone to pay for my health care. I would rather keep my money and purchase what I want. I am employed part-time and 64 years old, and healthy. Health insurance should be called sickness insurance. Insurance does not make you healthy. Good genes and good habits help, but some of it is just plain out of my hands. Do not tell me who I have to spend my money with. I will not obey.

APRIL MINKLER

Tracy City, Tenn.

Send a message to congressmen

During World War II, Congress passed bills to increase their pensions and to give themselves unlimited gasoline -- while almost all others were rationed. In response, the Junior Chamber of Commerce spearheaded a movement across the nation to send bundles of old clothes for "the poor Congress members." The message penetrated Congress, and the bills were repealed in response to the people's outrage.

I urge everyone who cares about health care to embrace this tactic. The Tennessee Health Care Campaign proposes that we call weekly at 800-828-0498: Tennessee Reps. John Tanner, Bart Gordon, Lincoln Davis, Jim Cooper and Steve Cohen. (It does not matter if you live in their districts -- they need to hear from Tennesseans). Or tape a Band-Aid to a postcard and write: "Don't give us a Band-Aid. Give us real health care reform." Be sure to put your name and return address. Send to representatives and senators. (U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515 is one address. Other sites for addresses: congress.org, writerep.house.gov, www.Data-Aide.com/Congress). You can phone Congress at 202-224-3121.

As discouraging as this has been, this is no time to give up. The thrust of whatever happens will likely be before Easter. Act now!

KATE STULCE

Ooltewah

I have choice: House or insurance

I cannot afford to buy health insurance. I have found out from an insurance agent it is too expensive to have health insurance and pay my house payment. If I buy health insurance, I will lose my house.

ROBERT PALMER

Hold Bill Haslam to same standards

Re: a letter (Feb. 28) that Rep. Zach "Wamp should stay in his current job."

Mr. Wamp is a proven leader who has a vision that will better education, health care, and economic development among other things.

Mr. Wamp is stating the truth and the facts. The difference between Gov. Phil Bredesen and Mr. Bill Haslam is that Gov. Bredesen turned over his tax returns and financial information to the public and Mr. Haslam has arrogantly refused. Sen. Bob Corker and Sen. Lamar Alexander did, but not Mr. Haslam.

Maybe the reason is that 80 percent of what Pilot Oil sells is regulated by the state and maybe they don't want the public to see the excessive profits from the price gouging cases in three states where they accept guilty pleas. Maybe they don't want Tennesseans to know who they are in business with or who stands to profit if he became governor, but full disclosure and transparency with the public is not unreasonable.

It should be required of every elected official. The Haslams should be held to the same standard as other candidates who've released their tax returns to the media and the public.

HODGEN MAINDA

Obama term full of broken promises

I would hope that every American would demand that our president, Barack Obama, keep his promises and speak the truth. Let's see how he's done so far.

Promise: If the $800 billion "Stimulus Bill" is passed, unemployment will not exceed 8 percent.

Fact: The bill passed. Officially unemployment is near 10 percent but it's actually closer to 18 percent with little change in sight. One in five people need a job.

Verdict: Broken promise.

Promise: There will be no earmarks (pork) in any appropriations bills I sign.

Fact: There have been 10,160 -- I repeat 10,160 -- earmarks in bills so far.

Verdict: Broken promise.

Promise: He repeated eight times that all health care negotiations would be televised on C-SPAN.

Fact: All negotiations, except one, were held behind closed doors where senators and unions were bribed without any Republicans present.

Verdict: Broken promise.

Promise: He would restrict any former lobbyist from serving in his administration.

Fact: There are now at least 30 former lobbyists in positions of power.

Verdict: Broken promise.

President Obama's actions do not match his promises. Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose your job. Recovery is when Barack Obama loses his.

LEE GERALDSON

Generalizations don't do any good

Some writers to the editorial pages gleefully assail the Republican Party as the root of all political evil with such rude and sweeping generalizations as to also assail good and decent men in their general condemnations. How does this affect the casual reader of our editorial pages?

Sweeping generalizations sear the public conscience, resulting in an attitude of cynical belief in and indifference to political corruption or a distrustful inability to discriminate between good and bad.

Either attitude can cause damage to our country as a whole. The fool lacking sense to discriminate between good and bad is just as dangerous to our country as the man who does not discriminate between good and bad and chooses bad.

It distresses good Americans to hear the hard, scoffing spirit of some self proclaimed political wag, who treats all members of one party as dishonest, distrustful even criminal, not worthy of being a public servant but should be the object of ridicule instead.

Such categorical ridicule denotes not merely a vacant mind, but a heart in which high emotions have strangled the writer's ability to discriminate between good and bad. Once a writer has reached this point, he can no longer effectively persuade anyone.

ALAN ROBINSON

East Ridge

Cut out-of-state students at UGA

I read where the university system of Georgia is considering massive budget cuts.

One of the considerations is to allow 500 fewer freshmen to be admitted to the University of Georgia in Athens, of which I am a proud graduate.

If this action is taken to reduce the size of the incoming freshman class, I would hope it would be at the expense of out-of-state students and all foreign students.

The students coming out of our state high schools who qualify for admittance should be taken over the out-of-state and foreign students.

My wishes will probably not be done as our school has had a push for "diversity" going for several years at the expense of our in-state students.

ROBERT

WESTMORELAND

Ellijay, Ga.