Columnists keep status quo alive
“The guardians of the status quo are always on hand with their oxygen tents to keep the old order alive.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Columnists Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams are two of the “guardians of the status quo.” Two African-American men whose relatives are going to benefit from this new legislation. So why are these two tap dancing for the racist right? Are they really that conservative, or are they putting on a show?
The status quo in a lot of areas is on its way out. The make-up of America is changing by the minute. Change has to start now. If the government has to step in and take over certain aspects of our lives for the betterment of this country then so be it. It’s all about democracy and people.
In about 40 years from now, the multiracial faceted part of America would have all but vanquished people like Thomas and Walter, two of “The guardians of the status quo” trying to keep the old order alive!
RICKEY SPIVEY
Hixson
Public welfare prevails over GOP
During the health care debate, Republicans and their pundits failed our democracy. Instead of presenting facts, maintaining a civil tone while arguing policy, and working toward compromise and consensus, they stooped to lock-step propagandizing.
Their words and tone attempted only to confuse, distract and deceive. Such a method has become habitual in Republican politics and is unworthy of our form of government, even endangers it. Not every Republican leader used those tactics, but none spoke out against them.
Despite those Republican maneuvers, a majority of Americans and our Democratic leaders recognized a moral imperative to provide health care coverage to all Americans. This time, public welfare prevailed over ignorance and greed. Let us celebrate that and be thankful.
FAYE WALTER
Sewanee, Tenn.
GOP gets vicious with opposition
With the health care bill now signed into law, we have the nay-saying Republicans trying to get vicious with their oppositions.
I think, in Jesus’ day the Republians would have been standing by yelling “crucify him, crucify him” because he wanted to help the poor and needy.
MILDRED H. GUSSOW
Athens, Tenn.
Reform results already present
I am a professor at a state university in Tennessee where, because of the new health care plan, I see immediate results in the lives of my uninsured students or students with pre-existing conditions.
Just one example is of one of my graduate students whose father is a small-business owner. His father can now afford insurance for his younger brother who has a heart condition. This frees up money for my student’s father to pay for summer programs for my student that would further his training in his field.
SHELLEY THOMAS
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Trade agreements should be revised
Global Corporate Monopolies on Imports:
I wish all of the old and any future trade agreements would be set up to ensure having a balanced trade between these “developing low wage countries.” U.S. consumers are consuming more imported goods from the “global corporations” than the people in the lower wage countries can ever buy at our higher prices.
We have to separate the actions of the global companies and the goods that they get manufactured in the low wage “countries” from the goods that the individual countries have manufactured for shipping to other countries. This is hard to do because of the way the trade deficit is calculated.
Our problems with the loss of jobs and our record trade deficit just might be caused by the “Global corporations,” racing to the lowest labor cost they can find. This has always occurred in the history of capitalism.
This is not being addressed but it definitely is occurring.
CARL BRACKIN
Georgetown, Tenn.
Here are ideas to retake country
John Hagee, on television, said let’s take our country back. OK — let’s protect our constitutional rights to bear arms. You can take guns to church. Also to bars, movie theaters, parks, bowling alleys. How about day- care centers and hospitals. This is our constitutional right.
Let’s renew capitalism where a man works 30 years and gets a gold watch.
How about bombing countries and killing their citizens who have done nothing to us.
Let’s get someone from Alaska to run for president who quit her job.
Let’s be concerned about health care, Medicaid, Social Security, all programs we rejected and voted against.
Let’s create a drug card that has a doughnut hole with all the money going to drug companies. Republicans had no problem signing this plan.
Let’s bring back the terror alert and scare our citizens into submission. By the way, where did it go? I would say the terror chart is in a barn in Texas.
Last but not least, let’s cut taxes on the rich and cut programs for the poor. “Sounds good, George.”
MARK PROCTOR
Reform is victory over special interests
Passing health care reform legislation isn’t just a victory for the American people. It’s a victory over special interests who have fought for decades to keep families and businesses from controlling their own health care.
PHIL MYERS
Tracy City, Tenn.
We will be grateful for health changes
Thank you, Rep. Lincoln Davis, for doing what you felt to be correct regarding health reform, regardless of party affiliation or needs of the people who count on you to have long term vision regardless of term length.
I’m one of many who has been without medical Insurance for three years. I did have a job and insurance but I took family leave from my job to take care of my mother. She took a turn for the worse and I couldn’t return on time. I used saved leave and pay.
I found myself in the emergency room and three days later $ 20,000 in debt. I will be paying for this the rest of my life.
Fraud, waste and abuse? What’s your thought on charges of $981.75 for one hour of home health, $180 for 15 minutes charged to Medicare?
My Mother died in her bed at home in October 2009, and she is still getting bills. She had insurance.
I’m grateful to have health reform take place after so many years of empty promises.
Many are not happy; change is needed. Soon we will be grateful for not having had to sell our souls in exchange for good and fair health care.
MARTHA MCELLIGOTT
Rockwood, Tenn.
Forced purchases unconstitutional
(A Georgia driver) is only required to purchase automobile insurance in order to legally operate a motor vehicle on public roads and, then, only liability insurance to protect, not himself, but those to whom he might cause damage or injury.
Further, this is a requirement constitutionally mandated by the state of Georgia, not the federal government.
ObamaCare, in unconstitutionally forcing the purchase of health insurance, only requires that you are a living citizen of the United States.
LOUIS SCHUBERT
Blue Ridge, Ga.
Congress treats us with contempt
I wanted to comment on a letter (March 31) which concerned the American people and their “limited intellectual capacity.”
I will agree that it is hard for most people to understand what the Democratic controlled Congress and administration are doing in Washington, D.C., but this is because most of their work is done in secret and with math that makes no sense to the normal person who has to live within a budget.
Congress does not treat the American public as if they are intelligent, but with contempt. The misinformation and fear-mongering are always the worst and most disgusting when it is done by the other party. When I ask my “progressive” friend why it’s different when a liberal Democrat holds a hateful sign at a rally or makes death threats, the quote I get is “that’s different.”
My opinion is that it’s wrong no matter who is doing it and Americans are informed enough to know that neither Republicans nor Democrats have a monopoly on poor behavior.
The problem we are confronted with may not be that the public intelligence is underestimated, but that the intelligence of the federal government is overestimated.
ROBERT SHELTON
Many things right in health reform
Thank you, Rep. Bart Gordon, for voting health care reform. This Tennessean is proud of you for not being in the pocket of the insurance companies and for standing up for what is right about this bill. It provides me the chance to buy insurance for a reasonable rate without worries about my pre-existing condition, cancer.
I would just tell my fellow Tennesseans, It’s not the end of the world. This bill will help people like me buy insurance and it will save all of us a lot of money in the long run.
I pray that people see what’s in the bill before calling it government takeover when the fact is it’s far from it.
WILLIAM MAYBERRY
Shelbyville, Tenn.
Gunshot can bring multitude of costs
Price of a bullet. It starts with a call to 911. The first responders go into action (police, ambulance, paramedics, etc.) and the costs start. Medical aid is administered; yellow crime scene tape encircles the area; measurements and pictures taken; search for any evidence; statements from witnesses, etc.
All this takes time — valuable time that depletes resources from an already overworked, understaffed and underpaid police force in the city of Chattanooga.
Meanwhile, the trauma team at Erlanger goes into action. Now the cost of that bullet really escalates. If the bullet hit the spinal cord, paralysis is possible, and/or other complications which can result in a lifetime of care and costs in the hundreds of thousands in expenses.
The vast majority are uninsured and guess who pays? And it doesn’t stop there.
Next are the costs of trial and incarceration.
The shootings and violence spread fear through the neighborhoods, turning homes into fortresses to the extent that some children sleep in the bathtub for fear of stray bullets. Victim’s families and gang members usually retaliate with more violence. Where does it all stop?
BILL WATKINS