Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009

Wednesday's Letters to the Editor

Making contributions to Wilson isn't noble

It is the right of all citizens to contribute to the political candidate of their choice, but to those who are contributing to Rep. Joe Wilson because he had the bad manners to interrupt President Obama's health care speech to Congress, please do not pat yourselves on the back and think you are doing so for a noble purpose.

From my point of view, what Joe Wilson did was bear false witness against the president. There was no basis for Wilson to label the president a liar just because he does not agree with Obama on health care.

ANGELA DODD RABON

West Columbia

Public option a must in health care reform

We can no longer sit by the sidelines and watch as the health insurance companies and big pharma make obscene profits on the backs of those who are sick, which in turn drives many of them to destitution, because their policy limits are met or they have a pre-existing condition.

Enough of this already! It is time to make every one of our voices heard in favor of a public option in the health insurance reform bills being debated in the House and Senate.

DOUG TAYLOR

Columbia

We don't need socialized medicine

We should oppose health care reform, i.e. socialized medicine, because it would lead to health care rationing with a bias against older Americans. The quality of health care would decline because of a lack of money and the inability of government bureaucracies to manage resources wisely.

I believe taxes will go up to pay for this, which will only hurt the economy more. Development of new treatments and medicines will come to a halt as it has in every country with socialized medicine since there will not be any profit in research.

This great country should remain great. We do not need socialism.

SANDRA L. CLARK

Columbia

Mark vs. Bill: Democrats win

After all the negative publicity about Gov. Mark Sanford, it is pleasing that someone has written about former President Bill Clinton's scandal, which is similar to Sanford's but far worse.

I seem to recall that Clinton was saved from impeachment by Sen. Arlen Spector, then a Republican. The amazing thing about Clinton's predicament was how the Democrats rallied around and helped him recover. Judging from his present position, things went very well, and the Democratic Party should be commended.

Why can't the same apply to Gov. Sanford? The Republican Party appears to be in disarray. I hope its leaders will wake up before it self-destructs.

Political humorist Will Rogers once said, "All I know is what I read in the newspaper." That is true for me.

H.B. WOODHAM

Bishopville

Americans challenged to renew hope

I was recently blessed and burdened in taking a global trek, and I returned to this gifted land of America more convinced than ever that this country's best hope is rooted in its promising tradition. Thousands die each day of poverty, but the poor still see the hope that President Obama's election has engendered to the vulnerable in our own country and our shrinking world.

America's hope is at its best when there is vigorous, informed debate on issues both local and global. We are not to be drones or sycophants as citizens; we are to engage the spinmeisters and their deceits. We are to do justice locally and globally, and our mission is to connect the dots so that the opinion leaders hear, see and feel a moral compass that compels them to do justice.

Renewing hope, helping the neighbor and doing justice to groups and nations is the way to cope in our individual and collective justice tasks as we face the dangers and hopes of this 21st century.

ALBERT E. JABS

Lexington

Problems mounting for president

We are now nine months into Obama's presidency, and his problems only seem to be growing. He and Congress rushed through a stimulus bill to the tune of more than $8 billion that was supposed to keep unemployment from increasing beyond 8.5 percent. We are now at almost 10 percent. He is still trying to get a meaningful health reform bill passed. He can't make up his mind on what to do in Afghanistan, despite the advice given by his top general. He was also going to close down Guantanamo Bay, which of course is still open. Then he failed in his bid to secure the Olympic Games for the city of Chicago. This summer, people at town hall meetings and tea parties displayed the anger and frustration toward his administration.

Now President Obama has become fodder for the late-night comedians, when he was chosen for a Nobel Peace Prize for which he was nominated after having been in office only 12 days. The people of America elected this man, and now it looks as if though (to quote Rev. Wright) "America's chickens have come home to roost."

LANCE STEPHENS

Columbia

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