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Opinion Letters to the editor for Feb. 26, 2010
Letters to the editor for Feb. 26, 2010
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Greater good To the editor: We are a nation that lives by Judeo-Christian standards in which we attempt to treat our neighbors as we want to be treated. Love of self is important, but cannot exclude our neighbor. Love of our neighbor means the same privileges and gifts should be shared by all. The members of the U.S. Congress and Senate, who enjoy lifestyles and perks that far exceed the lifestyles of the average American, cannot decide whether we deserve the same health care privileges they enjoy. A bipartisan commission investigating the current proposed health bill has produced figures that show no increase in the deficit. Rather, it decreases the deficit by one trillion dollars over 10 years. The Republican party and the obstructionists of the health care bill refuse to believe the findings of the commission. The financial failure inherited by Obama shows signs of turning around, but ironically, the same people who helped create the deficit under the Bush administration want a deficit because it is a tool they can use against Obama. This is not a virtuous action. It appears to be preconceived with hatred and intolerance, blinding the intellect of these same obstructionists. There are moral issues that can only be changed by law, and these issues attempt to hold the health-care bill hostage. Those opposed to the bill politicize these issues whether they believe in them or not, and they use them as scare tactics to obtain their skewed agenda. The freedom to choose is a God-given gift. Moral responsibility is an individual thing. The greater good is the saving of lives through health care. Tom Besmer Murphys Signers beware To the editor: There are those who tell pollsters they approve of the California Legislature (13 percent, according to the Field Poll). These people obviously didn’t understand the question. This was brought to mind when I was invited to sign an initiative petition in front of Safeway on a recent Saturday. The petition was advertised as a reform of term limits for our state legislators. It is nothing of the sort. It would gut term limits, considerably lengthening the careers of the crackpots, thieves and charlatans running Sacramento. My first reaction was to welcome this on the ballot. Let the well-heeled special interests that own the Legislature spend millions on a futile campaign to pass this fraud. Then I remembered that no one ever went broke betting on the gullibility of the California electorate. Remember Judge Wapner in those TV ads opposing redistricting reform? So if you approve of term limits you should not sign this petition. Don’t take it out on the pleasant young ladies asking for signatures at Safeway, however. They’ve also got an initiative to reform the redistricting of California’s Congressional delegation. Now that’s worth signing. Fritz Pettyjohn Sonora Dump legislators To the editor: We have been complaining about the condition of California’s economy, and most of the time we put the blame on the governor, whether it is Gray Davis or Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican or Democrat — it doesn’t seem to matter. If my research is correct, we are blaming the wrong person. Supposedly 85 percent of the California budget is fixed or mandatory expenses that the governor has no control over. In fact, he can control only 15 percent of the budget. That would be like your fixed household expenses were 85 percent of your income, and if you had to cut expenses, it would have to be out of the discretionary part of the budget. You would have to eliminate all extras, like vacations, eating out, movies and all other expenses that weren’t essential to life. Then, if anything came up unexpectedly, or your income is decreased, you would have to borrow to meet that expense. Our legislators are the ones that commit all that 85 percent of the state income. We need to show them who is the boss, by dumping them every election untill they start doing what is best for the majority of the people. James Schlotthauer Sonora EMTs welcome To the editor: Re: Letter by Michael Henaults from La Grange (Feb. 8, “More on nurse, EMTs”). I didn’t witness any of the events that occurred on New Year’s Eve regarding saving a choking woman’s life. However, I was in the business of eldercare and I can tell you, when giving first aid, the EMT’s were such a welcome sight. I couldn’t let them take over soon enough. I also casually know the EMT in question from the fire station. In my experience, he has always been calm and courteous. The Mi-Wuk-Sugar Pine Fire Station does a great service to our district, as well as serving the surrounding districts. The main point that I want to make here is that without a fire station that is manned 24/7, we may all be without homeowners insurance or insurance at a very high rate. That is a fact. Shirley Vierth Mi-Wuk Village |
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