Think of the collective, not yourself
To the editor:
Thank you for including the letter from Walter F. Wegst ("Health care reform is all about grabbing power," Tuesday Review-Journal). Prior to reading what he had to say, I had absolutely no idea what the source of the vocal opposition to President Obama's health care plan might be. Now we all know: A power play by the U.S. government.
However, this picture is still not entirely clear in the minds of some of us. For example, are Medicare and Social Security chapters in the march to governmental control, as well? Is too the fact that millions of Americans are without health insurance or vulnerable even with a form of health insurance because of present policies regarding pre-existing conditions and the enormous cost of medication? Do these circumstances suggest that the right course for government might be to help Americans avoid these potentially disastrous issues or to simply do little or nothing?
Finally, I would like to ask Mr. Wegst and others who think alike if they believe that Europeans, the Swiss, Germans, Scandinavians, French and so on, suffer under a repressive "socialist" regime, or are helped by the government they have elected when they need it?
The problem is not about governmental intrusiveness in our lives, but rather getting past the debilitating sentiment of "me first."
john esperian
LAS VEGAS
No option
To the editor:
I am fed up with members of Congress asking how many of us would give up our Medicare to make their point about how wonderful their heath care reform will be. Of course, they conveniently forget that I (and my employers) have paid into Medicare all my working life. Given the choice when I was a young man of not paying into Medicare and investing that money for my future retirement, I would have gladly taken that option.
I can tell you I would be much further ahead and not worrying today about my retirement years.
DWIGHT SAUTER
LAS VEGAS
Ban it
To the editor:
In response to the disturbing article on the front page of Tuesday's Review-Journal, "Do-it-yourself meth avoids drug laws":
I am pleading for our profit-minded CEOs and re-election-minded politicians to go to the wall on this one. The laughable solution to the last attempt to deal with the meth problem -- namely, a federal law that bars people from buying more than 300 pills of pseudoephedrine a month -- won't cut it this time. I would rather see a million people with a cold than one meth addict among us.
It is time to make it illegal to manufacture pseudoephedrine. Either that or make it a controlled substance or find a new cold medication to replace it. Whatever it takes, just do it. Be creative and innovative.
Or is the concern for profits and re-elections more important than the welfare of the American people? Right now I would have to say, unfortunately, that the latter is more true than the former. Please prove me wrong.
Terry Gibson
LAS VEGAS
Lion dies
To the editor:
When I moved to town almost seven years ago, Sen. Paul Wellstone, a Minnesota Democrat, died in a plane crash. Now, some years later, I have a bookend as I prepare to leave ("Kennedy dies at 77," Wednesday).
That great senator fought so hard to bring so much to the table for all Americans -- Title IX legislation being one example -- and worked tirelessly to get a national health care bill passed and signed.
Like his brother's passing and civil rights legislation being approved just after his death, I can only hope that a similar thing is done soon when it comes to health care. I do hope any bill includes a public option that will drive down health care costs and limit the hundreds of millions the top insurance brass earn. The poor, the just getting by, and the middle class will save thousands a year if it happens.
It's a sad day when a lion dies. Even sadder now that all the flames from Camelot are out.
DAVID SEIFERT
LAS VEGAS
Easy money
To the editor:
Monday's headline about no cost of living allowances for Social Security recipients was not really much of a surprise.
Does that mean, however, that all who feed at the public trough and their pensioners will also not receive COLAs?
Oh, wait, most of those are union jobs. They get raises no matter what the economy and CPI are doing.
The taxpayers can always afford that.
Robert Raider
HENDERSON
