Nobody is dying without medical care
To the editor:
In response to Eva Love's recent letter arguing that it is disgusting that the United States has 45 million people who are uninsured and that "people are dying and living with painful illnesses every day because they have no health care":
This is nonsense being pumped out by the left in order to mislead people into thinking we are in dire consequences and this crisis needs to be corrected immediately or else.
In fact, nearly 10 million of the 45 million uninsured are not U.S. citizens. More than 17 million of the uninsured make more than $50,000 a year and choose not to purchase insurance (more than 9 million of those make $75,000 a year).
Forty-five percent of the uninsured will be in that state for only four months as they are new hires waiting for their insurance plan to kick in or are between jobs.
These facts are from the census and the Congressional Budget Office.
Also, in 1986, Congress passed what became known as the Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. Meaning that all emergency rooms must provide examinations and stabilizing treatment to anyone (Including illegal aliens) with a medical emergency. Yes, even UMC, where Ms. Love's vigil was held.
So you see, there really aren't 45 million uninsured people in this country, and there aren't people dying without being treated.
Sean Scott
MOAPA VALLEY
Government help
To the editor:
Why do people who accept Medicare and Social Security checks, and veterans who accept free care and free meds, not want coverage for others? I know of people who can really afford and actually have "boutique doctors" and still will go to the VA for whatever medicines they need.
Whatever happened to help thy neighbor?
Have the wealthy become so selfish and out of touch with reality that they are unaware of what a devastating illness does to one who has no insurance?
To everyone who accepts whatever Social Security and whatever else the government has made possible for you, stop and think why you are saying no to health reform.
PHYLLIS ROSENBURG
LAS VEGAS
Exerting influence
To the editor:
My discomfort with President Barack Obama's speech to the schoolchildren has nothing to do with its content, which was quite inspirational. At another time, without recent experiences, I would even applaud the effort.
The speech, however, is yet another example of the Obama mind-set. It seems clear that he believes there is no problem, no issue and no aspect of society that he, and by extension the federal government, should not address.
He seems compelled to give his opinion and use his position to exert some level of influence over everything, from auto manufacturing, to banking, to health care, to swine flu, to education, to children's toys, to light bulbs, ad infinitum.
The ease with which he opines and then appoints a czar for every subject is very disconcerting to someone who believes the president of the United States is not the community organizer in chief. If I had a sense that this president believed there are any limits on government intrusion, I would gladly give him the benefit of the doubt. I do not, however, believe that in his heart of hearts President Obama feels any such restraint, and that is a frightening thought.
With the awesome federal power of law, money and influence at his disposal, the checks and balances the founders so carefully built into the Constitution seem very fragile indeed.
Ivan Holland
HENDERSON
Pay grade
To the editor:
I have to reply to Tom Carpenter's Thursday letter concerning the firefighters.
I have lived in Las Vegas for more than 15 years, and this is the first incident that I remember of a fireman being fired upon. The police officers face this every day and the citizens in certain areas of town have to deal with this fear every day. Which group faces the most danger versus the pay they get in return?
Don't use a one-time incident to make your case for above-average pay to firefighters.
Frank Walker
LAS VEGAS
Inexcusable outburst
To the editor:
South Carolina Republican Rep. Joseph Wilson is a perfect example of why the words "Republican" and "minority" will remain synonymous for years to come. His inexcusable outburst during President Barack Obama's speech has disgusted members of both parties, and rightfully so. The sergeant-at-arms should have escorted him to the door and tossed him out.
I hope the voters of his district will accomplish that task in 2010.
Joseph Wild
LAS VEGAS
