Published: August 21, 2009 03:11 pm      

Letters to the editor, August 23, 2009

Correcting the facts

Dear editor,

I don’t want to get into a running argument with Mr. Katlic, but thought it necessary to correct some facts.

Mr. Katlic’s letter is the second in this paper to state the U.S. of A. is a republic and not a democracy. In fact, this country is by definition a democratic republic.

We all want to live in a republic, but we want to be able to vote for our leaders.

One other point I must make. The flag code states “The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

That is generally agreed to mean danger of physical harm in an extreme emergency.

Darrel Behrens,

Aledo



National health care?

Dear editor,

Is tax and spend the solution to every national problem?

We do need to improve our healthcare system. We do need to reduce cost (insurance, medicine, procedures, services, etc.). We do need to improve coverage for the poor (though no person is denied emergency care in the United States). We do need to reduce fraud and cheating.

Can’t these things be done without more taxing and spending? How are we going to decrease cost by increasing taxing and spending? How is spending a trillion dollars decreasing cost?

Some possible solutions:

n Monitor and control fraud.

n Tax credits for individual insurance.

n Allow insurance to compete across state lines.

n Encourage creative solutions like private cooperatives.

n Medicine cost controls and monitoring.

n Require pre-existing coverage (could be with additional charges).

n Additional charges could be allowed for smokers and other high-risk individuals.

n Businesses should be allowed to provide or not provide medical insurance as employee benefits and incentives.

n Control/guidelines for medical lawsuits.

n Government involvement and taxation/spending should be avoided as much as possible.

None of these ideas require huge amounts of government spending or control.

I have read in the past five dollars sent to Washington comes back to the people as one dollar of services. I do not know what this figure might be now, but I am sure that a tremendous amount of money is lost to bureaucracy when taxes are taken from the people and given to the government!

We must defend our freedom and right to live our lives as we see fit. The government should not take our money then give part of it back in the way that it sees fit.

We must ensure our elected representatives in Washington conduct themselves and our business in the way we choose, not them!

Dr. Bill Gilbert,

Weatherford



Thanks coach

Dear editor,

I want to publicly thank Coach Kenny Wheaton and his dedicated staff for pouring yourselves into the young men who make up Weatherford High School’s football teams.

The service he and his coaches provide our community cannot be measured in wins and losses. Coach Wheaton’s commitment of untold hours to the boys under his charge is inspirational. Not only do his coaches teach the Xs and the Os of football, but more importantly, they encourage and model self discipline, teamwork and honorable manhood. All of them are fine leaders and role models.

The wives of these men particularly deserve our respect and admiration. For untold hours they sacrificially loan us their husbands; time that might otherwise be spent at home enjoying their own families.

Each day my son enters the Outback, I am encouraged to know that he is receiving the very best that our coaches have to give.

Thanks for all you do Coach Wheaton and good luck this season.

Mark Masters,

Weatherford



My side of the story

Dear editor,

Chelsea McGowan’s lead story in the Wednesday, Aug. 12 edition titled, “A time to pay,” was not exact in its portrayal of my comments at the City Council meeting, the evening prior. I wish to take this opportunity to clarify the inaccuracies and note the outcome which resulted from my comments.

First, the article states, “that I thought the city wasn’t doing enough to make its budget public so that the citizens could contribute ideas for how to save money.” Actually, my words were, “I did not feel the city was being as transparent with the public as they purported to be by not having the budget posted online with the State Comptroller’s Office where the citizens could view how their money was being spent.” I went on to say, “Fifty-two other cities have their budget online, as well as the Weatherford ISD, so why doesn’t the City of Weatherford?”

Second, the article states, “It was explained to Matthews that the city’s full budget is, and has been, available on the city’s Web site for general viewing.” The article left out my response to that statement. My response was, “Yes, I was aware the city’s budget was available on the city’s Web site for viewing, however, not in it’s entirety.” This fact was further supported by an e-mail I received Aug. 12 from a city staff member indicating there was a glitch in the city Web site which precluded full viewing of the budget online.

Outcome: The glitch was later rectified and the budget in its entirety is available online for review by the citizens of Weatherford.

Citizens of Weatherford, please pay particular attention to the 2009–10 budget during your online review and note whether you think the proposed upcoming tax increase is justified.

Eric Matthews,

Weatherford



You owe an apology

Dear editor,

Shame on Victory Baptist Church for distributing literature door to door persecuting one of the other Christian religions. I may be mistaken, but I thought Jesus taught love, tolerance, acceptance of others and freedom of will. Perhaps your actions should be reconsidered? I think they fall outside those guidelines.

By your actions, I can most assuredly tell you that I would NEVER attend your church. I hope many others feel the same.

Christians are supposed to be in the business of brotherly love. Even if you disagree with some of the traditions of the other Christian churches, that does not mean the church is “evil.”

After all, last time I looked, ALL the Christian churches were centered around God and Jesus Christ. I think ultimately, that’s what matters most.

I think you owe a certain church a public apology.

Heather Wright,

Weatherford