Published: September 11, 2009 02:22 pm      

Letters to the editor, Sept. 13, 2009

Go back and try again

Dear editor,

The anger in recent letters stem from a basic lack of trust in our politicians and the politicization of things not meant to be political. The president’s school speech was problematic because half the parents trust him and half don’t.

Presidents become divisive today just by being elected. Suspicion derives from this lack of trust. When is a politician not being political? I can’t tell.

Education shouldn’t be political, but unions make it so. We teach feelings over facts. Schools should teach students how to think, not what to think: To provide the tools of reading, writing, mathematics, science and history. Parents don’t trust the education bureaucracy. How could they? Have you read what is being paraded as fact in textbooks?

The health care issue boils down to this: Democrats are trying to sell a best-case scenario and Republicans are trying to sell a worst-case scenario. The vast chasm between these extremes produces outcry among the folks. (Yes, I did read the bill.) A wise man once said the test of any idea is not how it could work in the best case, but how it might work in the worst.

In the worst case, the plan being offered will reduce care, increase expenses, bankrupt the country and eliminate personal freedoms. Maybe it won’t, but we just don’t want to take a risk this big. Let’s go back and try again.

Should Parker County flags have flown at half-mast for Sen. Kennedy? Is every senator so honored? What’s the rule? It should apply no more and no less to Teddy regardless of anyone’s personal feelings.

Let’s find the path back to truth, to debate differences in opinion as we look for consensus. Winners in political debate today are those who rationalize most creatively. Let’s require truth.

Lynn Baber,

Pooville



Actions of elected/school officials

Dear editor,

I was truly appalled to hear that an official who represents Parker County and THE LAW refused to lower the flag in honor of a person who has served so many years in the senate.

The most worrisome part of this disrespect is, I believe, it will only further persons in other counties and other states to once again point to this lack of judgement as, “another ignorant Parker County/Texas act.”

It makes me so ashamed to have such a person as he represent our county.

This act is only dwarfed by “the bias and uneducated” decision of the local school districts.

I have truly loved living in this county, but I only hope that this attitude is not one held by all the citizens of this county.

Joan Casey,

Weatherford



Do your homework

Dear editor,

To Larry Jones’ column, “You Get What You Pay For” in the Sept. 6 Democrat, I say “AMEN!”

Don Collier’s “The Truth on Health Care,” Sept. 6 letters to the editor, you need to do your home work — this is only one more way for the government to get more control of your God-given rights!

“Tired of Taxpayer neglect,” Darwin Yeary, Sept. 6 letters to the editor, needs to do his homework, also. Check why Ted Kennedy received an award in 1993, which was named after a man who promoted partial-abortion, which killed and tortured innocent babies.

Does that make Ted Kennedy a great senator?” I think not.

Dr. Nancy (Young) Cearley,

Springtown



Senator Ted Kennedy

Dear editor,

I am shocked and appalled at Judge Riley’s lack of respect toward the death of a senior senator of the United States.

Regardless of politics, Senator Ted Kennedy deserved the honor of the flag flown at half mast after serving our country for decades as a public servant.

Where has common decency gone much less manners?

Donna Clopton,

Brock



A great place to be

Dear editor,

I moved to Weatherford four years ago to be near my daughter and family.

I had visited Weatherford all my life because of relatives living here.

My aunt Elizabeth Baty was assistant to Dr. Bloom in dental practice.

I have been thankful that Weatherford has so many interesting places to tour and visit.

One of my favorites is the Doss Heritage and Culture Center. I attended a delicious dinner honoring Weatherford Christian School where Gene Howard did a magnificent imitation of John Wayne.

I toured the museum when a display of local artists was shown with a reception of delicious snacks and refreshments.

The Mary Martin Room, Indian art, western cowboy collections, stage coaches and so many more interesting artifacts are worth taking time to see.

I am writing this as I sit in the very worthwhile Weatherford Library, in which I spend much of my time.

Vera Cluck,

Weatherford



The president’s speech to our school children

Dear editor,

I am appalled at the disrespect toward our president as he tried to speak to our children in our local schools and throughout the nation.

I am totally embarrassed to be a Parker County resident and as a Texas resident.

Shame on you who caused me to feel this way.

You showed your true colors and displayed a real bad example to our children.

Byron Constantine,

Azle



Refusal to show the presidents speech

Dear editor,

I used to hear my parents refer to “small minds,” and as a small child, wondered what they meant. Well, now I have the answer.

They would say the refusal to show the president’s speech was “small mindedness!”

Everyone should remember President Reagan addressed our students, followed by the first President Bush and then President George W. Bush.

The Arlington school district is busing their school students to hear former President George W. Bush to an upcoming address. I am sure we will hear no objections to this and we shouldn’t. It is like former first lady Laura told us in her just released interview. We owe respect to the president and to the office of the presidency!

Sarah Coon,

Weatherford



Too many people!

Dear editor,

I read in the Sept. 3 Telegram about the death of a 94-year-old Hispanic matriarch who left 300 living descendants. Most people of her religion say the Bible states to “Go out and populate the world.” We’ve Done That!

I have always been taught God (or Allah, Buddha, Mohammed, etc.) was a wise, thoughtful deity. I would then assume he would have given people the intelligence to recognize when that had been accomplished. We have now populated the world several times over and it’s time to curb our populating.

If one keeps up with the news, the main reason most people use drugs is there are too many children who haven’t gotten enough love and attention and need the drugs to obtain/maintain a sense of higher esteem. Too many kids!

We’re sending billions of dollars to nearly all the African nations because they cannot take care of their children’s/adult’s housing, food and other necessities. Too many people!

Every church denomination I have heard of or read about has congregation members or paid substitutes travelling all over Mexico, South America, Asia and other locations, to feed, care for and educate on all things other than population control. Too many people!

My concern is other than churches, our government is subsidizing other countries’ overpopulation. I did not impregnate a single one of them and I protest my tax dollars being used for people not paying taxes here or people here who are on their third generation of welfare. Too many people!

There is only a certain amount of tillable land, jobs, money, etc., on this Earth. My solution: Let the people themselves (or their churches, who directly or indirectly contribute to the entire would over population) pay for their indulgences.

Jan Cribbs,

Millsap



For what it’s worth

Dear editor,

Life’s not fair, some folks have catastrophic health problems at a very early age, and there’s a need we need to address.

There are charitable hospitals — St. Judes, Shriners and others that do a tremendous job for children. Why would anybody think a government-run health care program would be cheaper than a private system.

There’s a shortage of doctors and nurses now. Social Security, Medicare and the post office are all facing problems. That’s nothing compared to what the health care deficit will be in a short time. President Obama will tell you it will cost a certain amount. If you believe that, I have beach front property in the desert I’ll make you a deal on.

I’ve had health insurance on a couple of occasions, but I became too expensive, so I cancelled it. My wife has had four major surgeries, and if we didn’t have the money, we made payment arrangements with doctors and hospitals, or borrowed the money from a bank. I’ve found there are substantial discounts from some doctors for cash payments.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer about six months after I cancelled my insurance. I didn’t like the option I was offered in Weatherford or at MD Anderson in Houston or in Fort Worth. By God’s grace I stumbled on to Radio Therapy Clinics of Georgia. I went there for treatment and had to borrow $26,000 to pay for the treatment.

My neighbor went there, met an Englishman who told him there is only one option in England’s government program, if you don’t like it you can go home and die.

When Obama’s stooge tells me there is only one option, one or both of us will need a lot of health care.

Richard Feuilly,

Weatherford



Speak the truth

Dear editor,

My name is Matt Herron and I am the lone parent quoted in Sunday’s paper over the president’s speech to students and Weatherford’s decision not to air the speech.

Today, I find another issue I want to give an opinion on if you don’t mind. That issue is with his speech last night and particular the outburst from Congressman Wilson from South Carolina.

While it is unusual for that sort of thing to happen in a setting like that, I totally agree with what he said! It is far time that our representatives in Washington start speaking the truth and standing up for what is right and wrong.

I say if any of our leaders is wrong, they should be called out, and that is what I believe Mr. Wilson was trying to do!

He should be applauded, not rebuked!

Matt Herron,

Weatherford



Another recall

Dear editor,

I am always amazed by the collective wisdom of ordinary Americans. Given complete and accurate information, voters generally make intelligent choices. We see an example of that right here in Weatherford.

A silent majority watched as the inattention and/or incompetence in city government became intolerable. What they saw was an obvious disconnect between the things officials were saying and the things they were doing.

Council members said, “Trust me, we will spend your tax dollars wisely.” But instead, they did the exact opposite by giving a $30,000 hand-out to the Doss Center — a tax exempt organization that would have you believe they cannot survive without being subsidized by your tax dollars.

The Doss Center is not the problem. The problem, in my view, is unprincipled council members (including the mayor) who cave in to political pressure, or are easily persuaded to give away our tax dollars by some organization’s sales pitch.

I believe council members defy the will of the silent majority at their own peril! It was that silent majority who spoke with their votes during the last election when they fired two council members. They will speak again during the next election. At the end of the day, we will have a conservative city council — a council who will base all decisions on sound conservative principles; not on some knee jerk impulse or Quid Pro Quo.

The voters obviously got it right when they elected James Hamilton and Jerry Clinton who voiced strong opposition to the tax dollar give-away to the Doss Center. They have demonstrated by their actions they base their decisions on sound logic and conservative principles.

The silent majority shall speak again and council members will not need an interpreter to understand “recall petition!”

Lenny Leatherman,

Weatherford



President’s address to students

Dear editor,

‘”The sky is falling; the sky is falling,” cried Henny-Penny — after an acorn fell from a tree onto her head. Others of her barnyard friends panicked and rushed along with her to tell the king.

“The sky is fallling; the sky is falling,” cried detractors when it was announced that the president would stress to the nation’s children the value of education. Those who “panicked” — for whatever the reason — ended up discredited with red faces while their children missed an important lesson in preparing themselves for life.

Doyle Marshall,

Aledo



Perplexed and alarmed

Dear editor,

I am perplexed and alarmed by the protests from the parents and groups who would deny our students the experience of hearing the president speak directly to them about the importance of working hard and setting goals in school that can lead to greater success in their lives.

Schools expend a significant amount of class time and funds each year to bring in athletes, entertainers and local leaders to deliver this same message. We are missing a unique opportunity to have this message from our president impact our students in a manner that can have a powerful influence on their attitudes toward their school achievement.

Dr. Barry Dodson, an educator and administrator with the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district stated, “I actually can think of no other ‘live” event that has national or educational significance in my 37-year career that we have censored from students. I am disappointed more educational leaders have not spoken out about this. It makes me wonder if it is because we are in a political climate that resembles another period in our history when people were afraid to speak out because they would become the next target of demagogic attacks on their character.”

In an attempt to further appease those people who have fear our students may be unduly influenced by President Obama’s speech and do not want them exposed to it, I propose the following alternative lesson plan:

Students will apply critical reading and research skills to distinguish fact from non-fact and to draw inferences from past historical events to present day situations. Students will use resources to research and discuss the following: Who was Joseph McCarthy? What was his significance in our nation’s history?

Discuss any parallels that you find between his actions and present day events.

Let’s see where this discussion goes when our students are really encouraged to think for themselves.

Debbie Miliara,

Weatherford



Obama’s speech (lack of)

Dear editor,

After studying the text of the president’s speech and considering the reaction of most Parker County school districts and some parents, they don’t want the children to be told to stay in school.

School and education are good for you and your country. No, maybe they think dumb is better.

Now let us be honest, the Parker County uproar over the president’s talk to the children is because the president is a BLACK man.

Patrick A. Mueller, J.D.,

Retired US Army [LTC, JAGC],

Dennis



America’s worst generation?

Dear editor,

I have been following the national healthcare debate closely for months. I see and hear violent objections to the bills being proposed by Democrats in Congress. What amazes me is, many of the strongest objections are coming from senior citizens like me.

I see them screaming against any form of national health insurance on grounds that it’s socialism, communism or even Nazism. And in the very next breath, they warn that nobody better mess with Medicare, Social Security or VA benefits.

I must assume they either don’t know that all three programs, by which they live, are all forms of national socialism. Or maybe they know they are the primary beneficiaries of socialism in this country and they just don’t want to share even a small part of their benefits with anyone else. Talk about hypocrisy!

My parents were part of what has been called “America’s Greatest Generation.” They endured the Great Depression, fought and won World War II and created the most social and economic progress in the history of the world.

I fear that my generation will be remembered as self-centered, selfish and called “America’s Worst Generation.”

Dennis Tilly,

Weatherford



Debate, who needs it!

Why the health care debate…with all of its anger and hostility, when the solutions are staring us in the face! What happened to common sense, logic, and the American can do spirit? I’m tired of dangling like a puppet on a string while Congress stays in a perpetual state of disarray! One simple solution…allow us to buy insurance from other states, but we can’t because it keeps getting voted down…why? So we have to buy insurance here, often with expensive mandates pushed by state legislators and lobbyists! The “experts” say this reform would drop costs an average of 15%! 

Second, reform tort law - stop the trial lawyer millionaires from suing doctors and hospitals, but politics get in the way again - Obama, Reid and Pelosi owe them huge favors – so no hope of reform there.  Who is running the country…Congress, the Executive Branch or the slip and fall lawyers? Some suggest that tort reform would stop so called “defensive” medicine and lower costs. How many of you reading this have felt like you had an unnecessary test or procedure recently?

Lastly, we need legislation that requires hospitals to post actual prices for services so we can shop around - like we do for other commodities to maintain our lifestyle. Taken at face value that should at least stabilize prices if not reduce them. Health care has been overtaxed, over-regulated and sued to near extinction! We need less government between us and our doctors, fewer parasitical trial lawyers, and more competition free from government created monopolies.

One government run post office is enough…oh, can someone please tell me how a monopoly loses money to the tune of tens of millions of dollars a year? Knowing that fact…do you really want the government to run health care?

Lonnie Williams

Weatherford