Published: October 30, 2009 01:49 pm      

Letters to the editor, Nov. 1, 2009

Local contest

Dear editor,

Seeing the letters to the editor and folks begging us to vote in the local bank contest for money to be donated to various charities, indeed all good causes, is so sad.

With our nation’s economic crisis and skyrocketing profit-making insurance company premiums, more and more of us are hard-pressed to donate to charity.

The cost of one soldier going to Afghanistan could build 20 schools in that distraught country and many in our nation. The cost of one soldier could fund how many immunizations? Costs of Iraq and escalating conflicts.

Won’t it be a great day when the private insurance profiteers or the military have to hold bake sales and online popular vote for money contests?

Cathy Courtney,

Weatherford



Express your opinion

Dear editor,

We’ve had enough time now to get an idea of the direction our new administration is taking, and we need to stay involved.

Have you noticed if taxes are going down or if there is more control of government debt and spending? Are you enjoying more personal freedoms and liberties? Have you seen stronger faith, moral, ethical and spiritual emphasis? Do you feel safer and more secure?

The following information may be helpful as we consider health care, national debt, cap and trade, stimulus and bailout issues.

The combined current tax burden (income, sales, property, Social Security, Medicare, etc.) per average U.S. citizen is already near 40 percent. What is a “fair” or “just” amount for the government to take from its people?

The top 20 percent of our population already pays 69.2 percent of all federal taxes. There are roughly 40 percent of our citizens who pay no federal income tax (after various tax credits). How would the colonies have functioned if 40 percent of the citizens didn’t help to support the colony? What would have happened if 40 percent said they were entitled to certain benefits, etc., that the others “owed” them? What happened to personal responsibility, self-sufficiency, team work? What about personal self-discipline, waiting for what you can afford, being satisfied with what you have until you can afford it by working harder or longer?

We do need to help and support those who must have assistance to survive or to get to where they can be self-supporting, but there are very few Americans who cannot or could not support themselves. Must 40 percent of our country have the help of everyone else?

We must be active, vigilant and involved in these critical issues for our country! We must accept the responsibility of expressing our concerns, opinions and ideas!

Bill Gilbert,

Weatherford



No “opt-out” for states

Dear editor,

Medicare and a Public Option could both be cheaper and fairer if ran by one National Administrative Service rather than by counties and states.

Let’s get health care for all at an affordable rate.

Mr. Elaine Laisure,

Weatherford



Will somebody listen?

Dear editor,

Texas ranks 48th in insurance coverage. We have the Republican end all be all Tort reform.

Our insurance rates are among the highest in the country! So much for Tort reform solving all our problems.

We want a Public option. I have no doubt this will be ignored by my state representatives. They are afraid of loosing the contributions required from the insurance companies.

We are sick of the mess here in Texas, but nobody listens.

Mr. Jeanette Lockett,

Weatherford



Health benefits should be equal

Dear editor,

As an American senior citizen, I feel that I can say LOUDLY that all Americans should receive the same health benefits as the other citizens whom we have elected to represent us, and whom we pay handsomely to do so.

Our representatives at present are not representing us, but the drug companies and the medical fraternity.

Shame!

Mrs. Tommye L. Lyles,

Azle



Create wellness

Dear editor,

We are the last developed country in the world to provide inclusive and fair health care for all of its citizens, not just the elite in Washington.

If you want to put restrictions on a bill, make it for personal accountability and responsibility regarding food, nutrition and exercise programs, not in denial of services.

Create wellness centers in each community so that we learn once more to choose healthy lifestyles, thus reducing the health care bill by half its cost, because we won’t be needing it.

Mrs. Anita Pauwels,

Weatherford