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About the 40 Million
Ron Brinson’s editorial commentary showed how wealthy
people who can afford any amount of healthcare insurance are totally out of touch with the reality of the poor and middle
class citizens of this great country. Ron writes a Pollyanna story how he loves the healthcare in America, and please don’t
change it.
Ron – What about the more than 40 million people in the United States that
cannot afford adequate healthcare and go without drugs, eyeglasses or dental treatment?? These US citizens, many children,
d not get to enjoy the healthcare system that you do except in emergency rooms of the local public hospital – if they
have one!
Even Republicans admit the present healthcare system is broken and inadequate, and
that more if not all citizens need to be covered. The Democrats at least are trying o come up with solutions!
Where is the Republican alternative? Jim DeMint’s ideas only give more money to the pharmaceuticals
and insurance companies, and do not allow citizens to sue for malpractice! That is not going to get those
40 million citizen healthcare!!
Ron Brinson and the other wealthy Republicans are out of touch with mainstream hardworking
American citizens. They need to spend more time in the emergency rooms with citizens than out to expensive
dinner or the golf course with their insurance and pharmaceutical industry buddies.
We have a moral imperative to provide adequate healthcare for
everybody – do as the Democrats have done and come up with answers!
Richard Hayes Dorchester County Democratic Party North Charleston, SC
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Military Training and Joe Wilson
Like most everyone, my faith and life experiences serve
as the compass by which I set my course through life. For me, my experience as a husband, a father, a small business owner,
and public servant all contribute to the decisions I make. But no experience has been more fundamental
in the decisions I make than my experience in the United States Armed Services. I served for 3 years, from 1986 to 1989 in
the U.S. Army Airborne, attaining the rank of SGT/E-5.
Military training has its basis on a few core principles;
Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Courage. The military instills these values
in those of us who are lucky enough to serve, and we are beholden to represent that those values as we transition into civilian
life.
Some
would argue that Congressman Joe Wilson had a right to confront the President of the United States. In
the proper forum, I agree. However, in every military operation we are guided by rules of engagement; rules that help us define
our mission, define when it is proper to act or react, and what amount of response is appropriate. These
rules protect the lives of our fellow soldiers, and the civilians we are bound by duty to protect. Congressman
Joe Wilson, who is a veteran, should have understood better the rules of engagement for the Presidential Address on Wednesday
evening.
There is no protocol,
or excuse for heckling the President of the United States during a speech, no matter what political party that President is
from. Voicing opposition at that moment, in that setting, was a violation of the rules of engagement and disrespectful towards
the Office of the President of the United States. On the field of battle, when someone violates the rules
of engagement there are always consequences – many times mortal. Last Wednesday’s outburst, while not mortal in
nature, did do damage. It set a standard of uncivil discourse as acceptable behavior. Behavior that is unbecoming of a veteran
and a standing member of Congress.
When Congressman
Wilson shouted ‘You lie!’ at President Obama, he also showed a perverse disregard for another important tenet
of military training: respect for your commanding officer. Though the President is not in charge of any Member
of Congress, the President is the Commander-in-Chief and the Office of the President is due respect. In the military,
even in disagreement, we are taught to show superior officers the proper respect during formal occasions. The
President of the United States is the Commander in Chief of all our countries proud armed forces. That
title alone, demands the proper respect that is supposed to be instilled through military training. Either
Congressman Wilson never learned or purposely chose to disregard his military training.
Robert A. Dobbs
Democratic Candidate South Carolina
1st Congressional District
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Reform is a myth
I didn't realize that I'm a health care pioneer (Dec. 15 editorial "Solutions
for health care").
All this time I thought my husband and I were just a couple of middle-class people
struggling to pay health care insurance premiums that have nearly doubled in the last five years.
And aren't we smart to have a high deductible plan that keeps our monthly premium
to a mere $1,800 for the two of us?
Last year our premiums and deductibles came to $23,000. In 2010, we will pay $28,000.
But that's OK -- we are in the vanguard.
The premise of the editorial was ridiculous, and the condescending tone made it
worse. How many people are able, when faced with the prospect of surgery, to haggle with all-powerful insurance companies?
How many people have the money to lay out for a high deductible?
We did try to shop around for a more affordable plan. Our current arrangement
was the best we could find. Many of the "lower cost, less comprehensive" plans cover next to nothing. One had a deductible
of $15,000, but did not cover things like cancer or heart attacks. Buyer beware.
The idea that health care is a commodity like potatoes or shoes is disturbing,
and all the more so as we are being urged to think of ourselves not as patients who need care, but as consumers.
After the demise of a strong public option, a glimmer of hope arose in the form
of buy-ins to Medicare for people 55 and up. This, too, along with cost control of pharmaceuticals via re-importation, was
extinguished.
Now we know. Reform is a myth, and no help is forthcoming. We know who to thank.
Susan Shapiro
Murray Boulevard
Summerville
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