Conservatives who speak out attacked

A recent letter writer indicated that “older uneducated white conservatives” have the same say on health care as other Americans.

Well, isn’t that generous? Of course, when these individuals do exercise their constitutional rights to speak, they are variously described as Nazis, KKK members, evil mongers, anarchists, members of a mob and freaks.

Despite current polls that show Americans do not favor health care reform, those who are opposed to it are usually portrayed as misinformed, ignorant and being intellectually deficient.

The recent letter writer also goes on his monthly anti-Bush rant. (1) Bush “asleep at the wheel for 9/11” — many believe that the actions/inactions of President Clinton had a major impact on 9/11. (2) Letting “bin Laden get away” — Clinton had the opportunity for assassination but the trigger wasn’t pulled. (3) Invading the “wrong country as revenge for 9/11” — Congress voted in bipartisan fashion (82 Democratic house members, 29 Democratic senators) for the Iraqi war. (4) “Tax breaks for the wealthy” — Good. They already pay more than their share. For instance the top 10 percent wage earners pay 71 percent of all income taxes. (5)The “Bush deficit” — the deficit under Obama will end up dwarfing anything the U.S. has ever experienced.

Joe Barker, Catlettsburg



Obama’s change will destroy nation

The president and Congress all tell us that their plan is to be paid for by eliminating $500 billion in waste, and the other $500 billion from a surtax on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans.

On July 17, the Washington Post reported that the first $500 billion will be in cuts to Medicare. How about that senior citizens? And the other $500 billion from the wealthy 1 percent cannot pay that much in 30 years, let alone 10.

Of course, our representatives and senators will vote for this as they will never be in this plan. You can ask them to join, and they will tell you, no, they have another plan that we, the taxpayers, have to cover for the rest of their lives. They were elected to serve the people. However, now they only care to decieve us and keep getting elected.

Those who voted for President Ohama will be lucky to have “change” in their pockets when his term is over, as he is set on a course to destroy our country. His change will do us all in as a nation.

Homer Campbell, Ironton, Ohio



Representatives avoiding forums

I live in Indiana’s 8th congressional district. Brad Ellsworth is our representative. I was looking forward to an open forum town hall meeting with Ellsworth but he is not having open meetings.

Sen. Evan Bayh’s Washington office said Bayh was not going to have any open town hall meetings in Indiana. Sen. Richard Lugar’s local office said Lugar wasn’t having any town hall meetings in Indiana.

Like Casey at the bat, I and the constituents of Indiana struck out — three for three congressional cowards. Why are they scared to face their constituents, cameras and news media in town hall meetings? Is it because they know what they are doing is changing America from a free Democracy to a socialistic government?

Town hall meetings make congressional members have to answer to the gigantic spending and socialistic changes they are voting for. The reason the town hall meetings are difficult for congressional members is they are not saying what the American people want to hear. If we allow congressional members to avoid town hall meetings, then we will have the same situation as dictators silencing their critics and depriving people of free speech.

This is not only Indiana’s problem but the whole United States’ problem. It is time the American people stand up to our congressional members and say we want to be heard in open meetings.

Tom Virgin, Newburgh, Ind.



Health care reform will increase taxes

It seems like everything the government is involved in ends up with an endless bureaucracy with additional tax burdens on the citizens.

The health of America is in heart attack mode. Cumbersome burdens in new taxes plus the stripping the rights of each individual are at the forefront of coverage.

From our local officials all the way to the top of our government, there is an effort to take away freedoms and choices rather than enhance them. At no other time have so many people been so upset with the new legislation coming down the path.

If you cherish your freedoms and your right to life both in the womb and before the tomb, you ought to be speaking out in defense for your loved ones. Rationing of health care to the elderly and disabled is a sin.

Jesus left us the example of great healing of those whom no one would associate with in His day. It isn’t the illnesses that plague our society and bleed our coffers; it is the hospitals, the doctors, the pharmaceutical distributors, and the insurance companies backed by a powerful lobby. The people who are only in your life for the money are the parasites that have driven health care cost up immensely.

Health care for all sounds good if it were truly health care for all. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and even USPS are all run by the government, and each of them share the same problem: They are poorly managed! How do you expect the health care program to operate efficiently if they cannot run these arms of the government?

“Government run” means that you now are one of the dispensable assets. They would rather replace you than pay to keep you operating.

Ron Payne, Hedgesville, W.Va.