Koury's letter went too far
I was dismayed to read James Koury's June 27 letter to the editor in which he calls for "a much more aggressive stance" by homosexuals on the order of the militants of the civil rights era.
That era saw groups like the Black Panthers and the Black Muslims. These groups advocated and participated in gross acts of violence from murder to arson. The devastating riots of the 1960s were promoted by these folks. Is that what we can expect next of the gay rights people?
I am very disappointed that The Daily Star would print such an incendiary article. If I had written a letter advocating a new militarism against homosexuals, it never would have been printed. Not that I would. I am my brother's keeper, and I care about my homosexual friends (and enemies, even extremists like James Koury).
I care enough to express my concerns about their destructive behaviors. Beside the crystal-clear proscriptions in the Scriptures against such behavior, 8,000 dead homosexuals annually from AIDS tells me that I must question their choice in continuing on the road to perdition. For those who question whether they should be traveling on that road, I offer my hand to help. And for those who don't, my hand is there for them, too.
Jerry Kabat
Oneonta
Health care reform will squeeze Medicaid
Those not qualifying for Medicaid but still squeezed in ability to afford personal health insurance, under some circumstances will be reimbursed by the federal government. These federal reimbursements will come out of general funds, Medicaid, for which there is no current provision for specific funding. This expenditure will add to the deficit, which is wildly out of control.
We must face the need for adequate revenue to cover the costs of a national health care plan; and a value-added tax appears the best way to go. Many other countries with national health care plans have a value-added tax to raise the revenue to help pay for their health care expenses. This "VAT" has been tested and found to work.
A national health care plan to make sure all are covered is a noble and worthwhile target, but we must face the fact that it has to be paid for. Paying for a national health care plan is a huge undertaking, especially with the national deficit at over a trillion dollars and the national debt at approximately $16 trillion. In the United Kingdom, all are covered under their national health care plan and those who want more and better coverage can buy health insurance policies.
How far can we go, and still make it affordable for the individual and the government? We cannot ignore or be irresponsible for not taking action now on reducing the national deficit and debt. May God approve and bless our undertaking!
Louis Nicholson
Fly Creek
