Redistribution of wealth happens now
In her letter of Jan. 11, Donna Sell equates President Obama's policies, especially health care reform, with the socialism of Karl Marx, deploring what she calls a redistribution of wealth.
The fact is that most of our tax codes are a redistribution of wealth. In your town, people who own expensive homes pay more of the costs of your school system than people who own more-modest homes. On the federal level, people who earn more pay more of the costs of the military and other essential expenditures. Why should health care be different?
Ms. Sell also compares criticism of Christian fundamentalists intruding on government with blaming the Nazis for their evil policies. That is absurd and disrespectful to those who suffered or died during the Nazi regime.
She is correct, however, that digressing from traditional Christian values has hurt America. Is it Christian to deny health care to millions?
The meek shall inherit the earth, but with no health insurance. Is it Christian to start unnecessary wars against people who did not attack us? Is it Christian to legislate religion into law? The Supreme Court has spoken: government cannot intrude on a woman's choice as to when to bear children, even if it is against your religion.
President Obama's policies have nothing to do with Marxism and everything to do with basic fairness and equality. We are all entitled to basic health care.
Mark Lavine
Cooperstown
Drilling different than other industries
In response to "Delaware supervisors vote to back gas drilling" by Patricia Breakey, Delhi News Bureau, published Dec. 10: shame, shame, shame, Bob Homovich! Do you not know that natural gas drilling IS different than "harvesting trees, quarrying bluestone or farming the land"?
Home Rule allows you, as supervisor of the town of Colchester, to govern the locally owned industries of lumbering, quarrying and farming. Home Rule does not apply to the "foreign to Delaware County" energy-extractive industries.
When it comes to gas drilling, your town can only control roads and taxes, which will seem like small consideration when the DEC permits a well in the center of Downsville.
You should know this like the back of your hand. You should not need a Delaware County constituent to remind you of this fact.
Kathy Klopchin
Masonville
