Don’t let distortions
rule reform debate
President Obama has played out his
proposal for health insurance reform
to Congress and the people of the United
States. Now it is time for open and
honest debate, in order to create a bill
that can be passed into law.
I have been dismayed by some of the
letters to this paper, as well as conversations
I have had with a few patients,
in which wildly distorted claims are
made about what is in the proposal:
illegal immigrants will get free health
insurance; death panels will decide
if elderly or disabled people should
live; and that Medicare recipients will
not get chemotherapy, are just a few
of these claims. None of these is true
and all appear to be gross distortions
of what is in the bills before Congress.
Clearly the spread of these lies is in
large part politically motivated.
There is certainly honest and principled
opposition to health care reform.
Some people believe that government
should have a more-limited role
in health care. Many are concerned
about the cost. And people with health
insurance, whether obtained from the
government (through Medicare, Medicaid,
or the VA) or from their employer
are certainly nervous about any possible
changes to their coverage. But
we cannot let fear and anger warp our
reasoning. Let us debate these proposals
honestly and civilly, and create a
unique American plan that will provide
health insurance coverage for
ALL our fellow citizens. Now is the
time; many of our lives are at stake.
Dr. Ben Friedell
Oneonta
Those on the right
true `death panel’
Those ranting about “death panels”
and against health care reform are
almost always led by the well-to-do
(the AMA), the extremely well-to-do
(the insurance companies), and those
who already have guaranteed health
care (the anti-health-care members
of both parties in the U.S. Congress).
Make no mistake, what these people
value above anything and everything,
“including human life” is money. They
claim to value freedom from big-government
spending, but their decades
of mindless support of defense spending
belie that idea.
What they really value is the freedom
to put every dollar they can grub
their hands onto in their own pockets,
all while transferring every expense
for civil life to others. Over the past 20
years they have been remarkably successful,
and now they have again organized
to fight universal health care.
This in the face of 45 million uninsured
Americans, including the thousands of
American children who die annually
because of a lack of health care.
Yes, Virginia, there are “death panels.”
But they are on the conservative
right.
Larry Bennett
East Meredith
Teen columnist
can’t be replaced
Thank you for having included Jessie
Matus on your “Teen Talk” staff for
the past couple of years. Her columns
are lively, intelligent dialogues that
are of interest to readers of all ages.
She tackles difficult issues of public
interest and writes with a uniquely
creative twist. Jessie speaks with a
voice and personality that is rare to
find among young writers.
As one who has come to look forward
to her columns, I wish that The
Daily Star could find a way to keep
Jessie’s writing featured in this paper.
The delightful spark in her writing is
irreplaceable.
Cathy Maxam
Otego
Errors show no
improvement made
What’s wrong with your newspaper?
For two days (Sept. 14 and 15), you
listed polling places for primaries in
Otsego County. Nowhere did you mention
Burlington or Edmeston.
Our votes are just as important as
the other towns. It’s not likely, but
could be possible, the votes from either
Burlington or Edmeston could decide
the vote.
I thought with the personnel changes
you have been making, things would
improve _ WRONG!
Leon Schworm
Edmeston
Letters to the Editor
September 28, 2009
Letters to the Editor: September 28, 2009
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