Readers Write 11/29

HEALTH CARE

House legislation a step
in the right direction

AARP Georgia wants to thank Reps. John Lewis, David Scott and Hank Johnson for their votes in favor of better health care for every Georgian. With the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962), we are one step closer to a stronger Medicare for seniors and future generations, and stable, affordable health care options for all Americans.

The House plan protects and strengthens Medicare, reduces out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, and covers some preventive care free of charge. It stops insurance companies from denying affordable coverage because of age or health, and limits how much insurance companies can make people pay out of pocket. For those who have no insurance or cannot afford it, the House plan offers affordable health insurance options.

While AARP is pleased to see this important step forward, we know the fight isn’t over. We’re going to keep working with the above representatives, and other members of the House and Senate, to ensure any final health care reform bill meets the needs of older Americans.

Cas Robinson, AARP Georgia

POLITICAL RIGHTS

Clearly, Boortz will give up some of his ‘rights’

I was startled and immensely delighted to read Neal Boortz’s column (“Moochers need free-market dose,” Opinion, Nov. 14). Startled at his novel definition of a “right” as excluding anything that involves a second of someone else’s labor or skills.

I am delighted that he has voluntarily given up his right to bear arms — unless he mines the ore, forges the steel and makes the guns himself in his backyard. After all, he cannot lay claims to the skill of the workers at the Colt factory, can he? Even then, I am not sure he has that right, unless he designs the gun and its firing mechanism. Oh, and he also has to figure out the laws of thermodynamics that govern explosions — all by himself, without the help of his science teacher.

Obviously, this also means Miranda rights are also kaput for all except lawyers. Right to freedom from illegal search and seizure? Forget it. Where do I get off demanding the time of a cop to protect me from a break-in? “Clearly I nailed this ‘right to health care thing,’ ’’ he says. Clearly.

Suresh Krishnamoorthy, Marietta

PHILOSOPHY

Apparently Barr is not on Christianity’s side

I was surprised to read Bob Barr’s “Rand disciple spreads her word” (Opinion, Nov. 16), supporting and propagating Ayn Rand’s objectivism, the antithesis of Christianity. According to Rand, and apparently to her new disciple Barr, uncontrolled greed is good and altruism, which is seen as weak, is bad.

Rand’s philosophy is social Darwinism — the philosophy of despots and robber barons. It espouses the ideals that led to deregulation, unbridled greed on Wall Street, and our financial meltdown. Objectivism, like communism and other “isms” that destroy the basic good in people, should be relegated to the trash heap of history.

Barr needs to decide which side of this philosophical divide he’s on — objectivism, the philosophy of a 20th century atheist, or Christianity, the teachings of the Savior.

David McBrayer, Roswell

TELEMARKETING

It’s OK to just say no
by just hanging up

Once again, the phone rang, and having been napping, I rose from sleep and fell. When I got there, it was another appeal. This time, this good ol’ Southern girl just hung up — and here’s why.

In some cases, just saying, “I’m sorry, but I can’t” is sufficient. But in others, the voice goes on very quickly so you cannot answer, and the persistence lasts until you can’t put up with it any more. And you hang up. If you are like me, you have a list of charities that you support consistently. But the callers overlook the fact that a gift has to be given willingly, and harassing someone when you have been told “I’m sorry!” leads to resentment, and does your cause no good.

There are many needs out there, and many of us are doing our best to meet them. Overcommitment on my part just adds one more person with needs. I do have the right to “Just say no!”

Madeline G. Korff, Canton

PRISONS

Here’s a cool idea: Send terrorists to Minnesota

Conflict continues about where to send the Guantanamo “terrorists.” Current thinking is to send them to an Illinois prison. Some Democrats support this as a key step to shutting down the hated Gitmo prison. However, many Republicans see this as a chance to again question the ability of our government to do anything right.

Gitmo temperatures range from 72 to 87 degrees. In Saudi Arabia, averages go from 81 to 109. How much more comfortable can we make it, other than to keep the real terrorists in Cuba? On the other hand, in Illinois, temperature extremes go from 30 to 110.

Too bad we can’t send the guilty to Minnesota instead.

David Bice, Kennesaw

POLITICS

Meeting qualifications for office important

I found Leslie Wolfe’s comment about Rep. Nathan Deal’s proposal to question the validity of our president’s citizenship amusing (“Readers write,” Opinion, Nov. 16). If this is the only thing of concern, I am not even sure the reader would have considered Deal to be governor of our state, because Rep. Deal has served honorably in Washington for many years. I also wonder if the reader found the liberals’ questioning of Sen. John McCain’s citizenship not a pressing issue when he was a presidential candidate? Qualifications for political office are, and should be, a high priority when voting for a candidate to represent our country in domestic and international affairs.

I find Deal’s search for the truth of our president’s citizenship highly professional and refreshing — and something the Republican Party and some of its members appear to have been negligent about when dealing with qualifications for the highest office in our land.

Jerome Jernigan, Atlanta