Published: September 28, 2009 09:08 am      

Letters to the Editor: September 28, 2009

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