Published: October 16, 2009 07:45 am      

Letters to the Editor: October 16, 2009

Get to know Getman

Before you step into the booth on Nov. 3, be sure you know the candidates. For the first time in a very long time, the people of Oneonta have a choice in the race for city court judge. Mike Getman has served this community with the honor and integrity needed to be the next city court judge.

Mike has served as city prosecutor, assistant district attorney, currently serves as the chief assistant district attorney for Otsego County, an assistant county attorney, a law guardian representing children, and assistant public defender. In his professional career, Mike has applied the law consistently and evenly. He treats clients, defendants, witnesses, fellow attorneys, judges and police officers with respect. As city prosecutor, Mike has worked hard to keep our city safe. Mike cares for the rights of victims.

Mike Getman is committed to our city. He has volunteered his time by serving on the boards of directors of many organizations in the area. Mike is the president of the board of directors of Fox Hospital and is heavily involved in the affiliation discussions between Fox and Bassett hospitals. Mike understands this affiliation is vital not only to the city of Oneonta, but to the entire region.

I have known Mike for many years. We have coached Little League together, played golf together, and spent countless hours talking about the welfare of Oneonta. Mike cares very deeply for this city and wants to keep it safe. Mike will be a fair judge and he will give everyone their day in court. Mike will ensure justice is served in Oneonta and will keep our city safe.

Party politics should not play a part in judicial races. On Nov. 3, vote for the candidate, not the party. Vote Mike Getman for city court judge.

Bill Grau

Oneonta

Health care is a moral right

In a letter to the editor on Oct. 1, Timothy Gibson expressed his opinion that health care should be a right in America. In a comment to the letter in your online edition, Jamie FitzGerald asserted that the U.S. Constitution contains no mention of a right to health care. These two writers are talking about two different types of rights.

As examples, Mr. FitzGerald states that we have constitutional rights to worship freely, criticize our officials and to bear arms. These are rights that are enforceable in a court of law _

ultimately resorting to the Constitution.

Mr. Gibson is saying that in our 21st Century society, it should be a moral right for everyone to have access to health care. It may not be enshrined in the Constitution, but it is just morally right for all Americans to ensure that every other member of the community will receive medical care when needed.

In addition, it is in everyone's interest to have medical care universally available. We live in a society where everyone _ rich or poor, socialist or libertarian _ has a broad range of contacts with other people. Obvious examples are the restaurant workers who prepare our meals and the other kids in our children's classroom. It is clearly in our personal interest that they not suffer from untreated communicable diseases simply because they have no access to health care.

Finally, I find Mr. FitzGerald's implication repugnant that every jerk has an unfettered right to have any type of gun he wishes and to take it anywhere he wishes (on the street, in a school, to church or a presidential address) and that right is a higher national priority than universal access to health care.

David W. Truscott

Delhi