I basically never read the paper any more and haven't for years, but today at the cafe I paid $0.75 and got a copy of the News Gazette. The letter to the editor from Mary J Wasson which appeared in the lower right hand corner of the opinion page confirmed that I've not been missing much.
Ms. Wasson's views are her own and that's just fine. My question is how in the world such paranoid claptrap gets past the paper's editors to actually be printed. Specifically what I see is
"Obama care is socialized medicine" - absolute nonsense, as if we had socialized medicine I'd have access to care, and I do not. Further disproof by example is readily found and the changes that go into place 1/1/2011 won't fix all that much.
The right wing fantasy that there are new IRS agents just to enforce health care rules gets trotted out, complete with the jail time for non-compliance and abortion on demand nonsense. These have been repeatedly and roundly debunked.
The author closes with some factually incorrect statements about Speaker Nancy Pelosi and offers her address. She is Speaker of the House for just a few more days, so I hope the people that have opinions similar to Ms. Wassom do waste their time writing to her - it'll limit the mischief they can actually cause in the real efforts to govern this country.
This sort of drivel is to be expected on web sites like Redstate and FreeRepublic. Why a newspaper, which ought to be making at least some gesture towards journalistic integrity, prints such obviously faulty piece of propaganda is a mystery. And it's one that makes me wonder if the rest of the so called reporting isn't just another slice of the long term, low intensity right wing infomercial that has replaced what used to be our fourth estate.
Mr. Rauhouser browbeats the
Mr. Rauhouser browbeats the newspaper for publishing an opinion of a reader, saying he might expect it in some ultra-conservative venue. He also is quite sarcastic in his views toward the opinion and it's writer.
But let's examine who Mr. Rauhouser might actually be. Just google him. Follow the links to his facebook and other social networking then start reading about his friends and how they describe themselves. Most are Marxist and have communist leanings, so I would expect Mr. Rauhouser to hold strong views in favor of Obamacare. Also note his tilting at windmills, which don't work, by the way. Another favorite policy to waste money on by Obama.
Could Mr. Rauhouser be paid to attack conservative views? Who knows, but if he's not he certainly doesn't appear to be gainfully employed given the wide range of rantings he has posted in the past couple of years in various small town and larger papers. And for someone who says he doesn't read the paper and hasn't in years, how does he respond to the letters to the editor so quickly. Oh and don't forget your attempt at posing as a columnist in the Paxton Record a while back. Or maybe you forgot to read what you wrote there too? My guess is he's a plant for the left to aggitate using blogging, social media and the like.
To "global warming for sure":
To "global warming for sure": But you have not told us why or even if you disagree with Mr. Rauhouser's comments
Most of the "socialism" in
Most of the "socialism" in health care reform this past year was in the form of handouts to insurance companies, drug companies, and health care providers. I don't see how government giving away tax dollars to corporations can be called socialism. In fact, it was this type of system that was called "fascism" in the 1930s and 40s.
It may be a socialistic
It may be a socialistic program. just like medicare, medicaid, social security, unemp ins, childrens services, 40 hr workweek, overtime, etc etc, Those are all government programs. Do you see anyone refusing medicare or social security or the other programs they qualify for. So folks, just shut up. You can't have it both ways. Suck it up and live with it.
Golly. Even if "those" people
Golly. Even if "those" people "shut up", there'd still be massive problems with all those fed. programs. And many if not most of "those" people with earned income HAVE to contribute to the programs, so it's not being 2-faced in my book if they accept what they are entitled to.
Finally, I don't begrudge the freedom of speech to anyone expressing concerns with the never ending attempts of Washington D.C. to take over our daily lives. Some people do not relish a time when they will be told when to breathe in and when to breathe out.
Regards,
Just wanted to chip in to say
Just wanted to chip in to say I agree a bit with each of you. Obamacare isn't the end of the world. All govt programs are essentially socialized and that's not necessarily bad. There are too many programs and even many good ones are poorly designed or run. Freedom of speech is overall a good thing as long as it's civilized and preferably productive.
I have no input into the
I have no input into the content. Just here to say it is an expression of free speech (minus the cost of postage, envelope, ink, etc.)
Regards,