The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Arrogant Nonsense

7.11.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 2 of 6)

This altered use of the truth really wears thin.

Keep up the good work.
-- Bill Peters

MISSED THE BUS
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.'s Paging Dr. Smith:

With all respect to Mr. Tyrrell, there is a simple reason that so-called conservative politicians aren't really jumping in to debate the health-care problem. There are no more truly conservative politicians. Although Mr. Hillyer points out several more conservative politicians in You Can Go Home Again, I would respectfully disagree that these men and women are actually conservative.

There's one very simple reason why conservative ideals are falling out of favor. Because even the conservative movement isn't being entirely honest. More importantly, 'conservative' politicians are not arguing for and advancing conservative ideals and policies. Somewhere along the way we lost sight of the important debate.

The fact is, we lost the real debate. The debate shouldn't be how government power should be applied. Or by what "side," right or left, the government should be controlled. The debate should be about the proper role of government and the proper amount of governmental power. We lost this debate around the time we accepted that we live in a democracy (how many "conservative" commentators talk about the American Republic?) and that we, the people, have constitutional rights. Thankfully, the Spectator is still running articles that point out that the Bill of Rights didn't create rights but acknowledged them, I'm still not seeing any that make the point that the term "constitutional right" should apply only to government power. How easy is it for government power advocates (also called "liberals") when even their "conservative" counterparts don't really challenge them on the central purpose of government?

I do fear that state run health care in the US is inevitable. Not because the people really want it, but because conservatives won't stand up and start making the arguments we need to be making. We need a unified effort to change the whole debate, not just aspects of it. We need to start talking about the purpose of government overall, not just its roll in this or that.
-- Charles Campbell
Austin, Texas

It is not enough to complain about long lines, poor services, etc. when arguing health care. Doctors are at the top of the "fix it" group, they won't give up this position, no matter how hard the insurance industry works to dislodge them as they try to take more control.

And what does Mr. Insurance Man do when his back is up against the wall? He asks Mr. Government Man to come in and be the final "deep pocket" in the game of loss/protection.

State run liquor stores have not stopped those from becoming constant drunks; what makes you think state run health care will achieve any of its objectives?

Anyone remember those four corner gas stations who would from time to time have "gas wars" where we all got some cheaper gas? What would it be like to have four clinics at an intersection offering entry level healthcare?

Why has the American entrepreneur been locked up relative to health care? Same thing with energy. Heard of any new medical schools being built and opened for students?

It's time to be American, and being American is tackling a problem with everything we've got! The "Can do spirit" is as American as apple pie, right...right!

Will do? Well, that's another question, isn't' it?
-- R. Philips
Corrales, New Mexico

A NIGHTMARE, THAT'S WHAT
Re: James M. Thunder's What Happened in Richmond?:

Letter to the Editor

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