The American Spectator

The many elderly who needlessly died of Clostridium difficile, from a socialist perspective, had already outlived their usefulness. People with any sense of compassionate would argue that these elderly people have earned their rewards of living out their final years peacefully and in as a healthy manner as possible, but from a strict (and jaundiced) view point of the Socialists, these elderly people contributed according to their ability and now represent a drain on society; it is the elderly who are being selfish by not fulfilling their obligation of dying and getting out of the way.

If the Socialists are consistent in their philosophy, they must ask themselves, what “good” is being produced by keeping the elderly and infirm alive? The question goes answered without ever being asked, for what human with any sense of compassion, love or sense of fairness, can look himself in the face and deny the dignity and humanity of the elderly without first denying his own?

Americans of all ages would do well to examine Britain’s NHS before considering the left’s single payer model. The promise of a single payer platform is life on the cheap, but the reality is it’s dealing death at a bargain basement closeout.
— Ira M. Kessel
Rochester, New York

DON’T GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS, JUST PLAY THE GIG
Re: Bill Croke’s What’s a Conservative Deadhead to Do?

I’m a conservative, age 52, and I can empathize. Used to be apolitical. I just heard over the weekend that The Dead had Tipper Gore play drums at one of their shows. That’s terrible and discouraging. I want nothing to do with Tipper Gore, Al Gore, or Barack Obama.

I went to a dozen Dead shows in the 1970s, when they were a good band. I still have dozens of recordings of theirs from the 70’s, nothing after 1978. Musically they’re not what they were then, and some of their judgement calls are atrocious. Supporting Fidel Castro, B. Obama, and Tiper Gore — too dismal for words. But I still listen to the recordings from the halcyon days, i.e. the 1970s.
— Dan
New York and California

CLUB TALK
Re: Asher Embry’s Hugo’s Book Club:

Snippets and Quips from Chavez-Obama exchange:

Obama: I’m glad the gift book is in Spanish so I won’t read it.

Chavez: It’s called “Open Veins of Latin America,” but it’s not about the closing veins of our outdated oil equipment.

Obama: The opened veins of your persecuted people mean that when you say “Give me five,” you keep the fingers.

Chavez: I like the little touch that you wore sulpher after-shave.

Obama: When they said Venezuela is oily, I thought they meant the country, not you.

Chavez: At least you’re not a white devil.

Obama: Any suggestions on how to change the rules so I, too, can be elected for life?