NOT THE TRACK RECORD OF A BRAIN SURGEON
Re: Robert M. Goldberg’s
A Trillion Dollars in Incompetence:
One wonders if those touting a “universal” government “health
care” plan have considered if GM’s and Chrysler’s union health
care plans bankrupted and destroyed those companies, what will a
larger and more cumbersome government “health care plan” do to
the country?
With the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats
creating a $2+ trillion dollar deficit in a month and the
corresponding collapse of the job market, how will things be
“better” if the same dolts who created our current financial mess
run a costly and gigantic health care system? I know that for the
effete oligarchy now running our government magical thinking
trumps simple facts and reality, but surely some of them have
watched “Sesame Street” and learned some simple math and know
from history that when Democrats create a bureaucracy it means
adding billions of dollars to the actual cost of the program
while subtracting from the quality of the care or service
rendered to the overburden taxpayers.
— Michael Tomlinson
Jacksonville, North Carolina
So let’s see if I understand: the Obama automobile
bail-outs stole the supposedly 100 percent secured
investment of the bondholders and gave the money to the auto
workers. The Kennedy health care plan will cost over a trillion
dollars and use tax money to pay for the current style
of auto workers health care. It will provide Cadillac Health
Care to the UAW while they make tiny cars resemble garbage carts
with electric motors and windshields, that none will want to buy.
Meanwhile, the rest of us will get rationed care, except the old
who will be set adrift on an ice flow, unless of course they melt
from global warming. Is that about it? Gee, what a shock for the
auto workers when they get older.
— Phillip Thompson
CULTURE WARRIOR
Re: Jay D. Homnick’s Petal
to the Meddle:
Jay Homnick has done it again. His piece on the 60’s brats gives
me a warm feeling! Interesting that my first exposure to him was
a piece making fun of us poor souls living south of the
Mason-Dixon Line (at the time I lived in Alabama). The occasion
was a recognition of Robert E. Lee’s birthday. My letter was a
cut he felt needed a direct reply. He did so to my e-mail. Since,
I have enjoyed and have been appreciative of his many columns.
Keep up keeping up Jay!
— M.J. Turkelson
Lebanon, Ohio
BUT CAN HE FIELD?
Re: Lisa Fabrizio’s
Two
Hands, Luis!
Lisa Fabrizio will understand my wish. She is always a must read
on Wednesday. In honor of her I am clicking on the donate
button. All the best to you, Lisa. One lucky dude up in
Nutmegia.
— Robert Yatto
Crossville, Tennessee
THE WORST GENERATION
Re: Andrew B. Wilson’s D-Day
and the Aging Frenchman:
When the day finally comes, and all those who lived through World
War II are dead and gone, I wonder what those who came long after
will say about what was done. Given some of the things that have
already been said about it, I’m none too happy about what will
come…
— Robert Nowall
Cape
Coral, Florida
NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WELL-READ
Re: Bill Croke’s Hitting
the Books:
I remember the Scholastic Book Club with fondness. But I
generally picked through the lists and picked out what looked
like science fiction — my main reading habit in those days. I
think the only one Mr. Croke mentions that I got through was
“Captains Courageous.”
I have a certain amount of regret now for not reading some
of these then and there. Certainly over the next few years, when
I encountered and read some of those mentioned, I enjoyed them. I
might have enriched myself and my worldview much earlier in life
if I had.
Ah, well, there’s no undoing what’s been done here. As for what
the junior-high student renewing his books, at least he’s
reading…
— Robert Nowall
Cape Coral, Florida
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, AND
TWEETS
Re: Ilan Berman’s
Interesting Times in Tehran:
A major difference in the worldview between the Western mind and
the Middle Eastern mind is the approach towards
authority. The Western mindset is well represented by René
Descartes, a devout Catholic, who advised men to “Question
everything.” This everything includes questioning the authority
of the pope and the very existence of God. From the Middle
Eastern mind arose Islam, which does not allow, let alone
encourage, questioning of Imams, ayatollahs, or the existence of
Allah. Submit or die is an oversimplification of their creed, but
not brutally so. But with the internet and other global
communications, a pure mind set is difficult to keep. The very
Western idea of rebellion has blown on the wind and the seeds are
finding root in Iran.
President Obama has been presented an opportunity to influence
Middle East policy much in the same way President H.W. Bush was
presented an opportunity by China’s Tiananmen Square
uprising. For many reasons, President Bush did not capitalize on
the opportunity to use soft diplomacy to show support for the
Chinese youth. Understandably, he did not wish to be entangled in
unnecessary hostilities, but subtle and consistent
encouragement could have been provided without a direct
confrontation. Our fearless leader is facing a similar
situation. Bush, a man who depended heavily upon prudence and
deliberation, was too lost in thought to take action. The
One has already proven himself to be a backwards-looking
president, continually sniping at his predecessor, so he maybe he
has learned from Paré Bush’s mistake. That still leaves the
question if Our Dear Leader has the courage to show support for
the rebellion in Iran and exploit it.
Wisdom dictates that one calculates risks, but the same wisdom
dictates that wasted opportunities are seldom repeated.
— I.M. Kessel
SOJOURN YOUR WAY ON BACK OUT OF THE USA
Re:
Garry Greenwood’s letter (under “A Chance to Evangelize”) in
Reader Mail’s The
Right Stuff:
I assure Mr. Greenwood and the readers of TAS that the
Catholic Church is hardly alone in its support for open borders
and subverting the immigration laws. The most often stated
justification is the Old Testament injunction to greet and
welcome the stranger in our midst. In more modern language, that
means showing “solidarity” with the poor and the marginalized and
honoring the essential humanity of illegal aliens.
One can’t help but notice that it is strange that, for so many of
those in the ministry who regard many of the central claims of
Scripture as “problematic,” the specific verses regarding the
“stranger in our midst” are carved in marble and an unambiguous
in their meaning. One can’t help but suspect they simply looked
for Biblical support for what they wanted in the first place —
something they claim religious conservatives do. Our religious
display an earnestness in these commands that give the most
rock-hard fundamentalists a run for the money. Bad or
inconsistent theology also calls their moral authority into
question.
One should also note that, in regard to the alien, most of the
Old Testament injunctions involve the requirement that he and his
house is to keep the Sabbath. If an alien wishes to celebrate the
Passover, he and all the males in his household were to be
circumcised. Actual religious submissions to the God of Israel
were not required of the alien; but the behavior required of the
faithful also is required of the alien. And the law was to be
impartial to both the alien as well as the native born Israelite.
“Alien” in these cases involved those living in Israel who were
not children of the promise.
On the opposite side, the faithful are not to oppress the alien
and, in fact, love him — extending food and clothing in his
need. The sojourner passing through the country was to be treated
in charity as well. But these leave the essential questions
unanswered.
While we are to love the stranger among us, what has this to do
with open borders? Where is the warrant to allow mass migration
into the country? Where is it commanded that after they subvert
the law to get here, we are required to allow them to remain
here? Is the alien living among the Israelites or the sojourner
passing through Israel to his destination really comparable to a
person who sneaks into the country against its statutes?
I don’t blame those who are trying to come to America
legitimately or unlawfully. I probably would do the very same
thing. It is for this reason I believe in immigrant-friendly laws
— laws which would apply to the Asian, Irish, African, Indian,
etc. No quotas. Yet, I recognize that the government has a
superior interest in knowing who and what is trying to come here.
Along with immigration’s blessings, we also have received
criminals and threatening, organized gangs. It is in the national
interest that these should be resisted at our borders.
— Mike Dooley
EAGLES RISING
I’m trying to sidle across the aisle
But my sneakers are stuck to the floor.
The Left is out of my reach, I find.
My Conservative leanings are more
Compelling than any half-hearted grovel.
I can’t bow forward and bend the knee.
I’ve an old-fashioned reverence for freedom.
I’m trapped in Liberty.
My allegiance is unsophisticatedly simple
Nuance is beyond my pay grade.
I am not defined by how others see me.
My dues have been uncompromisingly paid.
Pundits would have it that I stand alone.
They are wrong, but they flap on at length.
Out of the corners of their eyes they see
The frightening vision of traditional strength.
Millions of us have been called on to choose
And find we can’t compromise.
The values that most of us understand
Are unstoppably on the rise.
— Mimi Evans Winship
