Reader Mail
The Ninny State
Ben Stein. Lindsey Graham. The Luxury of 1st World Global Warming, and more.
(Page 2 of 3)
“When you tell government that it is its responsibility to make sure everyone has ‘affordable healthcare’ or some other ‘benefit’ you are telling an army of nanny bureaucrats that it is perfectly legitimate for government to regulate your behavior for your own good, the good of the ‘system,’ or the good of the planet.”
Under President Bush, many of us had misgivings about the Patriot Act, because we knew that President Bush would not be president forever.
Likewise, President Obama will not be president forever.
What, for example, might be the proper role of government healthcare bureaucrats vis a vis the currently popular minority that spreads debilitating diseases through their methods of sexual expression?
Might a future President say no to the expensive pharmacological
brews and offer pain-killers only? Or will this fiscal discipline
be applied only to the obese, the tobacco fiends and the
drunkards?
— Dan Martin
Pittsburgh
UNDISCIPLINED CHILDREN IN A TOY STORE
Re: W. James Antle, III’s
The Republican Recovery:
When teaching a child how to behave, tell the child what he may do. Giving a list of acceptable behaviors gives the child not only choices, but also confidence to make the right choices. The easier, but much less productive, system is to allow the child to behave as he wishes and then say no when he goes wrong. This allows too many wrong choices and denies the child a directed sense of right and wrong.
Clearly the Democratic Party majority is behaving like a child in
a toy store grabbing at anything he finds amusing while ignoring
the price tags. Since he is not paying, no cost seems
unreasonable. The Republican Party is behaving like weak parents;
they say no but put up little true correction; they hem and haw;
they equivocate; they fear to put their foot down.
The only way to stop the growing Nanny State is for Americans to
be adults. If the GOP would stop buying into the Democrats idea
that America is a land of children, they can start talking to the
populace adult to adult. Republicans, stop saying “no, but….”
The country is ready for someone to take a stand. Tea Parties are
indicative of grass root support, but a single voice around which
the people can rally is needed. This is not without precedent:
Congressman Newt Gingrich came up with “The Contract with
America.” He was preceded by then Governor Reagan who delineated
and delivered a clear message of smaller government and lower
taxes. In both cases, America and the GOP prospered.
In a clear and rancor free voice, let’s tell Papa Obama we are
all grown up. Stimulus? We don’t need no stinkin’ stimulus.
— I.M. Kessel
GIVING CONGRESS THE FIGURE
Re: Ben Stein’s We’ve
Figured Him Out:
Great article and I agree with virtually everything you said. My only question is this, if we the people “trusted” him what about all the other Democrats and leftists in Congress who are drinking the Kool-Aid? I can understand an extreme leftist president trying to ram something down our throats but what is the excuse of all the others who are writing these bills and being part and parcel of the same programs?
I believe the president gets too much credit and too much blame
on many things and Congress gets a free ride. If the Democratic
leaders in Congress were not on the same page as Obama then none
of this would be happening. So what is your take on their
actions?
Thanks for your insight.
— Steve
Jacksonville,
Florida
Why isn’t ANYONE talking about Obama’s choice to be the “Green Energy czar”? First, isn’t it curious that his administration is using the word “czar” over and over again…. auto, financial, green energy, etc. Do we not know where this word originated? It means:”a male monarch or emperor, especially one of the emperors who ruled Russia until the revolution of 1917.”
But here is the more important deal: Why is no one talking about Van Jones, the self-admitted communist and anarchist that is now leading the Green reform? Can we not see the writing on the wall as this pertains to the proposed Cap and Trade? Conoco Phillips has all but promised that if Cap and Trade passes, they will leave the U.S. and Jones would then lead the charge under the Green Regime. Jones co-founded STORM which is a self-admitted marxist/maoist radical group….Obama’s act here is not one of stupidity, it is one of treason!
Please expose these knuckleheads for who they are before it’s too
late.
— Tom
San Antonio
Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment
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Pastor| 7.31.09 @ 7:55AM
I think Stein is about 8 1/2 years too late. You should have been voicing your opinion about the pig to the people before Obama took office. It was the pigs that ruled 8 years and got this country into the ripe ole cow paddy mess it's in today. Why did you have your eyes shut then, and where was the polls not asking how Pres.Bush was doing in his first six months even his first six years. Sitting back complaining is all I hear the rich (rep) do, yet you bring no solutions on how to clean up the mess that you made. You are all seen as prejudice dogs returning to its vomit. If you cant help which you only agitate and promote racial hatred then shut up and stop hurting this country and your reputations. I guess even the dogs need to eat crumbs that fall from the masters table, and then complain about it.
Phil| 7.31.09 @ 8:46AM
Pastor seems to have misinterpereted that old Hooked on Phonics commercial, and taken it to mean Hooked on Bonghits. That has to be the most unintelligible screed I have ever read. Only because of my superb reading comprehension abilities am I able to divine from it an anti-Bush theme. As we are all well aware, GWB caused every calamity dating back to the great biblical flood because of his anti-science policies and such. Also, he makes a great point about how all rich people are republicans; just ask George Soros, John F'ing Kerry, or Bill Gates. And as to his point about all the glowing media and polls about GWB's first 6 years in office, I distinctly remember it exactly that way. It was disgusting the way MSNBC and the NYT went out of their ways to hide all the bad news out of that administration and just made up unicorn and rainbow stories about how the economy was so so so so so good that Womyn and Minorities benefitted the most. I'd have to say the most prominent example was the coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with all the pictures of GWB personally swimming through alligator infested water just to save a drowning black baby. Who could ever forget that?
On a non-sarcastic note, I look forward to the reader mail section almost as much as I look forward to reading the regular pieces here, primarily to see what Ira Kessel has to say. You's guys should really think about bringing him on as a regular contributor. His writing is consistently well thought out and makes cogent points in easily understandable language.
Bruce | 7.31.09 @ 11:02AM
A few comments-
First, I have to agree with Phil concerning "Pastor's" insane ramblings. I wonder where I have been for the past 8 years that President Bush was bringing down the foundations of liberty in this country - while at the same time managing to keep us safe from another attack. Quite an accomplishment, I'd say! Then he implies that only the Republicans are rich? Excuse me, Pastor, but I am quite sure that if you bother checking you would find that the wealthiest in the Senate and House - as well as the greatest number of super wealthy - are in fact DEMOCRATS!
Second, to Mr. Elwell. Yes - we can always trust a Dem to mention their educational achievements, can't we? I'm impressed, as I'm sure we all are, with your 2 degrees, Mr. Elwell, but I am also reminded of a fact one of my professors drummed into me in college ... "an education is no substitute for COMMON SENSE." It is clear to me that you are sadly lacking in that regard. Also typically, for a liberal, is the inclusion of either a reference to Nazi's or the KKK. Apparently neither of the educational institutions Mr. Elwell mentions offered a course in American political history. Had they - Mr. Elwell might have known that the Dem party (NOT the GOP) has historically been the party of segregation and anti-black sentiment. If the KKK sets off such emotions in you - you might consider doing a brief examination of the history of one of the Dem parties longest serving members ... Senator Byrd. You would then take note of his long association as a member and Grand Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan. OOPS! And just toss in a few offhanded wealth envy remarks too, Skippy - it's always good for a chuckle or two.
Come clean - you're not originally from Texas, are you, Elwell. Kalifornia, maybe? New York, perhaps?
Daisy| 7.31.09 @ 2:49PM
George W got a free ride? I guess all those liberals screaming sweet nothings such as "BUSHITLER" were just my imagination.
Funny how liberals get all warm and fuzzy and patriotic toward our country when one of their own is elected. Nauseating, actually.
"... prejudice dogs returning to its vomit." Nice command of the English language, moron.
Missy| 7.31.09 @ 3:00PM
Bruce, Elwell lives in Texas and attended NYU--don't try to blame him on California.
You own him--we have enough problems without you foisting yours on us, too.
William| 7.31.09 @ 9:59PM
Is this the same Pastor who rails about "them Jooooz"?
The combination of spittle, ignorance and primitive belligerence seems familiar. Such lower classness [sic].
Bruce | 8.1.09 @ 12:37PM
Now now, Missy - just because he attended NYU (liberal bastion that it is) doesn't mean he originally LIVED in NY, does it? So I will make no claims on him until I know that for sure:) Anyway - I am a NYer by the unfortunate circumstances of birth - by sentiment I am from the south, and will shortly be getting my butt the hell out of this hell-hole of a state to new digs on property I just took possession of in Tennessee!
I will admit that his attitude does favor the typical NYer, though - at least those from the liberal confines of NY City. The majority of the state is not so inclined, usually. I have no explanation for Hillary or Schumer that makes any sense at all:)
Missy| 8.1.09 @ 1:39PM
Lucky you, Bruce! God speed on your move.
Since Cali wasn't even mentioned in Elwood's letter, I thought it was most unfair of you to drag us into the mix. Nice try, though--I understand your embarrassment.
Lots of 'inland' Conservatives in Cali, too--especially in Reagan Country.
Missy| 8.1.09 @ 1:42PM
Elwood = Elwell--geez, what a geeky name!
Missy| 8.1.09 @ 1:44PM
Hillary is a carpetbagger--we have tons of them here. Ugh!
I don't know what to say about Chucky Schumer--I guess just my condolences to you.
Big J| 8.2.09 @ 12:50PM
You can sum up the liberal philosophy in three simple words:
Race
Race
and.....
Race.
I agree with the premise that Elwell cannot possibly be a true Texan (apologies in advance to conservatives living in NY, Cali, Massachusetts and other liberal cesspools).
One thing I can be proud of however, is that he hails from Dallas, not Houston.
I don't think he would last very long down here.
;)
VAN KELLY| 8.3.09 @ 7:27PM
An organization such as AARP which was founded for the benefit of Seniors is now primarily focused on Greed. Why else would you abandon us for the sake of Obama's ridiculous plan and even lend your Logo to his platform. Shame on you for leaving us high and dry for the promise of remuneration in the free for all money grab yet to come. I will immediately look for new insurers for my home and autos in preparation of dumping you just like you have dumped me and my family.