Published: July 23, 2009 11:32 pm      

Letters to the editor - Friday, July 24, 2009

Town of Galveston is a great community

I grew up and lived in Galveston for 22 years, and would like to comment on all the newspaper articles over the last several weeks.

I do not currently reside, work or own a business in Galveston, but my family is there. I do not know any facts about council meetings, the “concerned citizens” group, ordinance violations, or the actions or inactions of the town council. I do not know the property values or the annual cost of property taxes. I am simply writing to correct some horrible misconceptions that this controversy has caused.

Galveston is a great town to grow up in, and is a place I call home. It has always been a successful and stable community to live in. People always took care of each other. Growing up, we never locked our doors.

Galveston has grown over the years with some of the same people “in charge” as now. Something has been done right, or Galveston wouldn’t continue to grow. The controversy is hurting the town now, not the “junk” or the council. People will not consider moving to Galveston because of the negative articles in the newspaper. Please don’t let the current situation keep you from this wonderful community.

Let me also mention that John Zook would give you the shirt off his back. I have known him my entire life. He is a good, hard-working man who loves the community of Galveston – the town and the people. I could make a lengthy list of the wonderful things he has done over the years, but it isn’t necessary. Those of us who know him don’t need a list.

I should also mention that John Zook doesn’t keep track of his good deeds. When he does something for you, there is never a responsibility to repay the favor. Using newspaper articles to attack a good man’s character will not resolve this dispute. In fact, it has done nothing but make the town of Galveston look bad without ever driving through it.

I would encourage anyone to consider living in Galveston. It is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Drive to Galveston. Try the pizza. Go to the library. Visit a church. Drive up and down every single street from each end of town to the other. I guarantee you will love it.

Star McClain, Logansport

We deserve better than reform on fly

Health-care reform has enveloped the airways, and some are saying Obama is staking his presidency on jamming reform through the Congress.

Does anyone disagree health care needs reform? I would be surprised if you did. Barack’s plan, if passed, is scheduled to start in 2013. That is roughly 3.25 fiscal years from now. He accuses the GOP and others of fear-mongering, yet he says health care will never recover if we let this opportunity get away.

He says if we are happy with our plan we can keep it. That’s like saying a polar bear can eat french fries if it wants. There will not be private insurance once the big bully of the feds enters. Obama knows that, so he is disingenuous at best.

Experts agree that already in our country we have between 85 and 90 percent covered with some kind coverage. Obama’s plan will not cover everyone. There will still be about 3 percent left out. So are we to believe that America as we know it hinges on 7-12 percent more getting coverage?

Obama and gang want to control America, and health care is the fastest way. Some federal bureaucrat will ration what you receive. Britain’s national system is the largest employer in the country and fourth largest in the world. Just this year its “free” care will begin charging a $30 fee for visits to GPs, and within four years the system, one of Obama’s models, will be out of money if taxes aren’t raised or further rationing used.

Another thing about the British system. Experts say if we model its system, we would have 300,000 more deaths due to breast cancer. Who knows about the other cancers? Just know, because of waiting times, rationing of surgery and drugs, people will die. Couple that with the denial of treatment for elderly and you have a form of eugenics, or forced semi-suicides.

All his life Obama has been trained, indoctrinated if you will, to believe the government is always the best way to take care of people. He believes the government always knows what is best for all.

Do not believe the GOP is just obstructing Obama. It knows we need reform, but where is the non-partisan efforts Barack promised us?

I hope he fails at health care because I think anything, anything he brings to the table will be worse for us. El Presidente has been busy forming a socialistic smorgasbord, filling too many plates with half thought-out, rushed, and imperfect legislation. Just Monday, he admitted he hadn’t read the legislation, yet he demands it be passed and trust that the details will work out.

Well, as they say, the “devil is in the details.” One thousand pages of law should be a warning in itself. Contact your representatives and tell them we deserve better than health reform that is enacted on the fly.

Mike Moran, Kokomo