Letters To Editor [Sunday News (Lancaster, PA)]

POLITICS In response to Jake Caldwell's letter Dec. 2:

I agree that the GOP needs to wake up, but you should know that it was the Democratic South that birthed the Ku Klux Klan. And that the Civil Rights bill would never have passed for LBJ if it weren't for Republicans. Even Mr. Climate Change Al Gore's daddy voted against it.

I would like every woman who thinks that there was a war on women to watch a partial birth abortion and come out thanking God and the Democrats for such a right. I could never understand that the same people who fight for abortions will protest an execution of a child rapist/killer.

As far as so-called racist attacks on immigrants, all [the GOP is] asking is that immigrants come legally.

Romney and the Republicans are for trickle up economy because the government has gotten way too big. They don't understand why 47 percent would rather collect than contribute.

This was not the way this country was supposed to run. It is not so much that Republicans need to wake up, but it's the people who do not know their history or how to shake off this malaise that has been with this country since Woodrow Wilson. The GOP wants to honor the Constitution and the republic, not tear it down.

J. Rich Coble, Marietta

Gil Smart's column [Dec. 2] merely paraphrases Obama's 2012 campaign slogans. He reiterates Obama's juvenile class warfare rhetoric of higher taxes on the "rich" but no cuts to entitlements. Smart even opposes reforms to the tax code such as limiting deductions. As April Kelley-Woessner points out, taxing the rich won't raise enough revenue to solve the debt problem. Tax reform is required but Democrats resist it.

Smart does serve the useful purpose of pointing out the absurdity of Obama. Instead of attempting to solve our economic problem, he regresses to his enfant terrible role. He is so fixated on taxing the "rich" that he opposes any meaningful steps to resolve the debt problem. His agenda of higher taxes on the rich and bigger free lunches is purely political. It won't solve anything.

I believe we should accept the "fiscal cliff." I doubt the consequences of doing so will be catastrophic. After all, many of those warning of dire consequences are the same ones who touted the virtues of the various stimulus programs. It will raise tax rates to Clintonian levels for everyone and will reduce expenditures including, unfortunately, defense. But it may finally force Obama to act like an adult.

Richard Eelman, Manheim Township

I am greatly disturbed by the fiscal cliff that, like the sword of Damocles, is looming over our heads.

Military spending must be cut; we are not policemen to the world. Those most able must pay more in taxes. Eliminate loopholes and waste. We are all in this together. Will we go the way of Greece?

Medicare must be preserved [because] without it elderly would be impoverished. The poor among us need assistance.

I would be willing to take a 5 percent cut in my Social Security check. Taxes would alone solve all our money problems. Remaining solvent would be the least we could do to save America from default.

Bill Bard, Lancaster

Why do politicians and newspapers keep calling Social Security and Medicare entitlements? Everyone who receives these benefits has paid for them with insurance premiums that were withheld from their paychecks for their entire work lives.

Their employers have shared in paying these insurance premiums. Social Security and Medicare are insurance benefits not entitlements. After paying for many years and finally qualifying (by getting old or becoming disabled), the beneficiaries finally receive the benefits, not entitlements, they have paid for with their premiums.

Every time the word entitlement is used, it implies that something is being given without having been paid for by the recipient. This makes it easier for politicians to reduce "entitlements" as opposed to reducing "earned benefits."

The government got into the insurance business, built up reserves, and then "borrowed" from these reserves instead of paying for other expenses with tax income. Any other insurance company would not be allowed to do this.

Please stop telling me that I am not entitled to receive the full level of benefits that I have paid premiums to earn (emphasize earn) for the last 45 years, because the government misused my premiums.

Eugene Blaettler, West Hempfield Township

OTHER SUBJECTS

The far right Christian coalition insists that its members are pro-life advocates, but that is only until the umbilical cord is cut. Once the cord is cut, that young life is on its own. The U.S. ranks about 26th in infant mortality. This to me is outrageous.

When will they use their extensive bloc power to advance changes in the health care system that will better that statistic?

We also continue to execute people and seem to be enamored with war, which also kills people. We need to work toward making sure that all life is sacred, no matter our ethnicity or religious beliefs. After all, we are all children of God.

Dave Williams, Manheim Township

It's great to know the spirit of giving is alive and well in Lancaster County. This is evidenced by the two heartwarming articles in the Sunday News [Dec 2].

Those articles were about the overwhelming generosity of those who gave during the Community Foundations Extraordinary Give, and the article on the Shop With a Cop program. The Extraordinary Give certainly helps those nonprofits that have been stretched by the state of the economy over the past couple of years. And the Shop With a Cop program brings a warmer and brighter Christmas to a number of families.

Thank you to all who generously opened your wallets for the Community Foundation and a special thanks to the Lancaster police officers and others who gave their time to bring Christmas joy to others.

David W. Greiner, Lancaster

As I watched the "60 Minutes" expose and your follow-up story of the admission quotas supposedly set by Health Management Associates, I found it hard to reconcile the story with my own experience at Heart of Lancaster hospital.

After returning home after a back operation, I awoke at 3 a.m. to find unexpected bleeding. My wife rushed me to Heart of Lancaster, and in minutes a physician examined me. After calling my regular physician, it was decided that the problem was not dangerous, so I was sent home.

I was 81 years old, and could easily have qualified for admission under the 50 percent senior quota; I would never have known the difference. But admission was never considered.

According to your story, HMA claims that some of the claimants are seeking financial gain through litigation. As always, follow the money.

Glenn Grunenberger, Lititz

On Aug. 7, my husband passed away suddenly, the day after our 42nd wedding anniversary.

Because of physical problems, I need to leave a home we shared since 1969. I live alone since both of my children are married; one lives in Ephrata and one in Quarryville.

On Nov. 3, I went by bus to Park City, using my cane instead of my walker. As I was going to get the bus, I fell. I thank all the people who helped me. My ankle was painful. One lady offered me a ride home. She was from Quarryville and knew my daughter.

After I got home the pain worsened. My neighbor and his wife took me to the ER and stayed with me for three hours. My daughter took me to her home.

The day after I arrived at my daughter's, one of the grandsons yelled "There is a hay wagon coming up the drive with a bunch of people."

Twelve people from her church (Wesley United Methodist, Quarryville) were dressed like Pilgrims and brought a cooked Thanksgiving dinner to our house of eight people. They decided this year to make two dinners: one to eat and one to give one away. When they heard about me, they decided to give it to us. I am so thankful for my "angels unaware."

Dottie Murphy, Lancaster

To the residents of Paradise Township:

Nobody likes a tax, but a fire tax is good and fair - except that the one being currently considered is an occupation tax. Just another way for the township to bleed money from you.

A fire tax is good for the fire companies so they don't need to spend time running benefit breakfasts, beef dinners and bingo. They have enough to do putting out fires and training.

In Paradise Township within the past 20 years, there has been talk that the fire companies should be more efficient - due to their continual dwindling manpower. The township bought land for that purpose. Paradise Township supports two fire companies for 1,554 households.

Let's merge these two fire companies that cover only 18.6 square miles. Let's not continue the gridlock here in Paradise Township that has paralyzed Washington.

Donald J. Holler, Paradise

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