Despite vacuous pronouncements from the right that America has the greatest health care system in the world, those of us from NH who have lived and worked abroad for decades know the truth: With a few specific exceptions, like cancer treatment, America has the most expensive and most seriously underperforming health system anywhere. And having seen my son, my wife, and parents deal with major medical issues, we know all too well how sick our health insurance industry has become and how outrageously expensive both medical care and insurance are today....and they will only get worse.
Now we have seen saw the disgraceful horse-trading and buy-offs through which the Senate's self-serving and self-generated rules enable a tyranny of the minority over health care reform.
As the House and Senate bills head to Committee for resolution, it is time that our Congress reach for higher ground, recognize its responsibilities to democracy and the American people, and give us a solid bill that is not just a sell-out to the insurance and health industries.
We need a bill with real choices - including a public option - that will truly start to bend the cost curve downwards.
It is a disgrace that such a great country has so far produced such feeble results--resulting in thousands seeking health care and drugs from abroad. We've been there, we know that there are lower cost, higher quality systems out there.
It is time America led the way again.
Malcolm Odell
South Hampton
To the Editor:
Wake up, America!
Much has recently been written about Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter’s decision not to jeopardize a military courts martial against four Navy Seals by signing an ill-conceived letter circulated by Representative Duncan Hunter. The letter argues that prosecuting the SEALs was an "overreaction by the command." The Seals are accused of punching an Iraqi suspect in custody alleged to have planned the murders of four private contractors in Fallujah.
In a strange twist of a local, non-partisan politician thinking it appropriate to inject Epping into federal and military rules and proceedings, Selectman Rene Archambault planned to bring before his fellow selectmen a demand that Congresswoman Shea-Porter be prevented from using Epping Town Hall to report to her Epping area constituents.
That Archambault has subsequently dropped those plans following a phone conversation with Shea-Porter doesn’t negate the fact that Selectman Archambault abused his oath and his office when he recommended the Epping public be deprived of the opportunity to hear from, and speak with, their elected Representative.
In the second place, Duncan Hunter is an all-out apologist for anything the military does. If he had his way, we would continue the "go-it-alone", "thumb-in-the-eye" foreign policy approach of the Bush administration. And he would spend more of our nation's blood and treasure on counterproductive militarism around the world. It is instructive that he could garner only 33 of 435 colleagues to sign-on to his letter. I applaud the thoughtful and considered manner in which Congresswoman Shea-Porter has approached this issue.
Third, the Navy Seals chose to bring the issue into a legal proceeding. How inappropriate for politicians of any stripe, particularly local, supposedly non-partisan ones, to pre-judge the issue and intervene in any way. As to the broader issue of having military or civilian representatives of our country engaging in behavior that is "unbecoming" or antithetical to American values... I know that I want my service members to follow military protocol and the Geneva Convention. America has suffered mightily because of the illegal and immoral acts of some members of our military, the CIA, and private contractors such as Blackwater (now called Xe Services).
Fourth, Blackwater contributed to the deaths of the four contractors by sending its employees into Fallujah with inadequate armor, inadequate firepower, and without advance knowledge of the very dangerous conditions in the area. In another case, former Blackwater employees are under indictment for the murder of as many as 14 civilians in Nisoor Square Baghdad, who were “killed without cause”, according to an FBI investigation. This, and the atrocities engaged in at Abu Ghraib, are what happens when we flaunt the rule of law and abandon the principles embodied in our Constitution.
Republican President Dwight Eisenhower warned of the threat to our democracy of the growing might of the Military-Industrial Complex. He would surely feel vindicated about his dire warnings if he could see America’s condition today. Wake up America!
Herb Moyer
Exeter
To the Editor:
To Senator Gregg:
History will show that I have always supported you for every position you have sought in the past 30 years. I endorsed you when you ran for Governor's Council, and ever since. When we were both members of the Nashua Young Republicans, I supported you then, along with Ned Beebe and Peter/Jackie Flood. Have you forgotten your roots?
How is it that EVERY Republican voted against the h/c bill? Is this a line in the sand? Is this a political issue or is it about something else?
Systemically, this is about healthcare and not party lines. I am nauseated that the GOP has stuck together like this is an issue of war vs. pacifists. This is about healthcare and nothing more. This is about pre-existing disease. This is about 30million Americans getting healthcare without using back doors or overloading emergency rooms. Who pays for the EMT or emergency room service provided to someone who doesn't have insurance? We all pay, one way or another.
I just don't get it. I just can't understand why not one single Republican could vote for the h/c bill. It is so disgustingly obvious to me and others that this is about party politics and not about people.
As I said, over the years I have supported you, but if the GOP continues to stand behind the "R" wall, I will work tirelessly against you for any other office you may seek. Come on Judd, for the sake of 30 million Americans, please help pass the national h/c package. It's not perfect, but neither was Social Security or Medicare when they first passed. It is a foundation, and not the panacea.
Joel Saren
East Hampstead
To the Editor:
Texting Law Not Enough
The laws. What is the sense of the state government to pass laws if they are not going to be enforced? This new law about texting doesn't cover enough. I suppose it is because the reps also use the cell phone while they are driving. The traffic laws are a farce, because no one ever sees them being enforced.
I had an idiot tailgating me no more than six inches off of my bumper not long ago. Even when I slowed down to nothing, they didn't get the message or didn't want to. Cars come here out of Massachusetts, and the race is on. At Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve day, I watched three young girls run the same stop sign at a high rate of speed, and one of them came close to killing one man crossing on the pedestrian walkway.
When does it all come under law enforcement? Most small towns at least have patrols out once in awhile. We used to see the sheriff’s department out pretty much, but that hasn't been the case as of late.
