Letter to the editor

This is a letter I posted to our local paper on April 16th, 2010. I t was finally published today May 5th, 2010. Yes our paper, La Crosse Tribune is just a little slooooooow, unless you are a Republican.

Letter to the Editor
La Crosse Tribune
401 3rd street
La Crosse WI. 54601

April 16, 2010

Dear Sir,

There were so many misrepresentations in the letter written by Phil Miles and Dennis Olson, it would be difficult to respond to all of them in one letter, but I will try.

First..The claim that President Obama is a Socialist is ridiculous. Even the Socialists say so. Frank Llewellyn, national director of the Democratic Socialists of America says Obama is far from being a Socialist. However, I will agree there are Socialist programs within our government. Medicare, Social Security, Veteran Administration Health Care, Public Education and even the Military itself are all programs owned, at least partially, by the Government. I wonder which of these Miles and Olson would like to see eliminated? Llewellyn also states, that of the candidates running for office in 2008 there was one that stands out as having instituted a socialist program. That would be Sarah Palin, when she imposed a winfall profit tax on the oil companies in Alaska, then turned around and gave the money directly to the population of Alaska.

Second..The charge of racism is easily proven by watching clips of the tea party gatherings. What purpose do signs of President Obama made up to look like the joker serve? How about signs showing him as Hitler or the disgusting slogans on some of them. They serve to demean the person in office and nothing more.

Your statement that the health care bill does not immediately cover those with pre-existing conditions or young people under the ager of 26 on their parents policies is just flat wrong. Young adults under the age of 26 are mandated to be covered within six months after enactment of the bill. The elimination of exclusions for Children with pre-existing conditions is mandated within six months after enactment and for adults by 2014 just as the President stated. My question to you is have YOU read the bill. I have. Further, your statement that 47% of doctors have said they will quit under this health care bill is totally misleading. The survey that you reference was taken in December of 2009. The doctors in question were against the public option because they thought it would restrict or reduce their income. As you well know, there is no public option in the health care bill and there has been no survey done since its recent passage.

Last..Your non-sense statement about Fox news being unbiased. Can you say with a straight face that people like Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and Greta Vansusteran are "unbiased"? It has gotten to the point where the Republican Party takes their talking points from Fox News just as you seem to. For sure there is bias on the other networks. That's just the way our country is these days and I think we are all poorer for it. Discourse is one thing but the level of vitriol now witnessed on both sides is deplorable and can easily lead us down a path violence