LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Government-run garbage
When President George W. Bush proposed a voluntary option for folks who wanted to partially opt out of Social Security and use their money how and where they wanted, the Democrats, led by then-Vice President Al Gore, vehemently opposed such an idea. Gore, with his nonsensical inferences to the "lockbox" of Social Security was a laugh. Bush was crucified for even suggesting such an idea.
Since then, the continued slide into oblivion of the Social Security system, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, is well documented. Now, Obama and his minions want to force more government-run garbage down the throats of Americans in the guise of a "public health insurance option."
How soon before this nonsense falls into line with all of these other government entitlements, and more importantly, how are we going to pay for all of this stuff? I never knew that the "pursuit of happiness" meant that at any time anyone could turn to the government to bail them out of a jam at the expense of everyone else.
If Mr. Obama, Durbin, Burris and their cohorts want to help me, please leave me alone. And, most importantly, keep your grubby mitts out of my back pocket.
Bob Barnett
H1N1 lines
President Obama declared the H1N1 epidemic a "national emergency" on Oct. 25. Fear mongering reports by the administration have predicted that between 30,000 and 90,000 will die from H1N1.
The Obama administration had months to prepare for the anticipated "swine" flu outbreak, yet a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine exists. People here are waiting in long lines to receive the vaccine, and some are being cut off after waiting in line for hours. How did this happen?
The shortage seems to stem from the time it takes to produce the H1N1 vaccine. The egg method takes six months. A shorter two-month method, using caterpillars to produce the H1N1 vaccine, was rejected by the Obama administration.
Where is the public outrage? We all remember Katrina, an act of Mother Nature, and the outrage that it caused. Katrina subsequently undermined President Bush and his administration. Now we learn that Guantanamo Bay prisoners who wanted to kill Americans will be given the H1N1 vaccine, while American citizens have not yet been taken care of.
Faith in government should definitely be front and center as an issue as the U.S. House plans to roll out its health-care bill which would amount to a government-run health-care plan.
If government is unable to effectively produce and distribute the H1N1 vaccine, how can it be trusted to administer a massive new health-care program?
Nancy J. Thorner
Financial foundations
Understandably, many investors are elated to see the stock market rally and increase the value of their investments. But, if we take a look at the underlying indicators, those indicative of a robust and growing economy, the optimism is not supported by the reality of our financial foundations.
Unemployment is near 10 percent, but if we add those who have stopped looking for work, people who work part time and people who, through necessity, have taken lower-paying jobs, the rate is probably closer to 20 percent. It is unreasonable to expect that jobs lost will be jobs regained, when and if the economy recovers.
We have a terrible housing market, the value of the dollar is plummeting and consumer demand remains restrained. We have a $1.4 trillion dollar deficit, looming hyperinflation, a massive national debt, huge proposed entitlement programs and the tax increases that will be required to fund these programs.
Because the federal lending rate is near zero, returns from money market accounts and certificates of deposit are negligible. The stock market is one of the few avenues available for people seeking a significant return on their investments.
Current market gains, given the state of our economy, cannot be maintained. I fear we are in for a second crash that may rival or exceed the first.
Ray Cziczo
Gun laws
Will someone please tell Chicago Mayor Daley and our state lawmakers that it is not the guns that are the problem. It is the minds of those who commit these awful crimes and may or may not use firearms. A typical example is the recent killing of two small children by their father. He did not use a gun.
In 1908, there were 240 murders of all types in the entire United States, and there were no gun laws -- none! In 2008, there were more than three times that many in just the city of Chicago, which has some of the strictest firearm laws in the country.
Has no one, besides me, noticed that when tougher gun laws are passed the crime rate goes up instead of down?
We already have enough laws on the books that if they were effective, there would be virtually no crime. Illinois has a firearms owners identification card which is supposed to prevent anyone from possessing a firearm unless they are legally entitled.
I cannot help but wonder how many of the "gang bangers" are in possession of that card and how they obtained it in the first place, when most already have a police record that would make them ineligible.
Richard H. Eisenmann
