The Healthcare Debate
There’s lots of talk about the opposition to Obama’s healthcare plan
— calling it communist, assailing it as an elimination of human
freedom. But honestly, where’s the problem? Insurance companies have
ethics panels that determine if end-of-life procedures are worth the
cost. Republicans don’t call those “death panels.” Insurance companies
limit which expensive medicines are available to their customers, but
Republicans don’t call that “health care rationing.” Only Obama’s plans
get such inflammatory labels.
No, these folks are not really angry that the next time they apply
for health insurance, a government program will also appear in the list
of options. Are they angry that that their children can apply for
government school grants as well as private grants? Are they appalled
that if they apply for a business loan, they can apply to a mixture of
government and private foundations? No.
The problem they have is with Obama himself, with the color of his
skin. Everything in their cultural makeup tells them that they should
not allow themselves to be ruled by a black man. That’s the reason for
the shouting and the spitting and the gun-toting. These people are
still back in 1963, blocking school entrances. They’ve never given up,
and even though the Obama election handed them the ultimate insult to
their belief that white people are better, don’t expect them to give up
now.
Gun store owners will tell you that the reason why gun ownership has
skyrocketed is the simple existence of a President Obama. And the day
after someone in the mob finally takes his best shot, the others will
cry in front of the cameras that the arsenals in their closets are in
no way responsible for the dead president.
So what do we do about these vigilantes? Simple. What would we do
about them if they were of Middle Eastern descent? What would we do if
their leaders were named Mohammad and Jamal, rather than Bud and Joe?
I’m sure America would be responding much more forcefully right now, if
that were the case.
Cherry Jimenez
Memphis
Before everyone forgets the craziness of the town hall meetings,
let’s be honest about just who these obnoxious people yelling at the
speakers were. This was not a grassroots movement or a groundswell of
mom-and-pop America.
We’ve seen these angry and frustrated folks and their intimidating
tactics before: The mostly white, conservative, and close-minded crowd
has been at the forefront of the anti-abortion protests, at countless
anti-immigration gatherings, and anti-gay-marriage rallies. Now, these
same people have morphed into the anti-tax movement and “tea party
patriots” with the stated mission of attacking healthcare reform.
Leave it to the Republicans to exploit the current situation and put
party politics before the health and well-being of millions of
Americans. The GOP’s goal is obstruction, blocking all meaningful
reform, and then running against a “do nothing” Congress in 2010.
Ron Lowe
Nevada City, California
Tiger Tumult
Regarding the NCAA sanctions placed upon the University of Memphis
and its basketball program for their 2007-8 season:
Gertrude Stein said, “A Rose, is a rose, is a ruse.” Shakespeare
said, “Alas, poor Derrick.” Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Coach
Cal expeditiously departed!
What the University needs now is the services of something similar
to 2 Chicks & a Broom to clean house.
Joe Mercer
Memphis
Tim Sampson
Tim Sampson is a riot! I’d pick up the Flyer just to read his
columns. And since the Flyer is the only paper I read, I’d say
it is the best in town. Seriously, I don’t know what I’d do without the
it. Keep up the good work.
Rev. Donald G. Timmens
Memphis
I swear if Tim Sampson doesn’t stop writing about Sarah Palin soon,
I’m going to assume he’s secretly in love with her. Let her go, Tim.
Let. Her. Go.
Hayley Garland
Memphis
Correction: In the article “Cobblestone Concerns”
(The Fly-by, August 20th issue), Sue Williams was identified as
speaking on behalf of the Sierra Club. She was speaking for Friends for
Our Riverfront.
