I have finally figured out why the Republicans are against Obama's health care proposals. I asked a friend who was against these proposals what a person should do if he loses his job and health insurance and has a pre-existing medical condition. His answer: "I don't care!" The friend was on Medicare and had retirement benefits from his employer. So, it's "I've got mine, and I don't care about anyone else."


Weigh the costs

Our government has spent trillions of dollars on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with little to show for it except the bankrupting of our Treasury, lives lost, and more whose lives have been irrevocably ruined because of injuries, trauma, loss of family, homes and livelihoods. Congress remains virtually silent about the financial cost of war, signing bills to finance the military approach that has yet to show positive change in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yet in the debate on health care, most of what we hear is the high cost of changing our health care system. Why is it that our government doesn't substantively question the costs of war, yet when it comes to saving lives and improving the health and welfare of its citizens, cost seems to be the major stumbling block. Money talks. How we spend taxpayer money reflects the values of this country. Are those who pay taxes really in favor of war and its inevitable destruction and misery, rather than a public option that would provide real health care choice?


Socialism slandered

I believe we should know what we're talking about, so I checked the definition of socialism. According to Encarta World English Dictionary, "socialism is a political system or theory in which the means of production and distribution are controlled by the people and operated according to equality and fairness rather than market principles." The American Heritage Dictionary gives an almost identical definition as does The Penguin English Dictionary, adding "that wealth be equitably distributed and that opportunity and security should be available to all."

The Rush Limbaugh concept of socialism is only the Rush Limbaugh concept; facts are unimportant. Fear stalks the land and hysteria is one of its by products. If we succumb to it and give up, we will find ourselves with the miserable health delivery system we now have. I don't want that. By the way, I have excellent health insurance — the same kind I wish we all had.


Rookie rep

Anne Ortiz's Oct. 25 letter, "No more troops," regarding rookie Congressman Ben Ray Luján's position on troop increases in Afghanistan got me thinking: I'd bet that if she had a son or daughter serving in Afghanistan, she would be screaming for more troops and equipment in order to better protect her child. Why does she think that a rookie like Luján would know more about military operations than a career military general? Just because you take a junket to the area doesn't make you an expert. Luján is doing a lousy job representing this constituent.


Fear of fire

The Forest Service has clear-cut 800 acres on the other side of my fence, saying it plans to burn the results this winter. I don't believe the fire will respect the fence between my home and the now-dead trees. The Forest Service people I spoke to a few years ago said they're clearing juniper and piñon to restore the former ponderosa forest to Rowe Mesa. I haven't seen a single ponderosa being planted, but I've seen plenty of cattle grazing on the land that's been cleared.

Now they're saying they want to restore grassland. Perhaps that's cheaper than ponderosa forest and will support more cattle. Whatever; the trees are dead now, lying there drying out, becoming a fire hazard while people are cutting firewood everywhere else on the mesa. Couldn't this become a firewood area? Could we please not burn my home?