Murchison wrong on clunkers, healthcare

Tue, 08/18/2009 - 3:56pm
By: Letters to the ...

[Columnist William] Murchison’s commentary criticizing the “Cash for Clunkers” program and “healthcare reform” efforts are erroneous, misleading and mendacious.

He seeks to perpetuate the myth that our government is inept and incompetent and implies that the public affairs should be left to the private sector that somehow makes rational, thoughtful decisions.

The truth is that private sector policies too often cater to big money special interests groups and are not the best interests of the public.

This is the situation that exists today in the healthcare industry. It is profit-motivated, not public health-motivated. Everything is arranged to ensure healthcare industry profits. Everyone knows this.

The fact that nearly 50 million Americans do not have healthcare insurance and that we spend two and a half times more for healthcare than other first world countries should serve as a wake-up call to us.

Does Mr. Murchison have any ideas himself or does he just have criticism of ideas? Who is he speaking for? Certainly not the public.

Does he advocate the status quo? Looks to me like he is bought and paid for by big money private interests. My bet is that he has company-paid-for health insurance and he could give a hoot about anyone else. “I’ve got mine, everything is fine.” That’s his mantra.

Economic stimulus plans and healthcare reform proposals are logical responses to real threats. They are the natural result of unregulated and predatory private sector systems designed to be profitable, not useful.

These systems are not working and must be either reformed or replaced. No one wants to do it, but we really haven’t been left much choice. We can live with the status quo or we can try to find something new that works.

I am sorry to say that I no longer trust the private sector. I have no confidence that the healthcare industry can reform itself.

I believe that we must look to our democratically elected president to lead us in this effort. Congress is in the pocket of lobbyists and isn’t going to be able to help us here. Bought and paid for.

We, the people, have the right to expect more from both industry and government. It is high time we demanded policies that serve all Americans, not just the healthy and the wealthy. I don’t know about you, but I’m mad as hell and I want some relief.

So Mr. Murchison you just keep on writing that crap you write. I know you can’t bite the hand that feeds you. However, if I can see through you, so can everyone else. You may not know it but your day is done.

David Browning

Peachtree City, Ga.

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Submitted by PTC Observer on Sat, 08/22/2009 - 9:44pm.

I think I'll take my chances on private enterprise. Gov't performance hasn't been too good for the last two hundred years. Seems to me that private enterprise caters to the consumer and this in turn has created the greatest expansion of wealth in human history. Let's compare this to: Post Office bankrupt, Medicare 40 trillion underwater, SS 11 trillion underwater, prescription drug liability 9 trillion, etc. etc. Think the cash for clunkers was a good program? Well in about 6 months the car companies will be worse off because of all that buying forward of demand, parts companies will layoff employees, mechanics will go broke and oh yes, the price of used cars will go up for poor people because we destroyed their future use.

For crying out loud think rationally and stay out of my pockets.....Please!

Don't believe the figures? Go to www.usdebtclock.org Sad very sad.

Submitted by Bonkers on Sun, 08/23/2009 - 6:01am.

You must have health insurance, a good job or retirement, and already have a nice car? Good for you!

Submitted by PTC Observer on Mon, 08/24/2009 - 3:40pm.

Indeed, all obtained through hard work.

I am my brother's keeper as well, but I don't believe that robbing my neighbor through the force of government is a way to achieve that end either.

Robbery is robbery no matter who is doing it. You can't elect someone to perform something (robbery) that you don't have a right to do in
as an individual.

Remember, keep it rational Bonkers.

Submitted by Bonkers on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 5:51am.

If what you propose (let those with needs help those without, voluntarily)worked, then I might agree.
It does not and has not worked.
Granted some have made great progress by stealth, aggressiveness, luck, and inheritance, with Little manual labor--but with much mental conniving, but some can't and won't do that!

It won't cost you personally very much to have an insurance program for everyone.

I know you think if we don't leave the current system alone for everything that those who are aggressive will become the majority.
Progress will cease then, you think.
It ain't gonna happen, but if we don't do something for the necessities, they will take over violently as they have in the ancient past.
How much would blacks have learned by now if the schools had stayed segregated? Much less that is for sure. No Obama's would exist, no Clarence Thomases, few black doctors, few black professors, few Eric Holders, few Colin Powells, few Condi Rices, on and on! (and especially manning our armies!)

Submitted by PTC Observer on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 2:46pm.

I am afraid you are making generalizations about people that have wealth. You seem to believe that all wealth was created by luck, inheritance or “stealth”. I assume you mean that people derived their wealth in some nefarious way. If this is what you are saying then your premise is that all wealth was ill gotten. Do you really believe this? Don’t you think that if all profitable endeavors were based on luck or crime that our system would simply collapse? Certainly you would agree that ability, skill and hard work must also play a role. In fact wouldn’t you agree that without these three qualities it is likely that the net effect would be shrinking wealth? The outcome of your premise would be crooked lucky people fighting over what’s left of wealth, while talented, skilled and hard working people would just stop working. It wouldn’t be in their interest to create wealth if they were robbed of it. Right?

The wealthy people of this country have given and continue to give generously to charities. There are too many foundations to list in this e-mail to prove this point. If the government wasn’t involved in transferring wealth, these people would give even more because they would have more to give.

The fact that it won’t cost me very much personally to provide universal insurance coverage doesn’t justify theft by the government of my money. The Constitution was not written to justify wealth transfer, in fact the Founders specifically argued against this concept.

I am not sure what point you are trying to make concerning American Blacks, however you seem to underestimate their ability to achieve greatness without the helping hand of government. You are dead wrong on this point. The government’s job is to provide equal opportunity for all people, but not greater opportunity for some. I am confident that there are hundreds of thousands of Black people in this country that did not gain their wealth through government programs, but through their talent, abilities, and very hard work. To suggest otherwise is demining to these successful people. The successful African Americans you mention would have been successful either way, of this I am confident.

Submitted by Bonkers on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 4:37pm.

Of course all wealthy people didn't get that way by being a crook. I didn't say that.
My intention was to stop people from saying all wealthy people who don't want others to have health care free because they got their wealth from "hard work."

It is hard to imagine anyone getting wealthy doing "hard work."
Hard work is pick and shovel or the like.

I know they are referring to those who do not have a job primarily, but if they did have one doing "hard work" they would not get rich that way and only that way.

Submitted by PTC Observer on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 8:41am.

Well Bonkers I don't know your background or where you were raised, but where I come from most of the wealthy forged ahead using not only their muscles but their brains. They did it honestly and they did it through their abilities, hard work, and skills. In other words they won in the marketplace based on these characterisitics.

Simply because they won, doesn't give you or anyone else the "right" to rob them through your representative in government. This is no better than an organized gang that elects a common highwayman with a title to steal for them.

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