Dear editor:
Last night I listened to president Obama address the nation and must say, as always, I was impressed with his presentation. I have to agree with most of his expectations. The difference comes in how to achieve these goals. There seems to be a general consensus in Washington that the country can spend itself into prosperity therefore alleviating all our problems.
One point Mr. Obama made was that there was a need to return to the "common sense" approach to governing - unfortunately, common sense is not so common anymore. Abe Lincoln once said that "the Lord sure must have loved the common people cause he made so many of us". What he didn't mention was that this country was in dire need of a change in our culture and attitudes.
Below is a short letter sent to the White House from Starner Jones, MD, that pricks the heart of a lot or our problems in this country today. Having worked in Emergency Medicine for nearly 2 decades, I can, as anyone in healthcare can, personally relate to this type of mass belief in entitlements.
It reads:
“Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B; ringtone.
“While glancing over her patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smoked more than one costly pack of cigarettes every day and somehow still had money to buy pretzels and beer.
“And you and congress expect me to pay for this woman's healthcare? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses.
“Rather, it is the result of a ‘crisis of culture,’ a culture in which it is perfectably acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance.
“It is a culture based on the irresponsible credo that ‘I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me’. Once you fix this ‘culture crisis’ that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.”
Robert Thomas
Moultrie
Opinion
The difference
- Opinion
-
-
Saving the critters
Dear editor:
Wildlife rehabilitators, or rehabbers as they are known in the animal community, are very special people. They have acquired the knowledge and experience that is needed to work with injured and orphaned wildlife. Licensed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and if caring for federally protected species, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a wildlife rehabilitator’s ultimate goal is to take an injured or orphaned animal, get it healthy and return it to its natural habitat. - Rant and Rave for 2/10/12
-
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Remember back in the early sixties when people were digging bomb shelters in fear of the “Big One” being dropped on us? I recall how an alarm would go off at school, and we would get under our desks. What a joke! Get under our desks when one entire wall was glass!
-
Outpouring of love
Dear editor:
What words can be added to so many that have been said in prayer and praise for our Haley? We have witnessed an outpouring of love and sacrifice for our families, and we truly cannot express our feelings of humility and gratitude. - Rant and Rave for 2/09/12
-
Were we really shocked by the half-time cheap shot?
There’s an old saying, “Go to bed with dogs, wake up with fleas.”
-
Honor sacrifices
Dear editor:
When the Declaration of Independence was signed, we as a Country, The United States of America, were declaring our Freedom and Liberty. - Rant and Rave for 2/08/12
-
What's at stake here?
Dear editor
It looks like one of my worst fears is about to happen. With President Obama’s withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq it appears the democratic government we set up in Iraq is getting ready to come apart. The Shiites and Sunnis are at each others throats and the Kurds and Turkey are already shooting at each other. Iran seems to be paused to take up the vacuum we will be left and obtain a nuclear weapon. In 2007 the Democrats were clamoring for President Bush to get our troops out of Iraq. - Rant and Rave for 2/07/12
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Saving the critters
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
