Facts and clarifications

Dear Editor:

Reading the letters from Messrs. Benfield and Stevenson [COURIER, January 10, 2014] reminds me yet again of the tragic divide within this country. A divide between those of us who cherish freedom, liberty and private property rights (and comprehend what those mean), want to take responsibility for ourselves and make our own decisions, and those who would rather have Washington, Sacramento and a slew of bureaucrats dictating their lives and making their decisions for them.

As illustrated by so many assertions in the two letters, it is evident that the precepts of the political left are assuming the character of religious dogma; accepted as a matter of faith, not fact. And, clearly, a top-down, iron-fisted, bureaucratic, socialized healthcare system is one of their dogmas. The natural result of which will be mediocre health care for all. I’m reminded here of an expression I heard recently: “Progressive Liberalism: Bringing you new ideas so wonderful they have to include mandatory participation.”

And need I point out it was the namesake of Obamacare, Obama himself, who lied through his considerable teeth time after time that, “If you like your current health care plan, you can keep it, period.” Or how about, “Let me repeat this, nothing in our plan requires you to change what you have.” Silly us, for thinking that Obama might actually tell the truth, for once.

Among the miscellaneous ramblings in the two letters, a few nuggets deserve comment.

From Mr. Benfield: “…why did Mr Lyon pay for a health insurance plan that can’t even meet government standards[?]”

Every clear-thinking American realizes that such a thing could only be said by a person who has no comprehension of this country’s founding. Every single one of our founding fathers would be horrified to see what some Americans are accepting as normal these days. In short, the government has no constitutional, or moral, right to dictate what type of health insurance I’ll have, or if I’ll have any at all.

And then, “Is Mr. Lyon afraid of competition?”

Honestly, sometimes I wonder. Even an elementary perusal of my earlier suggestions indicates that they would increase health care competition far above what existed before Obamacare; thereby increasing choice, and lowering costs.

From Mr. Stevenson: “[Obamacare] was created by Republicans.”

So lacking in confidence is he that he blames the Republicans for creating Obamacare, despite the fact that not one single Republican voted to pass it, and even some Democrats voted against it.  Curious. Is that why Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass the bill to find out what’s in it.” Obviously, she didn’t think it could stand up to public scrutiny, either. And, as we all know, Congressional Democrats are always eager to push Republican legislative packages (he says facetiously).

And then, “I think Mr. Lyon has forgotten why the American people wanted to reform healthcare…”

Yes, reform it, as in actually fix it; not destroy it. Fix it by getting rid of government meddling, and by letting a free and open marketplace determine what coverages are offered and at what prices.   Which would be coverages that people actually want and can actually afford.

Even before Obamacare was passed an overwhelming majority of Americans did not want it, and said so, to the tune of 57 percent, or so. Yet, an arrogant, religious-dogma-driven, Democrat-controlled congress passed it anyway. And the number of us not wanting it has risen ever since, as its horrors continue to manifest themselves. And this is just the beginning.

Douglas Lyon

Claremont

Franklin McCain

Dear Editor:

I ask the Claremont community to remember Brother Franklin McCain on the occasion of his passing on January 9.  Franklin was one of the four young black students who participated in the Greensboro, North Carolina sit-ins in 1960. This act of civil disobedience and conscience was one of the seminal events of the Civil Rights Movement and the courage and dignity that Brother McCain and his fellow students showed that day should be commemorated forever.

I am reminded that we all stand on the shoulders of giants: Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Fred Hampton, Emmett Till and Franklin McCain. We are in your debt as a society, Franklin. I see the horrifying racism that pervades parts of our country (and politics) today, and I hope we can all use Mr. McCain and others as examples of how to conduct ourselves in a way that promotes freedom, equality and dignity for all people.

Thank you, Brother McCain. You will not be forgotten.

Dan Kennan

Claremont