In George Michael’s column on Jan. 18 (“What if the ‘promise’ was a lie?) he claims that an article on Medicare by David Ellott from a “left leaning” organization affirms the program, but fails to reveal its real cost and who pays for it.
Had Michael not revealed his underlying distaste for the “bleeding hearts” that helped create Medicare, he might have succeeded in demonstrating his own objectivity.
I have benefitted greatly from Medicare over the past few years. The costs from my hospitalizations have far exceeded what I paid into the program. Sorry about that.
So am I sorry about the huge costs of our recent wars abroad and a number of other federal programs (including the salaries and Cadillac health care and pension benefits to congressmen).
National changes are sorely needed if we are really serious about drastically reducing our federal deficit.
Regarding a rational debate about the improvement of Medicare, one might include HR 676 as a plan to explore, alongside Rep. Paul Ryan’s proposal — Michael’s preference.
Dr. Wayne Spiggle, a well-informed health care activist, has described HR 676 as a plan that would save $300 billion yearly, cover all citizens, eliminate deductibles, cover dental, nursing home care and pharmaceuticals.
In his judgment it would “take control of health care delivery out of the hands of insurance companies and drug manufacturers.” Spiggle recommends the web site of Physicians for a National Health Policy for more information.
In all likelihood Michael would vigorously oppose it as I would likely oppose Ryan’s alternative plan, based on his track record of opposition to federally-subsidized health care programs which I support.
But there should be room for honest debate about what is good for the country without using the kind of dismissive language Pastor Michael employs.
John Wiseman
Cumberland
Editorials
Better to debate Medicare issue than merely to dismiss it
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High priority
Maryland school officials on Tuesday put an exclamation point on the need to take student-athlete concussions more seriously.
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Cashing in
As anyone who lives in the area knows, economic gains have been hard to come by in recent years. The opening of the Rocky Gap Casino Resort is one of the biggest boosts the region has seen in some time.
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Why have the media been silent all this time?
When I read the Cumberland Times-News Editorial this morning, Friday, May 17, entitled, “Outrageous,” I laughed like a kid at a birthday party!
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What are chances this much money will be spent on road?
I was intrigued by cost data summarized in reporter Kathy Mellott’s recent article, “Completing southern link of U.S. Route 219 said to be best use of highway funds,” which appeared in the Cumberland Times-News on Tuesday May 14 (Page 1A).
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School board should be doing better job with less money
The Allegany County Teachers Association (ACTA) board of directors recently submitted a letter to the editor asking the Allegany County commissioners to fully fund the Board of Education’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year (“Commissioners should fund school board request,” April 29 Times-News).
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Better ‘Click It’
If you notice more police on the highway this week, it’s for a couple of reasons.
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They do bite
This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. For anyone thinking that is not such a big deal, consider that 4.7 million Americans annually are bitten by dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Stop buying licenses; let them find the money somewhere else
A few months ago, I received two cards from the National Rifle Association. These were dealing with a legislative alert.
They asked that I should contact Sen. George Edwards and Delegate Kevin Kelly concerning the anti-gun legislation. -
Strength of gun laws is not reflected in grisly statistics
According to the FBI’s uniform crime reports, California had the highest number of gun murders in 2011 with 1,220, which makes up 68 percent of all murders in the state that year and equates to 3.25 murders per 100,000 people.
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An old story
What for years has been an on-again, off-again battle over funding between the Allegany County Commissioners and the Allegany County Board of Education seems to be growing even uglier.
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