On Sunday, Aug. 9, The Herald-Sun sports section did something I didn't think was possible in this market. The biggest sports section of the week (much of it filled with classified advertising) and there was not one sports story on Duke or UNC. Wake up!
STEED ROLLINS
Durham
Big distractions
So, the Durham police apparently think a small cardboard sign next to the road is a potentially dangerous distraction for drivers-- but big, bright electronic billboards flashing more than 10,000 ads a day are not.
To learn how the billboard industry is working behind the scenes to overturn Durham's billboard ban visit: supportdurhambillboardban.com
JOHN SCHELP
Durham
Correct the problem
This country cannot afford the health care reform being proposed. First, the term insurance doesn't apply. With insurance, risk is statistically evaluated, and the premium based on the mathematical chance of a loss. It works on the assumption not everyone will have a loss, and the residual premium will pay claims and the cost of business.
The cry for insurance is coming from people who have pre-existing conditions and 40 million new people ready to file a claim. That is called adverse selection, not insurance. It is just someone picking up the cost of medical care.
Second, the Democrats have been defending a single-payer program by saying how successful Medicare has been, which is a single-payer plan. Then President Obama states that billions of dollars will come from the Medicare program to pay for the new plan by eliminating waste. If the government is good at running Medicare, why are there billions in waste? Why would we believe a new program run by the government would not have the same waste?
The Congressional Budget Office is saying this bill will cost $1.5 trillion over 10 years. Congress will have to raise taxes on everyone to pay the bill. The majority of our medical costs are the result of unhealthy living habits, i.e., overeating, high-sugar foods, lack of exercise, too much alcohol, illegal drug use and violent physical and mental abuse. Let's correct these, then go to the doctor for help.
MILES STANDISH
Durham
Liberal name-calling
In Lois Henry's article of Aug. 10, the writer decries those who question Barack Obama's birth certificate as "stupid" and average citizens who show up at town hall meetings as "ignoramuses".
It is nothing unusual for a liberal to consult the tattered, worn-out playbook and resort to name calling; this is typical of the left when they can make no substantive argument on the issues.
But I don't recall seeing this type of hand-wringing when Code Pink, MoveOn.org and Cindy Sheehan were exercising their right to "dissent" as the "highest form of patriotism". Oh no, these people were held up as bastions of liberty who "spoke truth to power". Criticism of them was off limits, and the left made absolutely no attempt to "get them under control," as the writer wishes (gosh, that sounds Stalinist...).
Yes, there are conservatives and Republicans who are appalled and ashamed -- but the emotions are not directed at our fellow citizens. They are reserved for Obama, who is doing all he can to destroy this country and remake it in his own contorted image. It is sad to think that you hold such a low opinion of your countrymen who are simply exercising their right to disagree.
I encourage Henry to get informed, lest she continue to suffer from the same malady as that lamented by her comedic muse.
MIKE MUFFLER
Durham
The real rulers
When Jamie Huff, in his most recent rant, states that "the liberals . . . have achieved complete and entire control of our country," he is mistaken. The country is controlled by the Federal Reserve, the Wall Street banks, the big oil companies, the big pharmaceutical and insurance companies, and assorted other corporate interests. And none of them are the least bit "liberal."
ROLAND OTTEWELL
Durham
