Letters to the editor, Feb. 1, 2010
On the State of the Union Address
Demosthenes, a famous ancient Greek orator, purportedly filled his mouth with rocks to get around a speech impediment dating from childhood. And, it is obvious that Barack Obama, hoping for an enthusiastic response to warmed-over rhetoric, filled his mouth with sour grapes in preparation for his State of the Union speech.
Obama often complained about the problems that he inherited from the last administration. Perhaps he was referring to the economic collapse caused by a Democratic Congress in support of the irresponsible lending policies of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — or could he be referring to someone else like G.W., who warned the country very early about the danger of lending abuses actively supported by folks like Senator Barney Frank, D–Mass., Fannie Mae’s patron saint, and Chris Dodd D–Conn., the Senate Banking Committee Chair, one of those accepting very generous campaign contributions from both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including guess who, the anointed, Barack Obama, himself ?
To his eternal credit, Obama also found occasion to insult the third branch of government, the Supreme Court, since they have finally acknowledged that, in addition to foreign terrorists, businesses and unions also have a right to the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment. Perhaps now, these businesses and unions will be Mirandized as well before they are prosecuted by the FEC for stating their opinions at inopportune times.
Between genuflections from Pelosi, Biden, and the Democrat legislature, Obama also claimed that he would reduce the federal deficit, and veto bills that are too burdened by earmarks. This of course means that he will try to reverse policies that he has personally created since taking office. This could be an indication that he is moving from the far left a little to the center?
We doubt it. Past performance puts such expectations outside the realm of possibility. Only a drastic reduction in Democrat Party participation in the legislative process both in California and the nation after 2010 will provide hope that governmental free lunches will be abandoned in favor of fiscal and societal sanity.
Bob Vasseur, Newberry Springs
Expensive X-Rays
Recently I visited our for profit hospital and received a chest x-ray. Our for profit hospital sent me a bill for $700, (yes $700). It is no wonder why Barstow physicians continue to send their patients to the Victor Valley area for x-rays. Barstow Community Hospital, the leader in high fees, close to home.
Frank E. Wyman, Barstow
