Open Forum:

We have a right to know what legislation our representatives are passing. Under the Obama regime we're subjected to trust me, this is a good deal - no need for you to know exactly what's in a bill.

Case in point: HR 3200 - the recently passed House health bill. Go ahead and Google HR 3200. You'll see a disclaimer that the bill is too big and comprehensive, so they (thoughtfully) provide you a brief synopsis of the bill Thank God the government's looking out for us; we're really not very smart, you know, we wouldn't understand all that double talk anyway.

Here's some goodies not mentioned in the synopsis, but a part of HR 3200:

• Page 30. A government committee will decide what treatments you get

• Page 42.The health choice commissioner will choose your healthcare benefits

• Page 170. All non-resident aliens ( including illegals) will be exempt from individual taxes. Resident Americans will, however, pay.

• Page 95. The government will use groups like Acorn and Americorps to sign up individuals for government health care plans

• Page 239. The government will reduce physician services for Medicaid seniors

• Page 430. The government will decide what level of treatment you will have at the end of life.

That's just six of the little goodies they don't want you to know about. There's literally hundreds of them not in their synopsis.

When was the last time you knew or heard of an American who went to Canada or England for healthcare? Probably never. Yet thousands of Canadians and British come yearly to the U.S. for their health care.

Our current health care system is not perfect, but it is the best in the world. Urge your senators to oppose this worthless legislation.

Art Becker

Pillager

A racial profiling story

After reading a recent column about the president's comments and Professor Gates, I will guess that the writer has never been racially profiled. I have, and I'm white. On active duty in San Diego in the 80's, three white shipmates and myself were driving in a car going to visit one of my buddy's wives. She was black and lived in an all black neighborhood. We stopped at the convenience store, and upon leaving were pulled over by two black officers as we were driving back on to the street. The officers approached us, ask for all of our IDs and asked what we were doing in that neighborhood. We explained that we were visiting the driver's wife. The officer explained that a car full of white guys in this neighborhood was usually there to make a drug deal. The officers were extremely professional, treated us fairly and after talking to us let us continue. We were racially profiled, and correctly so, these officers were on the lookout to stop crime and seeing people that didn't fit the neighborhood they investigated. Did I resent that I was profiled, and believe that I was being harassed. No, the officer in the Gates incident was responding to a call, not out cruising to harass blacks. Gates was projecting his racism onto the officer. The officer was simply answering a call for suspicious activity and doing his job.

Luke 6:42 Either how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in your eye, when you yourself behold not the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to pull out the mote that is in your brother's eye.

Steve Lanz

Nisswa

Vote no on health care

A widely circulated AP article, Fact Check: Distortions Rife in Health Care Debate, doesn't reference the health bills, and includes incomplete facts:

It ignores pushing everyone into managed care. The health bills force managed-care (qualified) plans, with restrictions to specialists and tests. House bill HR 3200, pages 16-17: Employers have five years to move into managed-care plans. With individual insurance, there's less time. When co-pays or deductibles change, which many do yearly, you must switch to a qualified plan. Plus, prove to the IRS you're in a qualified plan, or pay thousands of dollars: pages 167-168, HR 3200. The Senate bill, pages 57-58, requires managed-care plans even if you and your employer are paying.

The article says there won't be rationing, using the logic that rationing already exists. And, Denying coverage for certain procedures might increase under proposals to have a government-appointed agency identify medicines and procedures best suited for various conditions. Translation: Rationing. Example: Cutting $500-plus billion from Medicare as enrollment increases 30 percent. Alternatively, the CBO has suggested raising eligibility age one month per year until age 70 in 2043, or asking wealthy seniors to pay more, both sensible solutions.

It also claims no compulsory end-of-life consultations for seniors. But, pages 424-446, HR 3200: Seniors must have consultations. Moreover, demonstration programs will be established where shared decision-making involving intrusive measures are compared with Medicare beneficiaries who don't participate. Three guesses which prevails. Options are already plentiful, including advanced directive kits at doctor's offices, hospitals, and online. Medicare beneficiaries already make end-of-life decisions without a government committee. Government interference isn't necessary.

Go to www.defendyourhealthcare.us. Click House and Senate Bills to read for yourself. Tell Klobuchar, Franken and Oberstar to read them, and vote no.

Elizabeth and Ron Ward Brainerd