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I strongly encourage those who are in favor of the current reform of health care currently being considered in the U.S. Senate and House to read the bill. Contrary to what has been stated by several administration officials, this bill does contain vigorous rationing of health care, especially to senior citizens. Seniors will be required to sit down with a government "counselor" every five years to discuss hospice care and end of life choices.
If a senior citizen contracts cancer or other life-threatening disease between counseling sessions, an additional session will be required. Since end-of-life health care is the most expensive overall, the point of these counseling sessions is to discourage health care that will not result in restoration of a good quality of life.
In addition, the current bills contain the complete Freedom of Choice Act which was defeated earlier in the Congress. This will mandate sweeping changes to the state and national laws regarding abortion, mandating additional clinics and abortion providers across the country.
You can search for the text of these bills, more than 1,000 pages, and read them for yourself. I encourage you to do that, then contact your members of Congress. This health care reform as it stands now would be a disaster.
Carol Bush
Oakwood
Lula community must stay positive to meet challenges
After attending Lula's Veterans Park dedication, I was inspired of how far we have come as a city from mild obscurity to a state of enlightenment.
A community won't grow if its leaders exploit the economy and the people. People want honest government without corruption. All of us are responsible for seeing that our community grows in security, just laws, education for children, job opportunities and stamping out things that hinder progress.
Our infrastructure has lagged far behind in accordance to today's standards. To progress, we must look forward with a positive attitude, not a negative one. If we continue to have a critical spirit, we will never see anything that is good. People respond to praise more than criticism.
Our city government and the people we serve ask for everyone to understand how important the Glades Reservoir and our ability to build a sufficient water and waste water treatment plant is to Lula's and Hall County's growth.
Life often offers us some uphill and downhill battles that we must overcome in to make a better place to live. In our biblical teachings, there are several examples that we can draw from.
Having been a truck driver many years ago, I can relate to this story. This truck driver had become very discouraged because everything seemed to be against him in everything he was doing to make a better life for his family.
So one day, as he was praying to God, he said "Lord, if you want me to believe you, you have to show me a big sign." So one day he came up over a big hill and in front of him was a huge sign that said "Jesus loves you." And at the bottom of the sign, it said "Is this big enough?"
Are there big enough signs out there for our conviction? I am convinced, that beyond a doubt, that there are.
Recently I had a total hip replacement and had to send my wife to North Carolina with her niece while I recovered. While I was alone at home and in the hospital, there was such an outpouring of love and concern from Lula City Hall employees and staff, as well as from the mayor of Gainesville, Hall County Sheriff's Office, Gainesville Physical Therapy staff and a host of people in the Lula community. It convinced to me that God works through people.
I am convinced, like the truck driver that saw the big sign, that it is big enough.
Mordecai Wilson
Lula city councilman
Will reform offer health care for all or merely for some?
I have only one comment on national health care, and that is in the form of question: If we are forced into a national health care scheme, will all federal employees, including members of Congress, the judiciary and the executive branches, get the same plan we do? If not, why not?
Bruce W. Hallowell
Clarkesville