Nationalizing health care not fair to those who have already paid

Keep up the good work Mr. Myers. The truth hurts the Libs and their President . We need more Doug Myers.  

Wow, you really have such fascist opinions blogger5.  It probably bothers you that we finally have a president who is well eduated, articulate, more graceful and basically smarter than the dimwit George W. who basically couldn't speak without having a dictionary in front of him at all times.  And as far the "discussion" regarding social security, let's not forget what our previous administration wanted to do with it......invest it in the stock market!  Brilliant, huh? 

This economy is where it's at today thanks to the Bush Administration.  Deregulation basically told the markets, Wall Street and companies to police themselves.  Another brilliant move! 

Texas finally has their village idiot back home.

Mr. Myers' writings are not those of someone looking for intellectual debate anymore than Ann Coulter's are.  Every movement has its "shock jocks".  So no, frankly, I didn't have high expectations of quality discussion here.  On the bright side, when one's standards are low, one is less likely to be disappointed.

Furthermore, since Mr. Myers' writings have indicated that he's at or near retirement age, and since he oh-so-arrogantly writes about people being at the "bottom of the food chain", I stand by my description of old and grouchy, although I should have added egotistical.  Which is why, if you haven't met him, maybe you will some day.  It seems like you'd make great friends.

And, to describe you, I would add the term "liar" and "coward".  You know exactly what you meant but apparently don't have the guts to stand behind it.  

Nope, I believe the timestamp on your  "Of course when we're old and grouchy like Mr. Myers ..."  statement was some 40 minutes before my "imbecile" quote.  Unfortunately, in your mind, it is 'all about you' and you mistook that as me calling you an imbecile .. apparent paranoia symptoms.  I was just making a statement much like your cutesy 3 finger pointing line.

Frankly you are incapable of having a quality debate with anyone ... you fail to even form an educated opinion, only namecalling and stating falsehoods made up in that tiny little mind of yours.

I do apologize, however, to "blogger5" for involving myself in a so-called discussion with you and taking focus away from his well-thought remarks.

Actually, KB, I believe it was you who started with the name calling (i.e. 'imbecile').  Which is the typical last resort of someone who has nothing more substantial to contribute.  While I do appreciate the intellectual honesty of Mr. Myers' last post, unfortunately I think it's impossible to have a quality debate with someone who coined the phrase "Obammunist" (I do hope I spelled that properly...) as he did in a previous letter.  

If I'm not mistaken, you'd said you were leaving the discussion...back so soon? 

Actually, KB, what my husband and I have is something called a marriage based on mutual respect--obviously a concept you're not familiar with.  I sure hope you're not married, the whole "on your husband's dime" concept went out with Leave It to Beaver.  Good luck in finding conversation more to your liking...Rush still does his radio show I'm sure, I'm sure you enjoy that.

It may be true (and I'm not convinced) that other countries have universal healthcare of some sort and it may or may not offer the quality of care here in the United States.

But at what cost?  Are you willing to turn your health choices over to some unnamed bureacrat who then decides that you are too fat, smoke too much, drink too much, are too old, are too deformed, are of the wrong political persuation, are of the wrong sexual persuasion, are gentically inferior, are too _______ (you fill in the blank)?

I don't ask you for a thing, nor do I ask government for anything other than what is written in our Constitution...a simple guarantee of personal freedom, protection of our borders, sound monetary policy, and an impartial legal system.

Frankly , I consider people who want to divert my efforts to their pocket to be no more than parasites or robbers who get government under color of law to do what they themselves are too cowardly to attempt.

As Ayn Rand pointed out, individuals seeking their own achievement and pursuing their own interests unhampered by governmental intrusion bring far more to the party than collectivists who seek to take the sweat of one man's brow and divert it to their own ends.

And as for modeling ourselves after "the wealthy industrialized countries," I'll take a pass.  America may not be perfect, but it beats the snot out of the others you mention and having been to all, I have first hand knowledge....great to visit them, but always better to come back home. Been there, done that.....no comparison

KB: "We put our money into the system over a lifetime of work with a
supposed  'guarantee' of support in our later years. Unfortunately,
these same politicians YOU want to entrust with your family's health
care has bankrupted the system intended to provide us 'security'.
This is what gives you the misguided idea that "your husband's money"
is supporting us. My 40+ years of employment and paying money into the
Social Security system is where I am getting my monthly government
pittance, not your husband's labors while you sit home typing on the
computer. There is no shame in me, Mr. Meyers or "blogger5", accepting
our own money either. And NO, I will NOT be returning what is already
mine."

 Who said anything about entrusting healthcare to any politician?  I've certainly made no such statement.  Seems like someone's reading things that aren't there.  I like my healthcare just fine the way it is now, thanks (of course I can say that because I have great health insurance, which I think is the exception more than the rule).

 Maybe you're the one who should be investigating Social Security's workings.  "Your own money", that you paid into the system, is no longer there.  It was paid out to the then-current beneficiaries from your paychecks, when you were drawing paychecks.  You are now getting my husband's money and the money of other current workers.  So in that sense, you're exactly the same as the people you (and your friend Mr. Myers, of course) whine about.  As the saying goes...when you point one finger at others, you have three fingers pointing back at yourself.  

Universal health care is implemented in all but one of the wealthy, industrialized countries, the United States.  It has not bankrupt Germany, Portugal, Canada.  It does not ration health care in France, Finland and Spain or limit their choice of physicians.  And certainly even you,  Mr. Myers know that our ranking with the WHO(world health organization) was 37 last time I checked.  Not too impressive. 

I don't know there Kristen, he's impressed me so far and has reduced you to personal attacks and innuendo (i.e. 'anger issues', 'happy pills' and 'self importance'') because you can't hold a candle to these debates.  

I don't hear you complaining about "H" listing her educational pedigree, why wouldn't "blogger5" or Mr. Meyers have the right to defend themselves against the personal attacks and list some of their own successes?

I would not expect you to find his posts "thought provoking" because you have a set agenda here.  I would suggest you investigate the original design and intent of the Social Security system.  We put our money into the system over a lifetime of work with a supposed  'guarantee' of support in our later years. Unfortunately, these same politicians YOU want to entrust with your family's health care has bankrupted the system intended to provide us 'security'. This is what gives you the misguided idea that "your husband's money" is supporting us. My 40+ years of employment and paying money into the Social Security system is where I am getting my monthly government pittance, not your husband's labors while you sit home typing on the computer. There is no shame in me, Mr. Meyers or "blogger5", accepting our own money either. And NO, I will NOT be returning what is already mine.

I suggest you go back and actually read this entire thread instead of jumping on the "get Meyers" bandwagon ... you might learn something. The politicians will do to a universal healthcare system what they have already done to social security.  We will all be worse off.

Hello there "blogger5"....if you want people to think through the issues, perhaps you'd want to make the issues the focus of your letters instead of yourself.  Really...you don't come across as impressive as you seem to believe :).  If you want to learn how to write a thought-provoking letter from a conservative standpoint, may I recommend studying the columns of George Will or perhaps Jonah Goldberg, whose sense of humor might be a little more to your taste?   They write in national publications because a lot of people seem to find them thought-provoking.  You write occasional letters to the editor of your local newspaper.  See the difference?

I'm happy to know that Mr. Myers must either be planning on or currently returning his Social Security checks, since that's not *his* money, it's my husband's money.  Mr. Myers didn't save it, my husband gets it involuntarily taken out of *his* paycheck to provide today's Social Security benefits.  Of course when we're old and grouchy like Mr. Myers, and wait for our Social Security checks, we'll be waiting for quite some time. 

We can also thank the taxpayers for providing Mr. Myers his healthcare since his wife still works as a teacher.   Maybe he could use those benefits, which are well-known for their quality, to get some happy pills from the local pharmacy or a few visits with a therapist to address his anger issues and overinflated sense of self-importance.

"You seek only to unfairly transfer your burden to those of us who have paid far more than “our fair share”...you and your ilk exist at the bottom of the food chain by your own design."

Really?  I am appalled that the Herald continues to print this man's letters as I am sure many people are.

I guess I am at the bottom of the food chain by my own design too...hmmm, let's see..Master's Degree (check) Husband who has a double major (check) two kids (check). Both in our 30's (check) Not a broken family (check)..and really does this matter? live waaayyyy below our means (check)   Both of us work (check)  Hardly any debt (check)

BUT, only one of us has health insurance though our job...now if I wanted to add my husband and children to my job's health insurance plan (which by the way is a professional job that requires a Master's Degree) I would have to pay an extra $1875 dollars a month.  Yep you read that right..$1875 dollars a month!!  Right now, with me working and my husband working part time we are bordering at the poverty level.  Yes you read that right... BORDERING at the POVERTY LEVEL with a master's degree and a double major.  Oh and he works part time because we don't feel that our children should be in daycare.  We feel that we should be raising our children, not others. Besides, even if my husband worked full time..guess where all of that money would be going, yup.  Daycare.

Right now we can't move out of this blasted city because..HUH, no one wants to move here because there are no jobs..in fact guess what? Michigan's employment rate is at 12% and next year it probably won't get any better due to GM closing quite a few plants in the area..or haven't you read that yet?

So does that mean I should have not had children..because they don't have health care?if you think the answer is yes, then maybe you better rethink who the real socialists are.

Wow, don't be so blind and uncaring to your fellow humans, why not think about evolving.

Thank you Heide and Kathy.  I am also one who has paid generously into the system and now am left high and dry through no fault of my own.  I too was so appalled at his letter that I couldn't put in to words what you did so well.  I've actually thought about boycotting the Herald for printing such hate mongering rubbish.  Then you get down to freedom of speech.  Who are these people that are so blind to their neighbors and what will it take to open their eyes, or better yet their hearts.  

Didn't your wife ever teach you that life is not fair? Someday "the Greedy" will be "the Needy". Then it will be FAIR.

Mr. Myer's letter to the editor was one of the most appalling pieces of writing I have read in a long time. He is basically insulting millions of Americans who have worked just as hard or even harder, paid their taxes and everthing else and are now left without health protection! We do not deserve it??? I, too, have a "broken" home and a child with a disability, but despite the fact that I have barely anything, I still share with those who are less fortunate than my family is. I have one adult child with a growth in her brain, no health insurance. My best friend has cancer and has not seen a doctor in three years due to loss of health insurance, I am in need of surgery, but have no health insurance. All three of us have worked hard, paying our dues, for a combined amount of roughly 55 years. And we deserve to be left hanging?

Since you are so willing to help fellow citizens, perhaps you would like to share your health benefits with my family?

As a former resident of Tecumseh and a teacher of more than thirty years, I was appalled when I read Mr. Myers' description of his wife's forty years as an educator. I cannot believe that someone with such a negative, disparaging attitude towards children was allowed to "pound knowledge" into the heads of students for so many years. What a disgrace to the profession which is generally populated with caring, compassionate people!

I dont understand why your so upset ?  Just look at how responsible Big Brother has been with Social Security.  If they nationalize health care and regulate it like they have with the stock market we will be fine. We all need to pay our taxes Mr. Myers inorder to support what we dont want and to help our country men who have made one mistake after another. How else can a single mom with 3 kids at 17 years old survive ? How can a 20 yearold young man with multiple criminal convictions get a job ? Nope, they need our tax money Doug and its unamerican to make them pay a price for what they have done.  Dont worry Doug Big Brother will save us all !