Letters - Friday

Medicine not public's concern

Peter Camp referred to an incident with his sister-in-law in which she was charged more than $100 for medication ("Many need help with health care," Letters, June 13). She didn't have the cash or the insurance coverage to pay for the medication, and Camp presented her situation as an example for why we should nationalize medical insurance. It reminded me of how then-Sen. Joe Biden bemoaned his mother's budget issues years ago, when he said she may have to decide whether to buy medication or food, she couldn't afford both. Essentially, both Camp and Biden are asking us to turn the current medical insurance industry on its head to accommodate their families.

Camp's sister-in-law's health is her business, she is the beneficiary, it should be her top priority, and it's not up to me to pay for her treatment or her insurance premiums. Maybe Camp and his family could get together and form a medical savings account to help pay for his sister-in-law's medical problems. And heaven knows Biden can afford to support his own mother. The other is suspicion over why Democrats want to control 20 percent of the Gross Domestic Product that is health care in this country.

Medical care in America is the best in the world, but it is a service and provides products to enhance our well-being, maybe save our lives, and it deserves to be compensated. The insurance policy I decide to purchase to protect me from catastrophic incidents is a product that I hope I never have to use. But it provides me peace of mind, and the company I purchase it from deserves to be compensated. If government, with its incessant regulation and reporting, would get out of the way, costs would go down overnight.

James Davis, Colorado Springs

Donations could help libraries

News of possible inability of some libraries to continue providing resources we have come to take for granted warrants rethinking and restructuring in a time of economic crisis.

I suggest that libraries could post online the books, periodicals, CDs, DVDs, etc., that they would like to have on hand for patrons. Donations of such could be made by those who have bought a copy and finished using it. The library could issue a receipt to the donor for tax purposes. Both parties would be helped.

Judy E. Passmore, Colorado Springs

Rayburn good choice for D-49

I'd like to share with you an evaluation of Bentley Rayburn, for I, too, am retired military, a former associate professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and am recently observing him as our chairman of the board of The Home Front Cares, of which I am a cofounder.

Rayburn is a superb leader; he was rated No. 1 militarily of his graduating class at the Air Force Academy. He is very intuitive, deliberate and fair-minded in all his decisions. He has made a very smooth transition from military to civilian life. Another strong trait he always displays is that he is a good listener. His enviable record can be verified by his official military record and a review of his participation in the community.

I have served under many superintendents at both the Air Force Academy and the Military Academy at West Point and would rate Bentley Rayburn among one of the famous leaders. He would make a great difference as superintendent in the future of District 49.

Robert A. Carlone, Col., U.S. Air Force, retired, Colorado Springs

Antagonism won't help heal rift

Arshad Yousufi poisons the dialogue on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with false accusations against Israel premised on clear historical inaccuracies and a distortion of the facts on the ground ("Complexities of the Palestinian issue," Opinion, June 23).

His use of the words "enslaved," "colonialism" and "occupation" are incendiary. His preaching about how Jews should interpret Jewish holy texts is presumptuous and insulting.

He uses these divisive arguments to transmogrify a challenging dispute over land into something fundamentally intractable and irresolvable. In a true desire for peace, responsible religious and political leaders must avoid such distortions and arm their respective constituencies with factual historical accounts, respectful arguments and openness to other points of view which permit and support meaningful dialogue.

It is tragic and disappointing that Yousufi has chosen to use his leadership position to walk such a divisive and, ultimately, destructive path.

Bruce H. DeBoskey, Mountain states regional director, Anti-Defamation League, Denver

4-H idea good for discussion

The Gazette should not elevate an unofficial brainstorming session among commissioners into a front-page article ("Bensberg suggests 4-H and Humane Society work together to save money," June 23). There was no action taken on the day of the meeting, nor will there be any action taken unless the Colorado State University Extension folks agree to help the Humane Society, perhaps by sending kids and parents as volunteers to the shelter.

The commissioners should be applauded for "thinking outside the box" in an effort to aid the Pikes Peak Humane Society as well as 4-H.

However, if 4-H parents and kids are not volunteering at HSPPR, perhaps the $75,000 annual county subsidy to the 4-H program could be better spent on the Humane Society.

Bensberg has fought for increased funding of HSPPR, even in difficult economic times.

He should be lauded for his efforts in trying to find solutions to assist two great organizations with financial needs.

Vickie Smith, Colorado Springs