Health Care a Fundamental Right?
Many advocates of universal government-paid health care say that medical care is a fundamental right that belongs to everyone. But is it? Our Constitution names the rights to life, liberty and property as fundamental. Yes, property is a human right. Just as we own our own bodies, we own the products of our mental and physical labor. This is why we rightly condemn slavery.

These rights belong to all people by nature. The state can defend them or deny them, but it did not give them to us. Rather “we the people” gave some of our alienable rights to the government, so that it can protect the rest of them.

Thus, government cannot legitimately exercise any right that the people did not originally possess. We do not admit that James has the authority to rob Peter in order to pay Paul — such a person is a thief! Yet today Congress presumes to exercise powers, which can never be justly exercised by anyone!

Let’s examine medical care. Do miracle drugs, life-saving surgical skill, and clean facilities spring spontaneously from nature? Or do those who provide them deserve fair compensation? Think of the Tom Hanks movie “Cast Away.” The natural state is to live a short life of scarcity and pain.

To call health care a right would force every medical worker into slave labor on Uncle Sam’s plantation clinic. In countries where this has been tried, the best and the brightest have just quit working. This caused shortages, rationing, and a poor quality of medical service — if you can get it at all!

While our current system is not perfect, it is far better than the scheme now before Congress. I urge everyone to contact their federal representatives and tell them to vote “NO” on this compulsory national health plan.
— Russell Josephson, Longmont

The Spin on Iacocca
In 2007, while George W. Bush was President, Lee Iacocca, former CEO of Chrysler Corporation, published a book titled, “Where Have All the Leaders Gone?”

Now, e-mails are circulating in certain circles, representing Mr. Iacocca’s book as opposing the Obama administration and any attempts at health care reform. Here are some excerpts from Mr. Iacocca’s book:

“…I hardly recognize this country anymore. The President of the United States is given a free pass to ignore the Constitution, tap our phones, and lead us to war on a pack of lies. Congress responds to record deficits by passing a huge tax cut for the wealthy….  The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs.”

“… It’s easy to … talk theory.  Or send someone else’s kids off to war when you’ve never seen a battlefield yourself…”

Does that sound like a critique of health care reform, or of the Obama administration? These people must think we’re really, really dumb.

— Linda Sandahl, Loveland

Concerns Over Health Care
There is much talk and advertising by the Obama administration on the merits of national health care. However, if the average American citizen had chance to understand what Washington is trying to do, they would be extremely upset as I am. The Liberty Counsel, a nationwide public interest religious civil liberties law firm with offices in Florida, Washington, D.C. and Virginia has made available on the Internet a summary of the current bill being considered in the U.S. House as of July 29.

A sample of unacceptable points in the plan include rationed health care, a government committee deciding what treatments and benefits you get; free health care to all non-U.S. citizens, including illegal aliens, while you pay for theirs and yours; reduced (rationed) physician services for Medicaid (seniors, low income and the poor); rationing for cancer patients; government involvement with one’s living wills and durable powers of attorney, as well as mandatory counseling for end-of life planning and decisions, which equals promotion of euthanasia; government collection of your public and private information as well as access to your bank accounts and rationing health care based on one’s health conditions. The bill is 1,000 pages long.

In the public interest, would it be appropriate for the Berthoud Recorder to publish this summary to enlighten the citizens in our community? Then, they can let Rep. Markey know their position on national health care.

The overview of the bill is found at: www.Liberty.edu/media/9980/attachments/healthcare_overview_obama_072909.pdf
— Mike Zavednak, Berthoud

Heroic Marine Endures the Perils of War
My sister Peggy Cottle’s son Jesse, who served two terms in Iraq and most recently a term in Afghanistan, was seriously injured last week in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan. They had to amputate both of his legs above the knee. They did immediate surgery and then transported Jesse to Germany, where he received more surgery, and, as of Friday, [July 31] he was transported to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Both Peggy and Dave have been overwhelmed by this situation, as you can imagine.

I would like to pass this latest update to you from Dave, who says Jesse is pulling through optimistically, even though he’s in a tremendous amount of pain. They do have some immediate needs as they are trying to stay on with Jesse as much and as long as possible. Please pass the news to the community, and we ask for your prayers and support. Anything you can do would be extremely helpful. If you’d like to contact me, you can reach me at TeriLandreth@ClearChannel.com.
— Teri Landreth, Northern Colorado

Editor’s note: Last week U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jesse Cottle, who was serving in Afghanistan, was critically injured when he stepped on a hidden improvised explosive device (IED), while on patrol. Cottle previously served for six years in Iraq and two years in Afghanistan. His mother Peggy Cottle grew up in Berthoud, and Landreth’s and Cottle’s parents — John and Marion Landreth — were much beloved members of the community, in particular, the Lion’s Club.

The family is in need of some immediate assistance so they will be able to stay with their son as long as possible in Maryland while he undergoes further surgeries. Cottle’s aunt, Teri Landreth, is a radio traffic reporter for Big Country 97.9, and the station has put together some efforts to help the Cottles through this trying time:
“We want to make Jesse’s stay at Bethesda more comfortable with a laptop computer equipped with a DVD player. Kind listeners are asked to bring Best Buy gift cards to the studio at:
4270 Byrd Drive
Loveland, Colorado 80538

“Folks are also very kind to call Best Buy and have a gift card set aside there. We’ll be shopping at the Best Buy at the Promenade Shops at Centerra.”

The family will be organizing fundraisers in the near future, and would also like to express their deep felt thanks to all who have helped so far.
We will be updating information on the Cottle family and fundraising efforts online at www.BerthoudRecorder.com.