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Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Letters to the editorPeople are dying since there is no hospital EDITOR: My thanks to the newly formed Valencia County Action Committee. We see more signs popping up around the county. Keep up the good work! I believe we need to make the general public more aware of the real facts about the site location for our hospital, and the reasons why it was chosen by the Valencia County Commissioners over all of the other sites. So many have been misled by those who would destroy our efforts to get our hospital built. Please count me in! I have written several letters, though only two have been printed thus far. I cannot stress the need for action any stronger. People are dying because they cannot get to a hospital in time to save their lives! Those few who are holding up the hospital construction should think hard about this fact. God bless you all and don't stop!
Rick Muehlhausen With lack of insurance, hospital wouldn't work EDITOR: The emotions surrounding the hospital project continue to come forth. Is it me, or are the majority of the people in favor of and clamoring for the hospital now residents of Rio Communities? With our county swamped by the uninsured and people losing jobs and their medical insurance, the whole thing will be a disaster at this time. Valencia County has one of the highest rates of uninsured per capita in the county. The reason why there are long waits at all hospital emergency rooms in the country is for those very reasons. There are too many uninsured people going to emergency rooms with non-emergency situations because they know they will get treated without having insurance. The federal law says that hospitals are required to treat them. If Valencia County ever does get a hospital going, it will face the same problems, long waits for care and a lack of doctors. Now the question is why should we think that the federal government can come up with a national health care system, keep it simple and cost-effective so that we are not taxed into the ground? Just look at what a bloated, crooked mess we have for a federal government now. I love my country, but I am ashamed of the government. It would be funny if it were not so disgusting that President Obama cannot seem to find an honest politician to fill his cabinet. Think about that and know that a national health care system will be just another huge mess. If you don't believe that, look at England, Canada, Australia, also some of the Scandinavian countries and ask the people there what they think. If they are very ill and in need of urgent medical care without being put on a two-year waiting list, they go to another country. That is if they can afford it. I can state these facts with certainty as I know people personally that have been in that situation. The people who are clamoring for national health care are either not really studying the facts or are the type that want something for nothing in life. Just look at what has happened to Social Security and Medicare. First of all, it is an entitlement program. That means that the payroll deduction was for that program alone. If Congress had not kept borrowing (stealing) from it illegally and giving benefits to people that have not paid in to the fund, it would be in good shape. The Congress is full of lawyers that regularly break the law or make their own laws to suit the situation. If Congress had to retire on Social Security and Medicare, it would be fixed in less than a week. When did the members of Congress begin to think that they are so important that they can go into midnight sessions to give themselves a raise and set up very lucrative retirement benefits just for themselves when we the people that they are supposed to represent are struggling just to make ends meet? I say that we should not get so emotional about the hospital issue and study the facts so that when we do have one it would be cost-effective, efficient and able to stay open for awhile. I for one feel that my taxes are about all I can handle now. If anyone thinks taxes will stay at the level they are now after a hospital is going should take a "reality pill." When finances start to pinch, there will be another tax issue proposed. The powers-that-be will use the same hysterical blarney that Congress used to get the "stimulus" (steal) passed. They will say that, if the residents of Valencia County want to keep the hospital open, there will have to be more taxes. I have said all of that to say this: I am for Valencia County having an adequate emergency care facility. But there will always be long waits in emergency rooms, even in Valencia County. What I do not want is another financial mess. Let's take the time to do this thing right. We the people are in enough of a mess with the Congress out of control. I will stray from the hospital now. Think about this — when there is one-party government, our nation is no longer a democracy. It borders on tyranny. That is what Congress has become when someone like Nancy Pelosi can make the statement, "We won so we can write the bill" and mortgage the people for generations. Also a people that cannot keep and bear arms to protect life and property are not governed, they are ruled.
Darla K. Gleason Constituents' views should be represented EDITOR: Although I am pleased that Sen. Michael Sanchez saw the need to respond to his recent criticism in the Valencia News-Bulletin, I am very disappointed that he chose to respond with exactly the same tactics he has been using in the legislature during this recent session, the classic "smoke and mirrors." Sen. Sanchez, no one called you on campaign finance or legislative ethics reform. The constituents he represents have called concerned because his voting record within the state senate has been extremely illiberal and in stark contrast to the values that the majority of those he represents hold. He can't fool us by switching the topic, changing the subject or sweeping his record under the rug. We are concerned that he strongly supported a bill which would change the legal recognition of marriage in our state when same-sex partners could accomplish the same benefits by entering a formal contract with one another. We are concerned that he sponsored legislation that would allow perpetrators of even violent and sexually related criminal offenses to wipe clean their records after having served their sentences. He only watered the bill down and added language to remove sex offenders when he felt the heat. We are concerned that he supported abolishing the death penalty for heinous murderers in our state. I have no doubt that you were raised with respect and desire to do good as you stated in your recent guest column. I, too, was raised to hate no one and I don't. (A relative) whom I love very much, chooses to have intimate relations with persons of the same gender, but, I do not believe that she should change the institution of marriage in this state or in this country. Your personal views and political ideology are conflicting with those of your constituents. ... The hard-working, family-oriented majority of those who have elected you to office and have expected you to perform as a voice for them. We need and deserve a change of representation in Santa Fe.
Kimothy M. Sparks Population rise means hospital is needed EDITOR: According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the population of Valencia County has grown by 8,014 births in the period from April 1, 2000, through June 30, 2008. This, on average, is a little over 1,000 per year or nearly three per day. Of course, we all know that the only babies actually born in the county were either delivered at home or on the side of the interstate — neither alternative is a good one. New Mexico law properly prevents midwife practitioners from plying their trade unless they are located within 20 minutes of a surgical hospital — in case of an emergency c-section or breech delivery. Furthermore, the Census Bureau projections indicate that Valencia County will continue to grow faster than most of the other counties in New Mexico. This anticipated growth will occur primarily among the older residents, while the younger age groups will grow at a slower pace — but grow they will. Both the elderly as well as the young families who will be adding population on both sides of the river will need the services of a legitimate primary care and surgical facility. Common sense dictates this! Also, in my profession as a commercial Realtor and land economist, I must compare the effects of a surgical hospital as opposed to simple clinics or trauma centers. Both create local jobs, but a hospital creates more and higher paying ones. In addition, unlike other medical service delivery models, hospitals are more than just employers; they are proven economic development engines. Hospitals attract ancillary businesses — which create even more jobs. Hospitals create additional residential desirability - which improves housing values (and the property tax base). Hospitals create a sense of institutional completeness for a community! I have lived in New Mexico for slightly less than a year, and by simple observation understand that these statements are, or ought to be self-evident. In fact, were there a hospital in Valencia County, I would live here. For the sake of full and honest disclosure, I do have some real estate interests in the county. However, this does not reduce the legitimacy of the argument or the need. Eight out of 10 voters in the county have already figured this out. I don't understand why the local elected leaders, using the same public statistics and standard economic concepts, don't uniformly and aggressively embrace their primary obligation to improve the quality of life for the good citizens of Valencia County.
David Paul Blacher Traffic snarl-ups need fixing first EDITOR: (A) $950,000 grant to Los Lunas for the needed snack shop, convenience store or restaurant for the Rail Runner? ... Every school year, Main Street (N.M. 6) becomes a parking lot for two to four hours a day. This is doubled and tripled when there is an accident. And that happens frequently. Remember a few years ago when we had the fire on Main, the entire town (on the west side, of course ) was shut down for the entire day. God forbid we had a real disaster. (Not to say that wasn't.) The gas spent sitting in traffic must be tremendous. The frustration is legendary. But we need a snack shop for the Rail Runner? Let's see, it takes it about 45 to 60 minutes to go from one end to another? It seems to me that the residents — all residents, east and west — need a additional way in and out of the city. If the city does not want to build a bridge over Interstate 25, then complete the Manzano Expressway linking it to Interstate 25. That would take a considerable amount of traffic off Main Street (N.M. 6) and provide a service to all the residents both on the east side and west side. We don't need a snack shop, we need another way in and out of Los Lunas. ... Who benefits, the residents or a few special interests? That's my opinion; what's yours?
Thomas L Ward Sr. Reaganomics to blame for problem EDITOR: Do you remember the words from the U.S. Constitution: "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"? If you are a veteran or a person in military uniform, you laid your life on the line for the above statement. Well, we are on the verge of losing our "pursuit of happiness" thanks to greedy Reaganomics for the last 30 years. Four U.S. presidents and a bipartisan Congress turned the other cheek and allowed banks, lenders and insurance companies to deregulate and maximize their greed, stagnate wages, bust unions and send hundreds of unionized jobs offshore. Bill Clinton, a Democrat, destroyed the American auto industry and other manufacturing industries by signing unfair trade agreements like NAFTA, WTO and GATT. These so-called free trade agreements undermine American industry, family farmers and American industrial workers. (George) W. Bush went one step further and signed CAFTA with Democratic support. All Americans who work for a living must pressure Obama to seriously amend those trade agreements or cancel them to put America first. When John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960, 35 percent of the work force was unionized. This was when America took care of itself and manufactured everything in this country. We didn't subscribe to this slave movement called "globalism." All globalism is exploitation of workers throughout the world. In testimony before Congress, Ben Bernanke, the current Federal Reserve chairman, said that labor unions are responsible for growth in wages. Outside of a second revolution, the only way that workers can get their fair share of the economic pie is to make sure that Congress passes the current Employee Free Choice Act. This legislation will insure that, if a worker wants to organize a union and have a fair election, they won't lose their jobs or be retaliated against in some other form. American unions have been under massive fire since Reagan. The unions, Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower have built and sustained the middle class. President Obama is trying to do the same. He also supports the Employee Free Choice Act. Please convince your congressmen and two U.S. senators to do what is right for family, country, union and job!
Mike Shea Problem dates back to Republican years EDITOR: County Republican Party Chairman Daniel J. Garza complains about the urgency of the Economic Recovery Act, legislation that might correct some of the economic damage caused by eight years of the Republican Party's misguided policies, an urgency required due to Republican malfeasance (and to 28 years of Reaganomics). Mr. Garza complains of the "staggering debt" from the Recovery Act, which is nothing compared to the debt put on the books from Reaganomics — he never complained about that debt. The disaster of the Republican National Debt now stands at $25 trillion, and there is no one who can or will bail America out. It must be paid down. Your grandchildren will be paying off the Reaganomics disaster for their entire lives. Divide the present full Republican National Debt by 300 million citizens and residents and that is $85,000 for each and every man, woman and child in America — including each and every man, woman and child in Valencia County. But there is no reason that Democrats and Independents owe this debt nor are responsible for paying off the cost of the Republican Party's crimes. So divide by the number of U.S. voters, it comes to about $160,000 each; then double the figure because half of November voters mindlessly voted for the McCain-Palin loonie ticket, and that makes a $320,000 share for each and every Republican in Valencia County. Mr. Garza and his disreputable party ... should keep their individual and collective mouths shut until they produce and make public their plan for paying off their personal share of the Republican National Debt. When each Valencia County Republican pays his/her $320,000 share to the U.S. Treasury in full, only then will that person's political honor be restored.
G.E. Nordell As a Senator, Obama ignored problems EDITOR: Both the House and the Senate are considering the President's 2010 budget, entitled "A New Era of Responsibility." An interesting title, given how the president continues to remind everyone that he inherited the Bush deficits and troubled economy, while conveniently ignoring the inconvenient truth that, as a Senator, he voted for pork-laden, earmark-infested deficit spending for four years. And, as a Senator, he ignored the Congressional role in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac failures - the very sparks that burst the housing bubble and kindled our current recession. I would like anyone in our New Mexico congressional delegation — Sens. Bingaman and Udall, and Reps. Heinrich, Teague and Lujan — to explain how the President's irresponsible, inflation-inducing $3.552 trillion 2010 budget, which includes $1.38 trillion in deficit spending, initiates a new era of "responsibility." The first simple but paramount step in responsible federal budgeting and spending is to eliminate deficit spending by balancing spending and income (receipts). If New Mexico can balance its budget every year, certainly the wizards of smart sitting in the Oval Office and in congress can. I ask our delegation, "Will you accept nothing less than a balanced budget for 2010 and beyond? Or, will you continue your irresponsible support for multiple-trillion dollar deficit spending bills?" The President's 2010 budget estimates total federal government receipts to be $2.381 trillion. Will you continue to ignore determining and implementing a solution to ever-growing, out-of-control Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid spending that represent $1.438 trillion (41 percent of his 2010 budget)? Will you continue to support the remaining, always growing entitlement programs that represent $0.571 trillion of his 2010 budget? Let's see, defense spending (one of the few federal government responsibilities identified in the Constitution) is set at $0.673 trillion for 2010. Whoops, entitlements plus defense spending are totaling $2.682 trillion --the President is already $301 billion into the red — into deficit spending! The remaining unfunded but budgeted programs, plus debt interest, come in at $0.87 trillion. Since the President's change we can believe in represents no change from the past (except for his record-setting deficit spending!), will you — Sens. Bingaman and Udall, and Reps. Heinrich, Teague and Lujan — take a stand and lead the Senate and House to a balanced budget? Or will you continue skipping down the yellow brick road to national bankruptcy?
Burton E. McKenzie Jr. Letters to the editor must include a telephone number and a hometown. E-mail letters to sbattin@news-bulletin.com as the preferred method of writing. If you do not have a computer, please try to double space letters so that it is easier to typeset them. For information about letters, call Sandy Battin at 864-4472.
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