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Viewpoints Your Opinion Dr. Magac’s renews troubled traveler’s faith in mankind Dear Editor: Recently I was traveling northbound on I-7S when I had a flat tire between the Pierce Avenue and Arkwright Road exits. I was alone in my car and it was very dark along this stretch of highway at 8 p.m. Traffic was heavy and I turned on my blinkers, hoping someone would stop. Within a few minutes a car pulled ahead of mine and a well dressed young man approached and asked if I needed help. He used his car phone to let those at my destination know where I was. He then offered to change my tire which he did with expertise by the light of my flashlight. My benifactor was Dr. John M. Magac of the Perry Chiropractic Health Center. My thanks to this gentleman for stopping and taking a chance that I was truly in trouble and did not have some ulterior motive. My faith in the inherent kindness of my fellow man has been reaffirmed. Sincerely, Lois S. McLain Reno’s invitation to AIDS infected foreigners bad news Dear Editor: I'll give you the "bad news" first. Attorney General Janet Reno approved a waiver to allow foreigners infected with AIDS to enter the U.S. for up to ten days. This will allow AIDS infected participants to attend the Gay Games in New York from June 18 to June 25. This should produce an "international biological swap" of resistant and immune diseases that will secure the jobs of the Center for Disease Control workers and researchers for the next century. The second round of bad news for taxpayers is that the administration has produced the first precedent setting case of qualifying a homosexual as a "politically persecuted class." This allows homosexuals world wide a "gay highway" into American health care. The "good news" is that Gov. Zell Miller personally invited the Gay Olympics to Georgia, but fortunately they declined his hospitality. Gov. Miller also wants to repeal the Georgia sodomy laws, but the legislature won't agree. More good news, the Democratic Party only has one platform. The liberal Democratic Party that "moderate" Bill Clinton belongs to is the same Democratic Party, with the same homosexual rights agenda that "conservative" Democratic candidate Zell Miller supports, endorses, and pays allegiance to. The liberal Democratic Party asked our "conservative" Gov. Zell Miller to speak at the 1992 Democratic convention in support of both the party and candidate Clinton. Zell Miller gave a most enthusiastic endorsement of both the Democratic Party platform and presidential candidate Clinton. Does anyone remember? The worst news is that most of the conservative Democrats in Georgia will not admit there is only one Democratic Party. Until they face reality and admit this, Georgia will be dominated by zig zagging politicians who talk conservative to keep them happy and vote liberal to keep the party happy. Nolen P. Cox, Valdosta ‘T’Oei&Mtteb 'tycuvt Aetter 7» 74e ScUt&i. “Please /4d<oie<te *76e*K: Editor Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M Perry, GA, 31069 Houston Times-Joumal P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association oo.i<|A«a Fi.iff In<i F 110- Li W. Ij, tf Ct, M<| - <l,l t? L■' i' <ri11(• <ra<r'ic4«v .tFi./wof; 0A.041id S w., tF.« OA-o/tf. yUaf, tF«.p.Of»F*. p<a«4(i to- t!F«, onrl (o |..lilio.i lf...@oV«wm«.a foVO.A 4 cj<u« V«i«C4f*< Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Our Goal The Houston Times-Journal is published proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications Inc., Perry Ga. Our goal is to produce quality, profitable, community-oriented newspapers that you, our readers, are proud of. We will reach that goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty, and a strong dedication towards printing the truth. Bob Tribble Daniel F. Evans Julie B. Evans Mitch Tribble President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley Advertisingleresa M. Gavilan Composition: Stacey Shy Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington Bookkeeping: Judy Hubert Circulation: Donnie Forehand Our Policies •Signed Letters to the editor welcomed. Plea; a limit to 300 words and include address and phone number. •Liabi'ity for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. •We cannot be responsible for return of pictures or material unless stamped 'elurn addressed envelope is included. The Houston Times-Journal (USPS 000471) is published semi-weekly for SIB.OO per year by Houston Publications, Inc., 807 Carroll Street, Perry, Ga. 31069. Second Class Postage paid at Perry, Ga.,POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer M.PerryGa. 31069. ISSN:IO7S-1874 Government will only make big problem bigger Health care is without a doubt a major issue in this country. Answers are not simple to find and solutions seem almost impossible. We have hospitals, doctors, medical companies, insurance companies, and many others working together in what seems to be an effort to further complicate the issue. Medical costs are far too high, but add a dose of government control to what is already a major problem and the problem will only accelerate. One has to admire Pres. Bill Clinton for being brave enough to put the problem on the table. Once we work through all the Congressional debate on plans put forth by all the so called experts, I am sure that where we arrive will be a bit down the road from where we are now. In other words, I believe that since the issue is so important to all Americans, the end result of what is adopted will be better than the present system. Along the way we have to be careful not to let the plan proposed by our President become law without some major overhauls. If we allow thousands of bureaucrats • ".BL; jpw f lof! JH TF mm W IKSB * BBBBb- Perry Scrapbook During the spring of 1984 members of the Confirmation Class of Perry United Methodist Church held a retreat at Epworth-by-tho-Sea at St. Simons Island. The purpose of the retreat was to guide them In making decisions and to re-emphasize God's love for them. STREET TALK: If you didn’t file your federal income taxes by midnight Friday, you're late! This week, just for fun, we took up residence at the local post office Thursday afternoon (the day before the April 15 deadline) and asked six local residents if they had, or would, make Uncle Sam’s annual deadline. INF v * iP^' 4 ~ w v - I : ’f'V' 5 -* , •’jUML rßP™’'' IjßffsgjaiSgsp - Dan Mason “I paid them yesterday.” lp| -a*** mwm I * ' ‘ ■ iw,! jgk - J9H| Pauline Mitchell “I always go ahead of the deadline. I paid mine a month or so ago.” Houston Times-Journal (the Federal government) to run our health care system, you will see one big mess of new regulations, paper work, and in all probability increased costs and inefficiency. Most every country that has a government-run health care system has faced serious problems. In England patients can rarely get dialysis or transplants if they are over 55. In Canada people wait months for routine tests such as scans and mammograms and then months more for operations. And it’s not uncommon for patients to be told what physician to see. The Heritage Foundation has analyzed the Clinton plan and summarized what it would mean to Americans. Let me share some of their findings with you. First off, a government-run health care program can be called nothing short of socialized medicine. Government will set the standards, "manage” the competition and attempt price controls. They will decide who gets what treatment, under what circumstances and at what cost. Choice of doctors won’t be easy, Jay Williams "I’m doing it right now. My appointment is in 10 min utes.” Larry Walker 111 "I just mailed it certified mail.” Page 4A - Saturday, April 16,1994 "Houston Times-Journal paper work and regulations will increase. Government will not be able to manage America's S9OO billion a year health care industry efficiently. Pres. Clinton talks about security, open markets, and free choice when discussing his plan. In reality the plan is actually the largest power grab made by the federal government since die New Deal. The "Supreme Court" of health care will be created under the plan and they will be called the National Health Board. The board will oversee every aspect of the plan. They will set benefits, determine the levels of treatment and changes in technology. The board will be the final judge of who gets what health care, at what cost and under what conditions. The real cost of the Clinton plan will be borne by business. Employers will be mandated to pay some 80 percent of the cost to their local alliance. It is estimated that the additional cost will be between 3.5 to 7.9 percent in payroll taxes. And when employers' cost rise to a Lisa West "I did it today.” Irene Golden "I’ve already filed mine. I mailed them in February.” |3fi Bob I Tribble I * _l certain point it leaves little choice but to eliminate jobs (people). The Clinton plan calls for a "Global Budget" that will impose limits on annual spending. This sounds good, but when spending is limited, that usually means rationing, and rationing means that someone will not get they care they need or want when they desire it. Over time the President's new taxes can be lifted, his damage to the military repaired, his regulations rescinded. But once his health care plan is put into effect it will be almost impossible to remove. Heritage Foundation has come forward with a Consumer Choice plan that I will share with you in a future column. [""> VetoF. - L k id Roie y I Staff Paternalistic rulers take away freedom I'm starting to get worried. I'm worried that our wise rulers in Washington are about to pull the parent-thing on us. It seems that politicians seem to want to protect us from our stupidity with the only charge to us being a loss of our free dom. The latest battle is over ci garettes. Please don't misunderstand me here. I have never smoked mid, aside from the realization that smokers are nicotine slaves, don't see why people willingly inhale poison. Recent reports indicate cigarette manufacturers add a pesticide to their product. However, in the early part of this century, nicotine was used as an effective pesticide. As a friend of mine would say, "If it ain't good for the bugs, then it obviously ain’t good for people." Furthermore, I wouldn't weep long if makers of cigarettes went out of business. I watched my grandfa ther die of a series of strokes caused by his nicotine habit. My father died of congestive heart failure one year after a stroke forced him to retire. No, I consider cigarette manufac turers to rank with the scum of the earth. Hitler and Stalin have less blood on their hands than pushers of nicotine. But, the smoker also shares blame in his fate. While nicotine is more addictive than heroin and co caine, it is possible to stop. No one holds a gun to a person's head de manding they smoke. Smoking, like driving without a seatbelt and riding a motorcycle without a helmet, is an activity where the hurt is generally confined to one person. I believe that it is the upmost in stupidity to smoke; but, we have the freedom to be stupid. Or do we? More and more it seems that gov ernment has taken it upon itself to protect us from our stupidity. State law mandates that we wear seatbelts when we drive. Seatbelts save lives, that's true; but, should we not have the freedom to face the consequences of our acts. Consequences. Every act that I do has conse quences, good or bad. A paternalistic government seeks to deny me the right to suffer the bad consequences from any act I do that hurts only myself. However, the only way to take away the bad consequences is to take away my freedom by prohibiting the act. Limited government is based on the premise that government only has the power necessary to allow its citizens to live and act in freedom. Limited government also assumes that its citizens will be able to make choices, that they will enter the choice fully realizing that there are consequences. Limited government recognizes that the citizen is fully responsible for the consequences of his act. The United States was established as a limited government, respecting the rights of its citizens to make choices and suffer the consequences of those choices.