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LETTERS
The presidential race and issues of morality
Tools
To the editor:
In response to the Friday letter from John Esperian, who argues that Republican presidential candidates being preoccupied with "non-issues" such as abortion and gay marriage:
Mr. Esperian asks if whomever one chooses to marry really impacts his life and personal values. The answer to that is "yes."
The decay of moral values erodes the strength of our society. Having morals and following a moral code is something that strengthens, not weakens an individual and thus society. By looking only at how you personally are affected by something, you allow this sort of moral decay to creep into our society by small increments, all the while eroding positive influences in our society like strong families, working for a living, commitment and valuing life.
The well-known quote, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," certainly applies to the things Mr. Esperian lists as "non-issues."
When will the erosion of our society's values finally impact him? And then what? Someone else isn't being personally affected so we allow more moral decay? Those of us with morals need to speak up and tell people when their speech and actions are offensive to our values.
I'm happy we have Republican candidates challenging the moral corruption in our society and making sure it is an issue in the next election. We need to support them and not dismiss them as "the lunatic Tea Party."
Brenda Becker
Las Vegas
Not funny
To the editor:
While we may chuckle at the irony of the news ("Heart Attack Grill nearly lives up to its name," Thursday), the reality is anything but funny. The American Heart Association is right to be concerned -- heart attacks and resulting conditions such as stroke are among the No. 1 killers in America.
But physical well-being is only half the problem for cardiac trauma patients. The other half is financial health -- for them and for their families -- which often plummets when a patient's condition is so severe that it prevents him from returning to work.
For example, stroke is a leading cause of adult long-term disability. Many stroke survivors regain functional independence, but 15 to 30 percent are permanently disabled. Paralysis, extreme pain, language struggles, thinking and memory problems are among the types of disabilities that prevent survivors from regaining employment.
Where do they turn next? Without a paycheck and mounting medical bills, those with disabilities risk financial meltdown. According to an Allsup survey of pending Social Security Disability Insurance claimants, 15 percent of those waiting for a decision on their SSDI application are in or expect to be in foreclosure. Five percent face bankruptcy.
So while Heart Attack Grill makes money off its cleverly named "triple bypass burger," its customers don't just sacrifice their health, they also risk their financial security.
During American Heart Month, there's no better time to raise awareness about the seriousness of heart disease. Each person's well-being concerns both health and finances. And if a loved one or friend can no longer work due to a disability, encourage them to file for SSDI. It's a federal safety net already helping nearly 56,000 people in Nevada that can prevent more Americans from losing everything.
Jim Allsup
Belleville, Ill.
The writer is president and founder of Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security disability representation.
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Please have someone explain to the average American the differences between the Taliban we are warring against and emerging attempt by the Republican version here to control the women without regard to their preferences (or wishes). They came for birth control and we stood by and did nothing, can schools be far behind (creation science, climate change and medical ethics)? The deeper you peer into the heart of the evangelicals the less tolerance you see for the "Average American".
Conservatives: insisting on small unintrusive government...except for when they are getting directly involved in the personal lives of citizens in order to appease a shrinking population of antiquated thinkers. Awesome!
Still no explanation as to exactly how abortions or gay marriage or stem cell research "decay society". Just the normal social conservative babble with the same old buzzwords: blah blah blah MORALS blah blah blah VALUES blah blah blah
My favorite line has to be: "Those of us with morals need to speak up and tell people when their speech and actions are offensive to our values."
More social conservative bigotry. Move along, nothing to see here.
The one thing that I don't understand is how the Tea Party or any of the religious right can be so intolerant of others all in the name of Christ Jesus? Another thing I don't understand is how can they support the politicians who want to cut medicare and Social Security which is the money they live on? Another thing I don't understand is how they support the people who want to take away a woman's health care and state it's best for them? What do they know more than I do about my body and how it works? Another thing I don't understand is when they say moral values; of who's values are they speaking for? Mine? I believe I have moral values and their values don't fit mine. I like to believe that I am more tolerant of people and have some compassion. Are they saying I don't? I don't get it and I guess I never will. As for the hamburger and eating, I understand weight problems and being aware of heart problems with what we eat is important. There's an area we all can learn to be more tolerant of others. If you don't like what the Grill serves, don't eat there. And if you do, take a bite and what you don't finish take home. You paid for it. Share it with others. Everything in moderation so don't go there every night. Another business making jobs which this city needs desperately. Put it in perspective and do the right thing. Thank you for the facts on heart troubles.
All of you know that no way can that guy Romney get social conservatives to support him….because he sure as heck isn’t conservative! And no way are any Independent voters going to support romney because they all know he says whatever he has to say to get voters to support him! And no way in heck is romney going to get the strong Christian vote because we all know he is one of those mormons! No way can that guy romney represent our Republican Party against obama…..because of all the reasons listed above, obama will kick romney’s mormon butt down the street like an old tin can!
Don’t waste your votes on a loser like romney! Santorum is the only Republican candidate that has a chance at beating obama! Christians believe in Santorum! Rick is against any types of abortion! Rick doesn’t believe in contraceptives.....he believes that any sex should be for producing children! Rick Santorum home schools his own children so their minds won’t be corrupted by those public teachers! Rick has serious doubts about evolution and global warming! Rick said he would annul all existing same sex marriages! Come on people! Wake up and support a true Christian that CAN beat that guy obama! We TeaPublicans ARE taking America back…..and yes, we are going to take that guy obama right back out of the office of President too! Rick Santorum for President! It’s the American way!
We know what the GOP stands for:
NO gay marriage.
No abortion.
No euthanasia.
No stem cell research.
All the issues nobody cares about except themselves.
It's just amazing to me that there's anyone out there who still believes EITHER of the major political parties stands for some system of beliefs based on morality. They both stand for money and power. That's it. If you want proof of just how far our nation has fallen, simply look at the number of people who have swallowed the lies put forth by one or the other of the parties hook, line, and sinker. Doesn't anybody value critical thinking any more?
There are certain freedoms that the republicans are more than willing to give up. The main one they dislike is the freedom to be a democrat.
Slimes, the entire Republitard party. If they aren't screwi*g someone els's wife, they are brainwashed in a cult with the devil at it's core. God help America, if they EVER get into power again. 8 Years was enough for a lifetime.
dentarthurdent wrote on February 19, 2012 07:39 AM: Social Issues like Abortion and Gay Marriage are how the Republican party gets the working class and poor to vote against their economic interests. Do you think Newt or Mitt really care if same sex couples are "allowed" to marry? They don't, but they know that they can get votes from the people who do.
HEAR! HEAR!