Face the facts: We don’t want a censored local newspaper | Letters

To the writer who objects to the Packet publishing columns from The New York Times, Washington Post and other national news services that he disagrees with, I would suggest he subscribe to one of those newspapers and acquaint himself with professional journalism that practices fact-checking and presents alternative views.

Unlike Fox News, where truth is arbitrary and determined by the president’s latest tweet, these respected publications actually expect their readers to form opinions based on facts.

I do not want the Packet to censor the content of opinion writers, whether I agree with them or not. However, the authors of the opinions he disagrees with would welcome his comments (NYT, 12-30: “Yes, our writers do read your comments”).

As for the “skimpy little publication,” I also wish they had more reporters to cover local issues, but the demise of community newspapers is an unfortunate national trend and we are worse off for it when our elected leaders go unchecked. I appreciate the investigative reporting of the Packet. They are shedding light on important issues that citizens need to know about. Think trash mountain, Beaufort County school board dysfunction, future of Bluffton development, May River pollution, etc.

Instead of denigrating the Packet, those of us who are truly interested in the future of our community and a free press should be supporting our local paper. Not the least of which, it provides a platform for the exchange of opinions to all members of our community.

The issue in health care is not ‘single-payer.’ It’s runaway costs

Your article regarding health care cost should be important to all. But the issue is not “single-payer.” The issue is runaway costs.

Health care has become an aggregate of many “businesses” — pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, software and technology companies, for-profit and “not-for-profit” hospitals and health systems, equipment manufacturers, physicians, various other providers, home health care companies, long-term acute care companies, insurers, attorneys, and myriad others.

Can single-payer, government-managed health care control the issues? No. The issue is not the number of payers. The issue is that health care has become an exceptionally profitable group of businesses. There is little regard for cost, only for income. This is not to say these businesses have no concern for quality health care. But, all have a business model and mindset.

Is government as single-payer the answer? No. Payers are not the issue. The issue is the amount paid.

The U.S. government has no knowledge or expertise in the provision of health care. The federal government has demonstrated a total inability to provide health care successfully. However, the federal government can control cost by mandating that all payers may pay only a maximum of Medicare rates plus 15% for any health-care-related service, etc.

The businesses of health care can continue, compete, and survive — insurers can compete on price, array of services, customer service, prompt payment; technology and research companies will learn to succeed within the new parameters; providers will be appropriately compensated; and, as the world has demonstrated, health care quality here will not decline.

Members of Congress should vote like the district would vote

I want to comment on U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham’s recent vote to impeach President Donald Trump and offer two plausible explanations of why he voted as he did.

The explanations that he has offered include “doing what is right ... based upon shared values,” and “voting his conscience.” From what I understand, he is neither a constitutional lawyer nor did be survey the residents of the First District on how they would want him to vote. Had he done so, he may have found they did not want him to vote for impeachment. Therefore, one can only conclude that he believes he is smarter and better knows what is right than his constituents.

The only other plausible reason for voting as he did was pressure from his party – which he denies. It is disingenuous for him to offer that explanation. We all understand party money and positions on committees are the lifeblood of politicians. He should have just admitted that party affiliation did play a part in his decision.

I may be in the minority, but believe we send individuals to Washington to represent the voters of their district. I could care less about a politician’s “conscience” or what they believe to be right. Yes, they are to do the right thing, but that should reflect the voters of their district and not their individual feelings and opinions. When politicians stop representing those in their district, they should find something else to do and not pretend to be a representative.

2020 good time to start carpool

Have you carpooled? It is good for environment and everyone.

When one takes another person in his or her automobile, the result is less exhaust emissions, many more parking spaces, less traffic and happier drivers who visit with their neighbors or relatives, etc.

My neighbor, who works full-time as a teacher, asked me to join her on Dec. 24, and what fun we had. We got to visit while she drove. I assisted in selecting an outfit she needed for an invitation coming up. We stopped for coffee. It was a great success. I wish everyone had a neighbor like Maryann.

I believe climate change needs to be addressed. Join the car pool party and save gas, and save time looking for a parking space in Old Town Bluffton.

You will smile more when you do your errands. Do something new for 2020.

The big question on Okatie the trash pile

How many?

A recent article in another publication dealing with the continuing mess that we have come to know as the Okatie “Trash Montain” in Jasper County caught my eye, again.

The article mentioned that 10,952 trucks had hauled 102,931 tons of debris from the site. That number is staggering — 102,931 tons equals 205,862,000 pound... 205 million pounds. It is approximately the same weight as the newly commissioned USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier.

This pile, this enormous pile, didn’t spring up overnight. It grew over years, one dump truck load at a time, and had it not caught fire, I would be willing to bet $10 against a dump truck full of Dunkin’ doughnuts that it would still be growing, one dump truck load at time. It certainly wasn’t hidden from view. You couldn’t hide such a pile!

This pile grew in plain sight, despite the obligation of state legislators, elected County Council members and assorted government officials. Clearly, this obligation was ignored or neglected.

So, I have one question: How many of these people, paid by tax dollars, have been fired? How many have been charged with neglect? How many have been voted out of office as a result? How many? Go ahead, take your time in counting them up, I’ll wait. I’ll wait.

SC should have put that $50 into the schools

Why did state lawmakers choose to refund South Carolina taxpayers $50? I would think that our lawmakers could have put that money to better use.

I don’t really think outside the box, I just think.

Does anyone know that this crazy lottery move actually cost the state of South Carolina an extra $6 million just to ensure that each rebate was $50, plus some other crazy number for postage? Really?

The lottery is supposed to be for education. This move cost us about $68 million. Meanwhile, our teachers don’t get paid enough and struggle to pay off student loans. Our schools are overcrowded, outdated, and under-supplied.

Come on South Carolina, we can do better.

Term limits only answer in SC legislature

Term limits? Absolutely!

After reading the expose about our state representatives robbing us taxpayers in order to fund their pet projects, we need term limits in order to remove them from office every few years.

Term limits ... term limits ... term limits.

This story was originally published January 5, 2020 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Face the facts: We don’t want a censored local newspaper | Letters."