There is no doubt that the recently-signed health care bill has aroused resentment and frustration, some of which has provoked people to claim that this law will usher in the end of American ideals.

What’s remarkable about this notion is that it assumes that a sincere effort to ameliorate health care grievances — which affect a multitude of American citizens — is a cause that will lead to the inevitable and undeniable abrogation of our ethics. 

This illogical assumption, reiterated by so many, arises from the fear of socialism and government involvement. By reciting radically sensational statements, we become reiterative drones incapable of producing our own unique thoughts.

Perhaps the majority of the blame should be borne by the congressmen, who in recent days have behaved like sophomoric children relapsed into the era of McCarthyism. 

If our own representatives, whom we measure with the highest standard, are capable of such lowly behavior, then who do we turn to for role models?

It is evident that current health care policies are nothing more than elaborate schemes for making money, where the possibility of earning a buck outweighs the chance to save a life. 

Undoubtedly, we live in a capitalist economy, but we must also remember that we live in a society. 

It would be an immense tragedy if we were to become so engrossed in politics and partisan rhetoric that we could no longer distinguish the difference between substantial arguments and dubious conjectures.

Umair Javaid

Junior, Athens

Biology

Governor should focus on solutions

Our beloved governor, Sonny Perdue, recently told the Associated Press that “forcing people to purchase things they don’t want to purchase, I think, violates a constitutional right that they have,” in regards to the recent passing of the health care bill. 

Perdue has called on Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker to push forward on a lawsuit against the federal government and Baker has refused. 

So naturally, the six Republican representatives are begging Baker “to use all of the resources of your office to challenge this Act and its impact on our citizens.” 

Recently there have been countless discussions about the lack of a budget in the university system. If cuts are not made there will be a 77 percent increase in tuition, etc. 

So essentially Sonny Perdue and the Republican representatives are alright with using “all of the resources” the attorney general’s office has — which we all know will cost a pretty penny — but there is no money to be found to help the education system? 

Whether you agree with the recently-passed health care bill or not, it has passed. The required amount of votes was found and it’s done. Wasting money on a lawsuit when money is obviously lacking in many places in our state government will also have an “impact on our citizens.” 

So Gov. Perdue, I’d like to urge you to use all of the resources of your office and fix local issues that can actually be fixed. 

Amanda Tramel

Sophomore, Columbus

Indiana State University

Secondary education

Letter lacks facts on health care bill

I was disappointed in The Red & Black for printing the letter “Kudzu government led by socialist president” by Hunter Humphries on March 26. 

The letter represented a fallacious, uninformed, dangerous style of argumentation that I think readers of all political beliefs should denounce. 

Though I support President Obama and the recent health care bill, I am a political independent and open to arguments from the other side.  

However, I wish the letter writer would have used statistics and logic instead of scare tactics to support this viewpoint. 

In my mind, the health care bill will benefit the country by ultimately saving lives and, as reported by the Congressional Budget Office, cutting the deficit.

Even if it does turn out to be a failure, I couldn’t even imagine a worst-case scenario in which it represents the downfall of the world’s most powerful country. 

The level of political discourse in this country has seemingly lowered in recent years, and by publishing letter like this, The Red and Black only supports this unfortunate trend. 

Jackson Govatos

Freshman, Alpharetta

Economics

Extremism healthy for democracy

One of the subjects on many people’s minds in recent days has been the rage with which the political right has received this health care bill.

The question that we must then ask ourselves is not whether or not this anger is warranted, but whether or not this kind of uprising is a good thing at all?

Our instincts tell us, “No!” We don’t want extremism, especially if, like me, you approve of the health care bill. 

But when I take a step back and throw out my own political convictions, I think maybe extremism is a healthy thing. 

I’m reminded of our founding fathers. Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” That’s extreme. So while we who support the health care bill find it easy to cast stones at those who don’t, let’s remind ourselves that those who are angry and are acting in ways that we consider to be extreme are, like Patrick Henry, simply attempting to pursue liberty.

John Brien-slack

Sophomore

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Music