To the Editor:

Opinion

August 29, 2012

To the Editor:

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER SUBMITTED The Daily Southerner Wed Aug 29, 2012, 02:27 PM EDT

TARBORO — To the Editor:

Recently, there have been a number of articles broadcast and published that distort the facts about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act better known as ObamaCare. We only need to look at recent reports and news stories to assess those facts:

• The Health and Human Services Department has issued 1,231 waivers to companies and organization allowing them to keep their current insurance plan rather than change it to meet the requirements of ObamaCare. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 4 million people will lose their employer provided health insurance.

• When enacted, ObamaCare was to add coverage of 32 million people who were uninsured as premium paying members of the health care system. CBO’s latest report states that after implementation there will still be 30 million or more non-elderly who will remain uninsured.

• According to the CBO’s latest report, ObamaCare reduces the labor

force by 800,000 over the next decade. ObamaCare will also cost Americans businesses more than $52 billion because of their inability to comply with the law.

• Prior to ObamaCare, most insurance programs contained provisions that allowed parents to retain their adult children on their health insurance policy if they were disabled or fulltime students.

• According to a CBO report any saving realized by seniors in

prescription drugs is just shifting the cost to another area of health care coverage.

• The implementation of ObamaCare women’s reproductive mandate has generated a firestorm of controversy with nearly 70 individuals or organizations challenging the mandate as unconstitutional.

• Insurance premium costs rose 9 percent or $1,350 in 2011, the first year of implementation of ObamaCare. Further reports indicate that insurance premiums will continue to rise and in some parts of the country, they will rise as much as 31 percent by 2016.

• The CBO’s latest report states that ObamaCare will cost over $1.7

trillion over the next 10 years.

CBO reports indicate that because of the mandate tax versus the cost of insurance many small businesses will be eliminating health insurance coverage.

• The CBO’s report states the cost of ObamaCare will be financed by $1 trillion in new taxes and $716 billion transferred from Medicare.

• The tax revenues to finance ObamaCare will be generated by 20 new taxes; higher Medicare Payroll Taxes, Individual Mandate Excise Tax, Employer Mandate Tax, Tax on Health Insurers, Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans, Medical Devices Manufactures Tax, Tax on Drug Innovators and Indoor Tanning Services are just a few.

• 159 new boards and commissions have already been identified from the pages of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has reported that the true number and nature of boards and commissions are not known with the final number far exceeding the 159 already identified. This is a massive expansion of government beyond: national defense, administration of justice, and provision of public goods that individuals alone cannot afford.

The Supreme Court’s approval of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was a squeaker. The vote was a 5 to 4. Supreme Court Justices approved the act declared that the individual mandate was not a penalty but a tax. The dissenting vote indicated it was unconstitutional because the mandate was clearly a penalty and not a tax.

As the Supreme Court’s decision on ObamaCare indicates, there is a conflict within the law. Chief Justice Roberts’ written decision indicates ObamaCare cannot stand in the face of the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. It is because of these conflicts within the Supreme Court and the US Congress that the Patient Protection and Affordable Act must be repealed. The law must be replaced with laws that are less damaging and support this nation’s vision of self-reliance.

Yes, we are one of the richest countries in the world; but we are fast reaching the fiscal breaking point already reached by Greece, Spain, and other European countries. ObamaCare can only add to that mounting pressure on our economy.

Ray Shamlin

Rocky Mount

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Opinion

My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.

May 20, 2013
We Salute...
Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

May 17, 2013
Benghazi: We need the real truth
The American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, in Libya, was attacked on Sept. 11, 2012 by a heavily armed group. The attack began during the night at a compound that is meant to protect the consulate building. A second assault in the early morning the next day targeted a nearby CIA annex in a different diplomatic compound. Four people were killed including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. Ten others were injured.

May 15, 2013
With much thanks and love …
The past month has been interesting, to say the least.
As I grew up, my first cousins — a group of us that have simply been referred to as “The Cousins” would often joke that when we died, we knew it would be as the result of a heart attack. That’s the history of the Walker family and my Dad and his seven brothers and sisters, as heir parents had, died of heart-related issues.
But along the way, something else happened, Cousins Joyce, Dudley, Don, Kenneth, Howard and Jimmy all died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dudley and Don and Jimmy and Howard were brothers. But we were much more than cousins. We were a true Southern family in that no matter how far away we might move, we always wound up back at Granny Walker’s.

May 6, 2013
Favoring Immigrants over Citizens
Should Immigrants ever be given more favorable treatment than those of us who are already U.S. citizens? Apparently President Obama believes this should be the case when it comes to Obamacare. When it comes to the terms of the immigration reform bill and Obamacare almost 11 million illegals will be given a provisional legal status to live and work in this country.

May 1, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Princeville, the oldest African American community in North America, through the years has had many hurdles and set backs since it was established.Yet with its resilience, it has some how, through some miracles has always bounced back to stay the course of normalcy as best as it could envision. Yet, we must be ever so reminded that our earthly job of being responsible and accountable for and to ourselves shall never cease, until our journey is finished.
This beckoning call for volunteers is being directed to all the local residents who are concerned and aware of the deplorable existing condition of the cemetery on N.C. Highway 111.
This appeal is specifically for churches, community organizations, and all concerned able body men, women and young folks to respond. The purpose of the tentative meeting is to organize a special committee of volunteers within the community, to assumed the responsibilities and duties of maintaining the cemetery. This is where our deceased loved ones are laid to rest and one day for sure some or most of us, if it’s God's will, shall lay rest in this cemetery. It's about pride and cultural respect and decency that we the living owe our beloved ones who's gone over.
Please call or respond to the contact information below and we'll get in touch and arrange a special meeting to start this project. It's no secret that it's an eyesore and a reflection of what we collectively think of ourselves as well as about of our deceased. This mindset can change. With the weather changing, the grass will be growing. Once again we'll be faced with the cosmetic upkeep. There are some simple tasks we as concerned residents can come together as a concerned unit/group to maintain the appearance of our cemetery.
Calling all concerned men and women and children residing in historic Princeville.
Those interested please call (252) 823-3740

Milton Bullock
Native of Princeville

April 17, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer all over the United States. I would like to challenge every minister of the gospel to bring a group from his or her church and meet us on the Town Square across from Edgecombe County Courthouse at 11:45 p.m. Thursday for prayer and unity.
After looking through the phonebook and newspaper church page, there appears to be more than 300 churches in Edgecombe County of multiple faiths. Yet each year we barely have 25 people respond to the advertising for National Day of Prayer.
Prayer has no respective person and does not practice segregation, yet the church segregates itself every Sunday morning. As a blood bought believer in Jesus Christ, I ask all who believes that Jesus was born of virgin, died on the cross and rose on the third day to meet me with an expressive tongue of prayer for our local, state and national leaders. Are you up for the challenge.

Viola Harris

April 17, 2013
We Salute...
Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

April 12, 2013
We Salute...
• ELLIS “BUDDY” HOOKS, on being named to receive the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD.
Hooks will be officially recognized on May 14.
• ALL PARTICIPANTS in the 76th EASTERN CAROLINA 4-H LIVESTOCK SHOW, held this week at the East Carolina Agriculture and Educational Center.
• Members of the TARBORO HIGH BOOSTERS CLUB, employees of the TOWN OF TARBORO, members of the GOLDEN K KIWANIS CLUB and all others involved in the successul staging of the 20th TARBORO EASTER CLASSIC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, Despite chilly, wet weather on Thursday, today’s weather is forecast to improve to the point of being a perfect day at the ballpark.
• Edgecombe County businesses recognized for their efforts to promote a safe work place, including Keihin Carolina System Technology, Inc., Air System Components, ABB, Inc., Piedmont Natural Gas, Tarboro Resource Center and QVC, Rocky Mount , Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corp., Hillshire Brands-Sara Lee Bakery and N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions, Tarboro Branch Office.
• LT. FLEMING THOMPSON, a 2005graduate of Tarboro High School, on being named the United States Air Force’s 23rd Bomb Squadron NAVIGATOR OF THE YEAR.

• • •

April 5, 2013
What makes smart people do stupid?
It really gets me to see those you would think are smart people do what are obviously stupid things. I’ve just read about what has been going on in the city of Stockton, Calif. The population of Stockton is about 300,000. It is next to a beautiful downtown waterfront and sports a handsome $46 million glass hockey arena and single-A baseball team, playing in a new taxpayer-financed stadium. Sounds great, but actually this is part of the terrible financial problems the city is experiencing.

April 3, 2013
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