Editor: When I was young, I was naive and idealistic and believed that most people could be influenced to do the right thing, if only they were confronted with the knowledge of the truth. I now know that people are essentially not motivated by their nobler abilities, but appear to embrace ignorance, selfishness and the darker desires. The state of mankind that embraces abortion, terrorism, socialism and slavery is proof of that.
Take Medicare. Most Americans believe the Democrats would do a better job fixing the problem and wish to blame the president for its decline. Of course, most have no idea why the Democrats would do better and why it is President Bush's fault.
Medicare is going broke because more Americans are living longer and requiring more care because of it. No political party is going to revoke the laws of nature to bring these costs down.
Another cost factor is lawsuits. There is the risk of human error and of things going wrong. The propensity to sue over risk factors that used to be acceptable naturally will be passed along to us in higher costs. Electing Sen. John Edwards, who is a trial lawyer, vice president is not likely to lead to reigning in some of these frivolous lawsuits. The Democrats have blocked every attempt at judicial reform and have insured that these costs will continue to rise.
To bring new medical technologies and medicine to market requires enormous investments and years to leap all the regulatory hurdles. This is why other nations can produce prescription drugs at a fraction of the U.S. cost. The Democrats will do nothing to prevent this.
A look at the facts shows that Americans willingly put their faith in the Democratic Party that will make the crisis worse, not better. Few will listen, especially in California, but I have a moral obligation to speak the truth, nevertheless.
Scott Hurban, Tracy