MAILBAG:U.S.’s health care system makes us look barbaric

Yes, Tom Harman (“Moore ‘mockumentary’ on health care is misleading,” June 25), Michael Moore’s film “Sicko” sensationalizes the desperate need for universal health care here in California and the rest of the United States.

While this project shows he is a filmmaker, first and foremost, he is also an advocate for basic human rights.

This concept so upsets Republicans because it forces them to look at the reality of our nation’s health.

When you compare our current system to the rest of the industrialized nations throughout the world, we look like barbarians. In a recent survey (USA Today), the United States scored sixth in health care coverage among the top six industrialized nations.

I understand, however, Mr. Harman’s and most of his Republican cronies’ viewpoints.

Why screw up a good thing?

If you are an elitist, white male living in Orange County, why be concerned about and support anyone who might be suffering and/or dying because they can’t afford health care?

Mr. Harman, it looks like you used the Daily Pilot’s Forum to sensationalize your agenda, now doesn’t it?

PAM LAWRENCE

Iraq war is a constant mental strain on troops

As a purple heart veteran of WWII, it’s understandable why in this Iraq war we have so many returning troops with mental health problems.

In this war, they face death constantly. There are no safe havens, behind the lines or safe quarters. On a 24/7 basis there are: shellings, snipers, road-side bombs and crazy suicide bombers showing up out of nowhere.

They go through a constant mental strain with no peaceful moments. Thank God my war was not like this.

JAMES L. ORSTAD

Ideologies do affect university professors

Regarding (“Liberal label doesn’t apply to professors,” June 21), sad to say, I’m afraid it does.

I know of what I speak. Our son holds a degree in history from UCI. As a student, he was not free to express his conservative beliefs freely, even in his written papers. Professors regularly espoused their own political ideology and expressing opposing opinions was not a possibility.

In his response to California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore’s commentary (“Liberal groupthink causes conservatives to self-censor,” June 18) James E. Young states: “I can only conclude that those liberal professors make up their minds based on evidence and academic discipline.”

Professors do not make up their minds based on evidence and academic discipline.

They make up their minds based on political ideology.

It was the existence of the liberal “groupthink” at UCI that Assemblyman Chuck DeVore attributed to the fact that not only was the hate speech manifested by Muslim speakers not recognized as such by university administrators, but the policy of a ban on recording of such speakers by UCI perpetuates it. DeVore was not attacking free speech; he was questioning the wisdom of the ban on recording which he hopes will change, but fears it is too much to expect given the prevailing atmosphere at UCI.

ILA JOHNSON

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