We have become walking death panels
About a decade ago, during debate about health care in our country, some politicians claimed that medical care could lead to “death panels” that would arbitrarily decide who would get care and who would be left to die. And now it seems as if that idea has, in a strange and different way, come true. Because every active adult in our country now has the power to potentially decide who will or will not die during this pandemic in the coming months.
We have to make our choices by ourselves without relying on the opinions of our relatives, our media or even our friends. We live in an age where blind imitation will not work anymore. By the choices you make in the coming months — whether to attend a large gathering or wear a mask — you are a potential death panel, whether you want to be or not.
Some people will live and some will die because of the choices that people make. Nothing can or will change that. If you are a believer in God, think of how you will answer for your choices in the next life. If you are not a believer in the afterlife, then at least believe that the arc of the universe bends towards justice and find a way to express that conviction in your life.
Bill Miller
Morgantown
Developers need to remember older residents
Thank you, Stephanie Lemley!
In her column (DP-11-22-20), Stephanie discussed the benefits of patio homes, especially for older people. I have been saying this for years! Whenever I am with friends, the topic of homes for seniors in Morgantown comes up and we all say “What about us?”
These new developments have gorgeous homes with not so gorgeous prices. One development did have some duplexes with mainly one-floor living.
Recently, I contacted Heartland Homes about their latest venture — Stonehurst. I was curious to see if any duplexes would be going in at this location. Unfortunately not. All are 3-floor townhouses with lots of steps. Developers in Morgantown are focused on attracting the college students and young couples. They forget about those of us who have been here for years.
As Stephanie said in her article: “Developers take alert. We need a new style of home in our area — patio homes. While we are a college town with tons and tons of townhomes, we need to look at our older generation and those who prefer one-level living.”
I want to reiterate Stephanie’s comment. Developers take alert! Affordable housing for seniors is badly needed in the Morgantown area. I hope you are actively listening. And again, thank you, Stephanie, for bringing this great need to the attention of the developers in the area.
Linda Felton
Morgantown
Sen. Manchin doesn’t understand socialism
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin has recently made a couple of public statements decrying “socialism” and adding that is not the way of West Virginians but that they are concerned with issues such as health care.
Sen. Manchin (and I’ve voted for him for governor and senator) seems to lack a firm grasp of what socialism is.
In health care, though Manchin opposes Medicare for All, over 1 million West Virginians are already enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP, though some elderly may be dual enrollees in the first two, as I am. They are all government (read: Socialistic) approaches to ensuring health care is available to our citizens.
Roughly one third of our state’s population receives one of several forms of Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Black lung benefits are an absolute necessity in many West Virginia households and ideally are paid by coal operators; but with so many having gone bankrupt or simply unable to meet their obligations, the burden for payments falls on the government.
I live in Morgantown and there are two major hospital systems in town (and expanding elsewhere), one established by WVU and the other by Monongalia County, both tax supported government entities. They provide excellent care and generate many jobs, but they are, in effect, socialist institutions.
West Virginia fully embraced politicians who in turn fully embraced the New Deal and its “socialist” programs.
Socialist programs and ideas can be very wonderful because they permit the resources available to us through pooling of tax revenues to serve the greatest need and help keep many West Virginians alive. Our Appalachian Regional Commission, our interstate highways and bridges, our flood and navigation control dams and our beautiful state and national forests are all products of our sharing of resources.
Yet, we still have millionaires such as Sen. Manchin and billionaires such as Gov. Justice, who, too, have reaped the rewards of government policies and programs without these socialist programs stripping them of their wealth.
Socialism is not what Sen. Manchin thinks it is.
David Hammond
Morgantown
