Letters to the editor
Deadline approaching
To the Editor:
The May 15 deadline for seniors to enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit is quickly approaching. Despite my efforts to push back this deadline, it unfortunately does not appear this will happen. Those who miss this deadline will not be able to sign up again until November and will then face higher premiums as a penalty for late enrollment.
I encourage seniors to consult with their local pharmacist about the variety of available plans. Though some seniors question the need for this program because of their good health, it may be needed at a later stage in life. Unfortunately, they will be burdened with a permanent penalty fee.
In addition to efforts of local pharmacists and volunteers, there are other resources available to assist families in making this important decision:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) — 1-800-MEDICARE or www.Medicare.gov.
Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) — 1-800-860-5260 or www.agingkansas.org/shick.
Thanks to our Kansas pharmacists, CMS staff, and other local outreach volunteers for their tireless efforts in educating people about this program. As we near the May 15 deadline, I encourage seniors to seek answers to their questions and determine if enrollment is in their best interests.
Jerry Moran
U.S. Congressman
Private or public?
To the Editor:
Isn't economic development a private sector matter? We lament and say Marion County is dying! Marion County isn't dying, the private sector is. At who's expense, the local government. Government exists only at the expense of the private sector!
Slowly but surely the government has taken away from us as individuals the right of self-determination and responsibility for ourselves.
Does government involvement in economic development broaden the tax base and lower our taxes or does it mean more control over our lives?
Isn't the purpose rather to build more government and more control over us?
Jerry Plett
Lincolnville
Treat criminals like criminals
To The Editor:
My wife and I took a tour of Marion County Jail April 25. Lee Becker was a most hospitable host and Garry Klose, who conducted part of the tour, was most informational and willing to answer questions.
The jailhouse is a stark, basic building with much steel and bars. Rust and other signs of deterioration are expectedly present. It's not comfortable, it looks hard, and yes, considering its purpose, its tenants, that is the way it should be. When criminals are brought in, they should be surrounded with an atmosphere and environment that impresses upon them that here is where your deviant behavior is taking you, to a life of deterioration. You have reached the pigpen of life and it is your responsibility. I'm reminded of the story of the prodigal son. That no one could tell him anything till he found himself at the deteriorated situation in his life where he craved to even eat the husks that the hogs refused to eat. Then he raised his eyes to heaven and confessed his need of God. Then his life turned around for good.
Listen to me, Lee, Garry, Joe, and all the other law enforcement people of Marion County. You are all one or two generations younger than me. You weren't alive like me to remember the days of truth, justice, and the love of law. As a young boy, maybe we heard about a murder in Chicago or New York. (We didn't have TV to glorify the event.) We didn't have murders round here, even in Wichita. Rarely a theft. Especially, you did not lay a hand on a law officer, you respected them.
Today, the law officer is far too much of a babysitter, concerned with carseats and warrants issued by the SRS. Today, killing of a policeman is a common thing in America. Like eight to 10 a month, it doesn't even make news anymore. Several years ago, a judge hearing a case of killing a policeman, had this flippant remark. "That's the chance the policeman takes when he puts on the badge and uniform."
The Bible takes a far more serious view. "But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer," Romans chapter 13.
In today's courtroom, the police are accused of false arrest, brutality, racism, profiling, violation of dubious or non-existent rights, to name a few. Trials today spend more time examining the evidence, the paperwork, (he missed a comma), and the credibility of the officer, rather than examining the guilt or innocence of the accused.
A recent TV interview of a defense lawyer of a high profile case was asked, "Did the truth come out in court?"
This lawyer replied, "It is my job to see that the truth does not come out."
Let us examine the legal court system of today compared to the justice system we used to have. The words "legal and illegal" have been the invention of the lawyer and judge and are intended to replace "right or wrong" or "honest or dishonest" or "truth or lies." You see, right always is right, wrong always is wrong, honest always is honest, dishonest always is dishonest, truth always is truth, and lies always are lies. These are absolutes and follow a Biblical pattern of belief and behavior.
Legal or illegal are man's system and can be manipulated by human thought. Today, lawyers and judges make and legislate law before the bench based upon their own devices. They have presumed upon themselves the position of nobility to be above the law. Titles of nobility are strictly forbidden in the Constitution. One very serious judicial violation of the U.S. Constitution is the requirement of the "reading of the rights" by the arresting officer.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to talk to a lawyer and have him or her present with you while you are being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you, before any questioning if you wish. You can decide at anytime to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements." Years ago, a judge wrote this, ruled it to be a Constitutional right and declared it to be a law and required. It is not a law and none of these rights are found in the Constitution. Quite the contrary, the Constitution does not say that a lawyer must be present at the questioning. We have specific laws requiring full cooperation with authorities in an investigation. Refusal to cooperate is regarded as obstruction of justice. In Amendment 6, it states; "the accused shall enjoy the right
We need judges who have a stomach for justice and law. When arrested for theft, vandalism, personal harm, such crimes as can be made restitution for, the accused shall be brought to a speedy, public trial, the same day if there is time, the next day sure. If innocent, released, if guilty, ordered to pay restitution immediately to the victim, plus one-fifth more. Crimes such as murder, for which no restitution can be made, upon conviction the judge shall order to make your peace with God and man for in one week you shall be publicly executed.
After touring the jail, I am not moved with any compassion to build newer and nicer. We need to see the criminal for what he is, for what we wish he was. We need to see the shameful conduct of the criminal lawyer.
In the Biblical system of laws God gave us, there is no provision for jail. Restitution or execution. That works, let's do it. Then watch crime go down in Marion County.
"When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong." Ecc. Chapter 8.
Anton H. Epp
Goessel
