An open letter to Sen. Robert Byrd



As a southern West Virginia native, the wife of a private-practice physician and a born-again Christian, I am extremely distressed at the prospect of Congress rushing to pass a health care bill just to meet a purported critical deadline, or to please the president, at the citizens’ expense.

By mandating that everyone must be covered by health insurance, by causing the private insurances to be phased out or forced out of business, and by imposing fines or imprisonment to those who do not want or need it, is not only undemocratic, but also unconstitutional.

I would exhort you. sir, as a professing Christian, to listen to your constituents who are opposed to this bill for many reasons, to seek the Lord’s direction rather than the party’s favor, and to take a stand against, not only this bill, but the cap and trade bill, as well.

You are held in high esteem by your colleagues, and if you would be bold enough to speak out against these bills, and to vote against them, it would carry great weight.

Please defend the few constitutional freedoms that we still have, protect free enterprise, and do not vote to mandate our “choices” by creating bigger government and more control in the lives of the people. (How did we get so many “czars” with no opposition?)

Conservatives are not ignorant, nor are we radical, uncaring extremists as the mainstream media would portray us. Many do need affordable health care, but any reforms should come only after much thought, and by considering all the long-term ramifications, not by passing legislation quickly just to make changes.

Conservatives in both parties treasure the sanctity of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and wish to guard them. These “self-evident truths” can only exist when government does not control every aspect of our lives, whether by passing restrictive, oppressive laws, raising or imposing new taxes, or by ignoring the convictions of its citizenry, especially if these convictions are based on the Bible and the only Constitution in the world that was written based on God’s leading.

Again, I would urge you to remember that you have many conservative voters in West Virginia, as evidenced by elections in the past. Conservatives in both parties are tired of being ignored or treated as if we do not know what is best for our country; that only those in power are intelligent enough to make decisions on our behalf. Presidents and congressmen come and go, but the laws you do or do not pass will affect generations to come and will either strengthen or bankrupt our nation, economically, as well as morally. I pray that it is not too late for America.



Betty Wilcox Day

Nimitz



Girls soccer team is a plus for WWHS



Thumbs up to the Woodrow Wilson High School girls soccer team and coaches Paulette Umburger and Zane George.

The team trained hard and played very well. They had a lot of injuries and the weather was not kind to them.

Better luck next season, girls. You are a plus for the Woodrow Wilson High School sports program.



Lila Hill

Crab Orchard