Opinion
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Perception management
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Published: November 5, 2009
So what went on at the meetings held in August to discuss health-care reform (or any other subject in the political spectrum), and is still going on on talk shows and ads on TV? We suggest that what is going on is "perception management." Perception management is a technique originally developed for the U.S. military to be used to influence what the enemy perceives about anything. The technique is now being used by those who oppose and those who want health-care reform.
Important ingredients of perception management are falsehood and deception; the purpose is to get the other side to believe what one wishes it to believe, regardless of what the truth may be.
Perception management was designed for use in warfare. It has no place in a political debate. It must be abandoned. The opposing sides must use good honest debate for the sake of the people of this country. The people need health-care reform. Insurance companies don't want it. Who will win -- the people or corporations?
ROBERT C. AND BARBARA M. MARCH
Pfafftown
Congressional investigation
As those of us of conservative bent witness the relentless and resolute attacks upon everything that we hold dear, we are still holding out that our champions will lead us out of this leftist morass and wilderness.
That being said, I was amazed when I read the other day that Sen. Orrin Hatch, one of our most credible and widely admired senators, was not on the barricades waving the flag of defiance, but was rather hunkered down in his office preparing a 10-page letter to President Obama, insisting on a congressional investigation into the NCAA's BCS football bowl system ("College football," Oct. 22).
This from a fellow who has steadfastly objected to congressional investigations into any of our other, apparently lesser problems. And we wonder why we are where we are.
JEFF BROOKS
Winston-Salem
Entrenched immorality
Murder, rape and endless crimes are not new to America, but are more prevalent as the media extensively report and promote vileness in film and print. Some social scientists attribute these problems to economic inequality and cultural disadvantages. Government undertakes to solve these problems with more handouts and programs. Many legislators enrich themselves with wasteful and corrupt earmarks, along with ACORN as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, excusing their flagrant violations of tax obligations and endless special privileges. Let's stop this hypocrisy.
This immorality is not easy to change. It is entrenched in our culture with political leaders, commercial advertisers and the media, besides entertainers and educational systems benefitting from the revenues. We need more cultivation of spiritual devotion in our nation.
We are rightly concerned about religious terrorists and immigrants who have no appreciation for our historic human values, but lack of accountability in our endorsement of freedom is devastating to our society, especially when people are excused to do as they please. Fortunately, we have law-enforcement officers dedicated to preserve morality.
This country celebrated as the promised land of liberty will go the way of other human societies when citizens fail to practice and require responsibility of faithfulness in personal relationships and social enterprises. Neither atheistic secularists nor religious legalists will eliminate this immorality. It is resolved where people share the reality of eternal faith in helpfully rendering thoughtful deeds and manifesting an attitude of reverence for divine providence that encourages respect for one another.
JAMES R. "JIM" HELVEY
Winston-Salem
Love your country
Those who surround themselves with people who love their country more than the interest of corporations will be able to end the wars and stop the United States from being the most belligerent nation on earth. Otherwise, we will be so financially distressed that we will have to take drastic measures for survival and surely lose our superiority.
ERK ERGINER
Winston-Salem
Irony
I love it! I love the irony in the fact that a group trying to save the downtown post office in Winston-Salem is resorting to an e-mail campaign ("E-mail to save snail mail?" Oct. 30). Therein lays a conundrum.
CHARLES R. COLLINS
Mount Airy
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