A very serious problem

As I read the Jan. 23 letter "Pre-existing conditions," I was extremely shocked by the writer's attitude toward a very serious problem that many people have to face each day.

I would like for the writer to imagine how he would feel if next week he was diagnosed with a very serious cancer. He would need surgery, radiation and chemotherapy and would have to miss work for an extended period of time. While he is well-educated and holds an excellent position, his small company is unable to hold his position for an indefinite period of time, so he is terminated. He is offered insurance under COBRA at an exorbitant rate and wonders how he can pay this with no income. While a lot of his medical expense is covered under his insurance, a lot is not covered and soon he has accumulated massive debt. He is not eligible for unemployment benefits, so decides to file for disability and is immediately rejected. When his health finally improves, he searches for employment and quickly learns that most companies have no interest in hiring someone with a pre-existing condition.

Under these circumstances, or if he had to watch his father, mother, wife or child in this situation, I'm sure that he would soon realize that a pre-existing condition is not a joking matter. In a country that annually sends billions of tax dollars all over the world to help others, it is a disgrace that people with chronic illness are treated so unfairly.

SANDRA H. BRYANT

Kernersville

In response

All I can say in response to Scott Sexton's revisiting of the phrase, "What Would Jesus Do?" in his Feb. 2 column, "Money for prayer trials best spent elsewhere" is a hearty "Amen."

BOB RICHARDSON

Winston-Salem

Doesn't reflect the larger picture

Thank you to the Journal for your continuing coverage of the mental-health crisis in Forsyth County ("Almost 140 gather to talk about CenterPoint," Jan. 23). However, referring to CenterPoint as a "mental-health agency" is misleading. It is an administrative entity responsible for ensuring quality mental-health care and how public money is spent. It provides no mental-health care or education about mental health to the community. CenterPoint is a government LME, or Local Management Entity. As with a managed-care organization, its executives determine who can receive care and, as in so many cases, who will be denied services through utilization management of public money for services.

While the meeting might be a success in the eyes of CenterPoint's area director, Betty Taylor, it was not substantial enough and it was long overdue. And it doesn't reflect the larger picture, in which, according to the Journal editorial "Tackling the future" (Jan. 24), citing the Forsyth Futures report, "only 42 percent of adults with mental-health conditions received mental-health care during the last quarter of fiscal year 2008-2009 through Medicaid and state-funded services." Forty-two percent. That's outrageous.

If only 42 percent of heart or cancer patients received care, there would be more than headlines; there would be a community outcry that legislators and county commissioners could not ignore. So why is it so different when a child or an adult has a mind that is broken and desperately needs care?

MARY ANNECELLI

Winston-Salem

Another revolution

Responding to Jenn Rosen's Jan. 31 letter, "Path of destruction," I have to say, "Amen!"

If our Founding Fathers had the ability to observe what their creation had become, their collective response would probably be, "This is not what we had in mind." They would want some changes to their original document. If those notables were alive today, they would probably be plotting another revolution against the same things: Excessive taxation and taxation without proper representation.

This new revolution would be fought with ballots instead of bullets, the objective being removal of elected officials who have forgotten that their reason for being in office is to be servants of the people.

Like military service, public office was intended to be one's patriotic duty. It was never meant to be a career choice. Public office was also never meant to be a platform to pursue a private agenda. (State Rep. Hugh Holliman take note.)

Elected officials will never vote term limits on themselves. We the people should impose our own term limits by voting long-term incumbents out, replacing them with representatives more in touch with reality. That should get their attention.

Massachusetts voters provided a much needed wake-up call to the establishment. November is our turn to reinforce this wake-up call. It is time for the "silent majority" to be heard.

BILL NEAS

Advance

In the wrong direction

We thought President Obama's State of the Union lecture was arrogant, bullying and condescending. The American people understand the message, but don't like what Obama and Congress are selling -- the policy substance is wrong. Please stop explaining.

Obama and Congress are leading our country in the wrong direction. More government is not the answer to the problems we face. In fact, the government is the problem -- we need much less, not more.

Instead of Obama changing course, he doubled down on policies that the American people have clearly rejected. For starters, the American people do not want: ObamaCare, cap-and-trade, card check, earmarks and more stimulus, regardless of what it's called. Obama's deficit-reduction plan is disingenuous and a joke. Stop spending.

Obama is an ideologue. The people are alert and paying attention, although there are many in Congress who unbelievably are still in denial. There are liberal progressives on both sides of the aisle and neither Democrats nor Republicans will be safe this November or in 2012.

We have been Republicans all our lives and are seriously contemplating a change to Independent. We are no longer going to support Republicans just because that's what they call themselves. We and many Americans across our great country will be carefully evaluating candidates based on their integrity, governing principles and voting record. This is no longer the same country our founders gave us. The voice of the people will be heard in November.

ROBERT AND NONA MULLIN

Clemmons