Editorials
Tribune-Star editorial: No drive-through for health care reform
If only we could order our health care reform from a menu the way we order at a fast-food restaurant; we could get a proper overhaul done in no time.
We could order with the value meal numbers that have combinations of various ideas and approaches, and even super-size some of the elements and get our package through the window in 35 seconds or less. The debate over health care reform could be settled quickly and to the satisfaction of everyone involved.
Unfortunately, the order we are trying to place will not be nearly that easy to fill or without the kind of strong emotions that rarely accompany a drive-through experience.
On Wednesday night, President Obama took his plea to Congress and America to continue to keep this debate alive for the sake of a solution. Even though he has some strong ideas about how to reform, he said he is open to all ideas that can lead toward a solution that will serve all concerned.
The key is to come up with the solution, no matter how little or how much time it takes.
In U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth’s telephone town hall meeting earlier this month, he expressed cautious optimism and committed himself to supporting a bill that makes sense. “My number one goal in this … is to protect what works and fix what doesn’t,” Ellsworth said, during the public call. “Doing nothing is not an option.”
Despite criticism about Ellsworth’s method of listening — via phone and many small meetings vs. large, in-person gatherings — we in the 8th District are fortunate that our Congressman wants to listen to the voters, is trying to understand their needs and has the patience to help put together a solution that addresses those real needs with medical and fiscal responsibility.
After all, whatever other properties U.S. health care reform ultimately may possess, the majority of the American people must be comfortable with it or it surely will fail.
We are at a great point in history, when this huge and complex issue can be discussed — and resolved. It does not have to be rushed. If the solution is not easily at hand, let’s not stop the process. Much input and compromise will be necessary. Change this big shouldn’t happen quickly, but the slow pace is no reason to abandon or kill it. Remedying an entire nation’s health care system is not ordering fast-food in a drive-through.
We support an approach that is cautious and resolute. We support Ellsworth’s stance of responsible governance, no matter how long it may take to get the contentious issue correctly resolved. Further, we believe there can be health care reform that will benefit all and provide much-needed coverage at a reasonable cost to the taxpayers.
Our tasks in the meantime as citizens are these: Don’t allow any elected officials to give up on this process, and continue to provide all-important input to those officials until we all get the job done.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Presence of city’s crows nothing to cackle about
By March, almost every Terre Hautean is sick of the crows. Sick of their droppings. Sick of hearing them. Sick of hearing about them. Thank heavens, our annual flock has pretty much left town for the season.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: What does ‘bidder’ ordinance resolve?
The already complex process of bidding out public works contracts could get a whole lot more complicated under an ordinance being considered by the Terre Haute City Council. But that may be the only point on which anyone involved in this debate is willing to agree.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: ISU profs should face the realities
Hard-working faculty at colleges and universities naturally bristle when outsiders accuse them of occupying an ivory-tower or being out of touch with ordinary folks.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: ‘Men’ cooked up huge donation for Children’s Museum
The community spirit of the Wabash Valley was again on display Saturday night with the second annual “100 Men Who Cook” event to benefit the Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: A new cycle begins in county politics
The sudden emergence four years ago of a revived and relevant Republican Party in Terre Haute and Vigo County led to the GOP capturing the prosecutor’s office and, a year later, the mayor’s office. Neither had housed a Republican in quite a while.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Rod Henry, Honnalora Hubbard, Cam Cameron allow Terre Haute to believe in brighter days
In tough times, most of us hope there is someone in our corner, who still believes in us, our own ambassador to the world.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Gibault needs better way to resolve school crisis
The proposal that Vigo County School Corp. sponsor a charter school at Gibault, Inc.’s campus south of Terre Haute likely will be turned down Monday night by the School Board.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: ISU men’s team an inspiring success
In some instances, above-average performance is considered routine. That’s not the case with Indiana State University men’s basketball.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Staggering blow to ISU, but progress can proceed
When hard times hit a community — any community — the suffering tends to spread far and wide. No entity is ever immune.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: And another thing … Transparency in politics? Well, sure, but …
Hoosiers, no doubt, have many ideas about ways in which their junior U.S. senator could make them happy. But their wish lists probably don’t include what Cosmopolitan editor Kate White would like from Evan Bayh.
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