Editor’s note: Today is the last day letters on election topics will publish. We invite letters on other topics. Letters should be limited to 200 words and include a phone number for verification.

Vote 'yes' to limit government power

The federal government was intended to be a government of limited powers as set out in the Constitution. We are further protected from oppressive central government by the Bill of Rights. The idea that the federal government can order citizens to purchase insurance is a dangerous expansion of the power of the federal government.

If the federal government can order citizens to purchase insurance there will no longer be any limit on the feds. They could then order us to purchase a GM automobile, federal bonds, a fish dinner or vitamin supplements.

Vote “yes” on Proposition C to protect our freedom and liberty and to try to rein in out-of-control federal government and reaffirm limited government in which the power and right belongs to the citizens, not the governing class.

Denise Bartles, J.D.,

Faucett, Mo.

Vote 'no' to give health care a chance

On Aug. 3, Missouri voters are going to be asked to vote for Proposition C, an attempt to nullify parts of the Health Care Reform Bill passed by Congress. Do not vote for Proposition C. Vote no!

Over the past months I have voiced some of my opinions regarding health care in this country. Forgive me for repeating myself, but somebody has to speak up for the uninsured and defenseless in America.

Upwards of 40 million people in this country will finally (by 2014) be protected against catastrophic loss from illness and accident. Another 40 million or more will be protected from losing their insurance (due to job loss, or lack of portability) at precisely the time when they need it most. No longer will persons be denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions.

We have waited 50 years for this bill, and now that it has passed, you are being asked to nullify it? Do not do it!

For persons over 65 years of age, we have a system in this country called Medicare, which works very well. In fact, if you are lucky enough to reach 65, you have the best health care in the world! Nobody calls it socialized medicine, and I don’t hear seniors complaining that they want to get off Medicare.

If we are happy with our Medicare, why would we deny the same benefits to our working population?

It is argued that we cannot afford to insure everybody, but this ignores the fact that our current system is ruinously expensive. We currently spend almost double what other developed countries pay for health care and we get less.

Give the health care bill a chance. In the long run, I think it will save this country billions of dollars.

Ted Rights, M.D.,

Hamilton, Mo.

Schaaf is not 'pro-life' enough

I was surprised to receive the “Pro-Life Champion” card in the mail from Dr. Rob Schaaf. In election fairness, voters should remember that Schaaf was supportive of Amendment 2 on the 2008 ballot. That measure legally protects both adult and embryonic stem cell research in Missouri and prohibits any legislation to stop its funding with our tax dollars!

Killing a baby for its embryonic stem cells is nothing but abortion. That is why Schaaf is not being endorsed by Missouri Right to Life. He has said, “There are a lot of potential benefits of SCNT. I see this as a religious issue, not a logic or scientific issue.” (March 28, 2007, Jefferson City Tribune)

As a homeschooler who introduced Schaaf to my Catholic friends during his first campaign, I feel it is important to set the record straight. My support will be for John DeStefano, who is clear about the value of human life. We need a state senator whose integrity we can count on.

Amendment 2 supporters might think I’m splitting hairs with Dr. Schaaf on life sciences. And I am. I know who already has counted the hairs on our heads, and we should not fund or allow abortion for any research in Missouri.

Candise Leonard-Schmidling,

St. Joseph