Miracles on Medicaid

I've been watching with interest the recent comments on student families using Medicaid. My wife and I struggled several years ago with the decision to apply for Medicaid when trying for our second child, but felt drawn to the program for some reason.

I believe firmly that it was a tender mercy of the Lord, for just 10 weeks into the pregnancy, my wife developed complications. She remained on bed rest for nearly four months, and doctors had to deliver our baby girl 26 weeks into the pregnancy. Through all the tests, the hospital stays, the NICU treatments and the postpartum care that both my wife and daughter required, more than $300,000 in medical bills accrued - of which, Medicaid paid 100 percent of the cost.

Had we gone the self-sufficient route, we would have had to pay thousands of dollars in co-pays - and we would still be making payments today on my meager teacher's salary.

For those of you who can survive the financial strain of college and early family life without relying on government aid or loans, be grateful and know that the rest of us respect you. Like the author of "No Regrets" (a great guy, by the way), I have no regrets for the route my family took. We made our family and financial decisions prayerfully, as Father wants all of us to do. Our beautiful daughter is a testimony of the Lord's love for His children - that miracles do happen, even if you're on Medicaid.

NATE RICKS
Colorado Springs, Colo.

What could have been

I usually don't have a problem with anything that The Daily Universe publishes, but its recently published story, "Border Bound," is an absolute outrage! The article declares "Maria and Juan - names have been changed due to their illegal status in the U.S. ..." Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this? Shame on The Daily Universe for protecting illegality! I realize this story was supposed to make me feel sorry for illegal immigrants, but after a little research I realize that "Juan" and "Maria" could have saved themselves a lot of money had they gone through the proper steps. A working visa would have only cost them $350. They could have gone to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and waited their turn, whether that be in six months or 18 months. If their family could raise $3,000 to rescue them, I'm sure they could have figured out a way to make money in Mexico until they could come to the U.S. and work here legally. However, they didn't go through the proper steps and so now we have two more illegal immigrants living in Provo using our state's health care, not paying taxes and stealing jobs that could go to legal citizens. I am very disappointed in this paper.

REBECCA PHALEN
Provo

Fall into Babylon

The front page spread of Thursday's Daily Universe entitled "Fall into Fashion" could have more appropriately been called "Fall into Babylon." I have been growing increasingly concerned about the way students at this fine university have been giving over to the world and dressing like them. And now, to see the university's newspaper encouraging this sort of behavior is just too much!

I know how hard it is to live in the world because of where I served my mission. But we here at BYU should be willing to sacrifice looking "well-dressed" and wearing what's "in" for the sake of being an example to others. Have we not all been taught to be in the world but not of the world? How can we be a peculiar people if we continue to dress like everyone else? We all know that this subtle worshiping of the world's taste is a slippery slope which will lead us into temptation. Let us not forget that "fine twined linen" is the desire of the great and abominable church.

I hope that in the future, The Daily Universe will focus its attention on the things of life which matter and no longer encourage conformity to the whims of the lost world.

JOSEPH OSTENSON
Provo

Obeying the law

In response to the article on Tuesday about the dangers of crossing the border illegally, I would just like to remind everyone that Maria and Juan, the sob story's protagonists, are criminals. However sorry we may feel for them, they are facing those dangers because they made a conscious decision to break the law. Our church teaches us to believe in "obeying, honoring and sustaining the law," something that Maria and Juan apparently have no respect for. Of course, I understand the reasons for wanting to cross the border, but that doesn't make it any more legal, nor should it make it socially acceptable. How should we feel if The Daily Universe ran an article about a drug dealer who just needs to support his family? Regardless of the motivation, breaking the law is illegal and should be punished.

CARTER STROMBERG
St. Louis

Obama is so not Hitler

Twice in the past week, I have read people comparing Obama to Hitler. Really?

To me, comparing a presidential candidate to the F?hrer is a little extreme. Yes, they're both capable orators, but is it necessary to draw an association between Obama and one of the world's worst dictators based on that?

I agree, don't be swayed by oratorical skills or an enigmatic personality; study the issues. Take McCain's advice from the final debate - pay attention to what is said, and make an informed decision. At least let yourself listen. Or, listen to yourself; making him out to be evil doesn't convey an informed argument.

It's unnecessary to compare someone capable of expressing himself to a tyrant. Obama is so not Hitler.

KATE LINDSAY
Cottonwood Heights

Spread the wealth

As many of you know, the Obama tax plan has recently been called the Robin Hood plan, because he said he was going to "spread the wealth around." Many of my classmates have expressed the utter disgust at the proposition of raising taxes for families and small businesses making more than $250,000. However, before we get all medieval on Obama, let us consider the teachings of a modern day prophet - Brigham Young.

"The doctrine of uniting together in our temporal labors, and all working for the good of all is from the beginning, from everlasting and it will be for ever and ever."

Brigham, along with the entire First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, agreed with Obama in "spreading the wealth" when they said, "The experience of mankind [note: the experience of "mankind" not just the church or the united order] has shown that the people of communities and nations among whom wealth is the most equally distributed, enjoy the largest degree of liberty, are the least exposed to tyranny and oppression and suffer the least from luxurious habits which beget vice. Under such a system, carefully maintained, there could be no great aggregations of either real or personal property in the hands of a few; especially so while the laws, forbidding the taking of usury or interest for money or property loaned, continued in force (Proclamation of the Economy, 1875.).So by all means, spread the wealth around!

CHRIS SPENCER
Orem

Religious freedom intact

In Thursday's Daily Universe, someone was quoted referring to Proposition 8, ". . . (We) value our religious freedom . . . That right will be taken over if we lose this battle." This is simply not true.

The same so-called activist judges who overturned Proposition 22 stated in their ruling, "(A)ffording same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the designation of marriage will not impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official or any other person; no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices . . ." (pg. 117). The courts will uphold religious freedom and the rights of churches like the LDS church.

Gay marriage has been legal in Massachusetts for four years, and the LDS church (and LDS Family Services) has not had to change any of its policies there, nor has its tax exemption been threatened. Latter-day Saints are free to worship as they desire in Massachusetts, and they will still be able to do so in California if Proposition 8 fails.

Though I disagree, I respect BYU students' desire to convince as many Californians as they can to vote for Proposition 8. But please don't use lies to push your agenda.

DANIEL EMBREE
Lincolnshire, Ill.

Values not for sale

State amendments banning recognition of same-sex marriages will be ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court when the Defense of Marriage Act is repealed. Barack Obama has vowed to repeal DOMA if elected. Seeing how the majority of people have voted for these amendments in their states, this fact should be in the headlines of every newspaper!

Certainly we can come up with a better solution for granting civil rights to same-sex couples without having the federal government impose its will upon the people and their states. We don't need the partisan choice of a single man. Can he fix our bad economy? No matter - my values are not for sale.

BRENT JENKINS
Zanesville, Ohio

Copyright Brigham Young University 17 Oct 2008