We need National Health Insurance for our National Self-Defense. The recent spate of Anthrax attacks have clearly demonstrated our weakness to biological attack.

There is no better defense to biological attack than early detection and treatment. With the number of uninsured Americans expected to rise from 43 million to 60 million during this recession, many citizens cannot afford to see a physician or buy medicine. The number of uninsured Americans demonstrates a grave national weakness in dealing with biological attack. This weakness is not shared by other industrial nations. Almost every developed nation has National Health Insurance except America. Both President and Senator Clinton tried to correct this weakness. Their efforts were defeated by Republicans in Congress. We are weaker as a nation as a result of Republican politicians serving the HMOs instead of the American people.

We cannot get early detection and treatment for biological attack if our citizens do not ALL have the financial means to pay for these services. It is time for the Republicans to put public good before business interests and support Democratic efforts to provide National Health Insurance. Having so many uninsured puts all Americans at risk. It is time to protect America from biological attack.

Stephen Crockett, co-host
www.DemocraticTalkRadio.om
Fayetteville, Tennessee

Po’ Folks

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Oh Yeah" said the son.

"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father proudly.

The son answered:

"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

With this the boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added. "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don’t have.

What is one person’s worthless object is another’s prize possession.

It is all based on one’s perspective.

Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for all the bounty we have instead of worrying about wanting more.

Take joy in what you have and see the treasure in it.

Author Unknown