Letters to the Editor

Lancaster Eagle-Gazette

Republican lawmakers should follow the Hippocratic Oath

The Hippocratic Oath is a code of ethics taken by physicians, and attributed to the Greek doctor Hippocrates, fourth century BC. Although often summarized as “first, do no harm,” actual texts used by medical schools today differ slightly.

Examples of those Promises do include: to respect the hard-won scientific gains; to apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required; to prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.Those goals seem obvious for any medical professional. But we have a political class that seems intent on overriding those judgments and decisions, that are deemed necessary, and that come from wisdom and experience, with specious justifications for political invasions of the bedroom, bathroom, and medical offices.

Why cannot we demand a similar oath of ethics for our governmental officials? Can’t they be held to a standard of “Doing no Harm?”

Current events can cause us to wonder if most Republicans don’t now take a Hypocritic Oath. Hypocrisy is the art of affecting qualities for the purpose of pretending to an undeserved virtue, or to be what he or she is not. It’s Greek origin is "acting a part."

Accumulation of evidence during the past 40 years, including 1,000 Covid deaths ongoing per week, totaling 1,156,484, can show that today’s GOP is ignoring “science,” not “benefiting the sick,” and indifferent to “preventing disease.”

This does not bode well for the nation's health. To use common sense, facts, and reason means to reckon with the consequences.

Allen BrandBremen

President Biden and Sir Winston Churchill, brothers in history

My WWII father, Albertus, veteran, of the European Theatre, often spoke admirably, of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in the same sentence with Franklin Delanor Roosevelt.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955.He rallied the British people during World War II and led his country from the brink of defeat to victory. My father respected Churchill’s age and wisdom, as justified in his winning a 2nd term at 77yrs old.

Joe Biden, regardless of the polls, is again, on the verge of winning his 2nd Presidential term next year.

Today, the “Greatest Generation” is all but extinct, with only a few living heroes left. Also today, many Americans have unfortunately lost the true value of age and experience in government. Once Americans recognized those who spent time helping citizens in government, as dedicated servants, to the precept of our founding fathers.

Hypocritically, the GOP and right-wing internet cowards accuse Joe of being too old.

So, let’s see a few of this “old guy’s” accomplishments to date:

  • Lowering costs of families' everyday expenses.

  • More people are working than at any point in American history.

  • Making more wages in America.

  • Rescued the economy and changed the course of the pandemic.

  • Rebuilding our infrastructure.

  • Historic expansion of benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans.

  • Brokering a hostage release exchange in Gaza, employing contacts in Qatar and Egypt

  • More people with health insurance than ever before

  • Historic confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and federal judges of diverse backgrounds

  • Rallied the world to support Ukraine in response to Putin’s aggression

  • The first meaningful gun violence reduction legislation in 30 years

  • Historic student debt relief for middle- and working-class families

  • Delivering on the most aggressive climate and environmental justice agenda in American history

So, does Joe’s accomplishments at his age, make him another Winston Churchill?

Certainly not. It makes him President Joe Biden.

Bob Muckensturm

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Letters to the Editor

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