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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A4 Sanpete Messenger-Gunnison Valley Edition To Wednesday, April 9, 2008 the editor... for letters-to-the-editor policy go to www. sanpetemessenger.com, click on ‘opinions’ then ‘letters to the editor’ Media doesn’t want you to know about Ron Paul Who is Ron Paul? They don’t want you to know. Years ago there were several independent radio, TV and newspaper publishers. As the years went past they were merged, bought up, or somehow brought under the control of a very few persons. The news is controlled. There is a lot they don’t want you to hear: why the border is still open; the real I.D. Act; the national driver’s license that will eventually be an international database of the world’s population; the super highway from Mexico to Canada; and Ron Paul, a presidential candidate who is opposed to all of the above. There are still a few rebel sources of good information— 104.7FM and 540AM radios, and fourwinds.com—and there are others, but you must search for them. Find out for yourself about Ron Paul. Ed Painter, Spring City Another American multinational icon has abandoned its primary customer base to join and pour money into the agendas of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). Giant multi-national corporations often act irresponsibly in the exercise of their money power. Where it touches our lives (as this does, even here in Sanpete Valley,) we should be aware of and responsive to the issues involved. As rumors began regarding McDonald’s joining the NGLCC, I contacted their corporate headquarters to determine the accuracy of the claims, and to understand their reasoning. Their reply confirmed their membership, providing vague comments regarding diversity and inclusion, and, after all, “there are numerous other Fortune 500 companies that serve as corporate partners.” McDonald’s Corporation has taken the same step in the wrong direction, investing an “undisclosed amount of money” into NGLCC programs. In a recent letter to McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner, (McDonald’s Corporation 2111 McDonald’s Dr. Oak Brook, IL 60523) I expressed the fol- lowing: “Your recent action to fund programs for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is a blatant abandonment of the values and beliefs of your core customer base for the sake of 1 percent of the population. In a recent press statement, you were quoted as follows: ‘Being a socially responsible organization is a fundamental part of who we are. We have an obligation to use our size and resources to make a difference in the world … and we do.’ “The difference you are attempting to effect through your company’s ‘size’ is one which the majority of Americans does not want and cannot support. “These are the same issues by which we were offended 20 months ago when another multinational American icon made the same move. Their corporate leadership realized the error and did not renew membership in that organization, and removed their VP from the NGLCC board. “I have no issues in doing business with honest people of any ethnicity, religion, gender orientation, skin color, etc. When it becomes an ‘in your face’ situation (as McDonald’s has cre- ated) we cannot participate. Your funding and support of NGLCC initiatives cannot be funded by profits earned from our family. “Core morality issues are not alone here. The segmentation of our society into subordinate groups is divisive in nature. We as Americans should not need to be identified as white, black, brown, Baptist, Jew, Mormon, Catholic, Straight, Bent, etc. When groups such as NGLCC (and other special-interest groups) along with their agendas are promoted in this manner, national unity and freedoms are diminished. “Please reconsider this affiliation, and its implied focus on inappropriate values. Your use of the Playland concept implies a focus on family values. Yet your action implies a departure from such. Let us know when your focus again supports your original customer base.” I would encourage all concerned to make your voices heard on this, and other issues which weaken the bonds of unity upon which our great society was built. FAIRVIEW—Sanpete County’s own telephone directory, published jointly by CentraCom and the Sanpete Messenger, is preparing its third edition with delivery scheduled for Aug. 1. Once again, the local phone book will feature cell numbers, mailing as well as physical addresses, and maps of communities. But new features are also planned to make the book even more user friendly, including possibly making the listings accessible from local cell phones. Mark Williams, sales representative for CentraCom, will be making face-to-face contacts with businesses beginning next week. “I’m looking forward to letting businesses know what the phone book can do for them,” Williams said. Businesses can expect Mark to contact them from March 24 to April 18. “If you had an ad in the phone book last year that you want to renew, you can just call 835-4241 and ask for Lloyd Call,” says Messenger owner Suzanne Dean. Nate Palmer, marketing director at CentraCom, is organizing a school art contest to find cover and inside-page art for the 2008 book. Last year, Rebecca Lee of Mt. Pleasant won the contest with her portrait of an American flag outside a home. Colorful drawings by Mt. Pleasant Elementary students were scattered throughout the yellow pages. “We go to great lengths to make sure our numbers and addresses are accurate,” said Dean. “This year, before we publish in August, we plan to have listings available online so everyone can verify their informa- McDonalds abandoning primary customer base values Rick Lutes Ephraim Preparations are underway for third Sanpete phone directory Snow play examines depth of love and genius in ‘Proof ’ By Lloyd Call Associate Publisher EPHRAIM—Can you prove love? The Snow College Theatre department is presenting its last play of the season, “Proof,” which opens tonight at 8, and runs through Saturday at the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts in Ephraim. Directed by Michael Helms, “Proof” is a work that explores the incomprehensiveness of love as much as it does the mysteries of science. The story focuses on Catherine (Belinda Larsen), a young woman who has spent years caring for her father, Robert Publisher Mark Williams tion before publication.” Even though the phone book will be distributed Aug. 1, most of the ad sales will be completed before May. is honored to welcome Elizabeth Larsen, MSN, FNP-BC Elizabeth Larsen, Jan Christensen, MD MSN, FNP-BC Elizabeth Larsen is a Board Certified Family Health Nurse Practitioner joining Drs. G.J. Willden and Jan F. Christensen in the Gunnison Family Medicine Clinic located at 65 E. 100 N. in Gunnison (across from main hospital entrance). Elizabeth is now seeing patients with an extended hours schedule: G.J. Willden, MD Elizabeth Larsen, MSN, FNP-BC Jan Christensen, MD Monday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. OFF 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday OFF 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday OFF 12 to 4 p.m. (Every Other) OFF Appointments can be made by calling (435) 528-2130. (Ron Lamb), a brilliant mathematician in his youth who was later unable to function without her help. His death has brought into her midst both her sister, Claire (Anita Rae Hunt), who wants to take Catherine back to New York with her, and Hal (Isaac Owens), a former student of Catherine’s father who hopes to find some hint of Robert’s genius among his writings. The passion that Hal feels for math both moves and angers Catherine, who, in her exhaustion, is torn between missing her father and resenting the great sacrifices she made for him. For Catherine has inherited at least a part of her father’s brilliance—and perhaps some of his instability as well. As she and Hal become attracted to each other, they push at the edges of each other’s knowledge, considering not only the unpredictability of genius but also the human instinct toward love and trust. Ticket prices are $6.50 for adults, $6 for seniors/high school students and younger, and $3 for Snow College students, and are available at the door or may be purchased by calling the ticket office, 2837478. Bennett health care plan getting bipartisan support By Suzanne Dean Gunnison Family Medicine Clinic G.J. Willden, MD Catherine (Belinda Larsen) celebrates another birthday by drinking to forget her problems, and her brilliant father Robert (Ron Lamb) shows up to comfort her. Of course, he’s been dead about a week. WASHINGTON, D.C.— Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) is one of the lead co-sponsors with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) of a universal healthcare bill that is gaining bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate. According to a press release from Bennett’s office, the Healthy Americans Act is the first bipartisan, comprehensive healthcare reform bill in 13 years. So far, 12 senators besides Bennett and Wyden have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill. “It will take Republicans and Democrats working together to deliver a rational plan for genuine healthcare reform,” Bennett says. According to the press release, the basic goals of the plan are providing universal coverage, providing the coverage through private insurance companies, increasing competition among companies on price and benefits, allowing people to choose their own providers, and breaking the tie between employment and health coverage. In December 2007 the Lewin Group, a management consulting firm specializing in healthcare, published what it described as a nonpartisan analysis of the bill. A “staff paper” from the company explained that employers would be required to abolish their health insurance plans and give the money they were spending on healthcare to employees in the form of higher wages. Employees would be expected to spend the extra money on private health insurance. All citizens, whether or not they had health insurance previously, would be required to purchase it. They would pay (See “Bennett” on A7) |