A Lion, But No Lionization

The legacy of Ted Kennedy is public service and tragedy. By 1969, Ted Kennedy had experienced the loss of another brother to an assassin's bullet. He had already lost two brothers and a sister under heartbreaking circumstances. When his irresponsible behavior led to the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, he attempted to cover up his actions and he largely succeeded. Shortly after that, his beautiful, but fragile wife miscarried their baby. She was on bedrest, but he insisted that she accompany him to Mary Jo's funeral. Politics came before his baby. His father died a few months later. The following year, his son, Teddy, lost part of his leg to bone cancer. There is no doubt that Ted Kennedy has suffered immensely. However, it is difficult to get past his conduct after these events. He was a notorious womanizer and a heavy drinker. There have been many stories about his debauchery. His infidelity was probably responsible for his wife's alcoholism. Although the people in Massachusetts love him, the rest of the country perceived him as decadent. It cost him the presidency.

While it is true that Kennedy, a millionaire, has devoted his life to public service instead of a being a jet setting playboy, he has taken the low road time and time again. He may very well be sincere about every American receiving healthcare, but he will never understand the burdens this may place on the ordinary citizen.

Every columinist speaks to Ted Kennedys amazing record in the Senate. I am 52 years old and follow politics and cannot come up with a single piece of legislation that Ted Kennedy is responsible for. Maybe 'the big dig" ???

I appreciated the piece on Mr Kennedy. I am not perhaps connected with Mr Kennedy's life, but I appreciate the concern he shows for the ordinary American, when he champions the cause of universal health care for all United States citizens. I was not aware that Mr Kennedy is mortally ill, but I will always think of him with regard.

All you have to do is come to Knoxville, TN this weekend and see the thousands of people in E.Tn lined up to get free health care provided by Doctors, Dentists, Nurses and other volunteers to those who cannot afford the skyrocketing costs of private health insurance. To those who oppose this plan, you must be fortunate enough to afford the costs and selfish enough to exclude others from receiving much needed care. I hope that congress, who received subsidized health care from our taxes will pass the Government plan and quit listening to the naysayers who have nothing but their own vested selfish interests in defeating it. Thank God for Ted Kennedy.

Left to his own devices, this guy will do for US health care, argueably the finest in the World, exactly what he did for Mary Jo - Kill It! Would the government plan lead to a single-payer system? Absolutely! Would it be better/cheaper?" Better? - No; Cheaper? - you get what you pay for. Businesses will unload their health care onto the government and you will see rationing and squeezing doctors and hospitals. As a result of Government run health care, there are more "used to be doctors" than doctors in the UK. Socialized medicine will do for the U.S. what it has done for Canada and the UK! Difference will be, people there will no longer have the option of coming to the U.S. when then need real health care.

If left to his own devices, this guy will do for what is argueably the finest health care in the world what he did for Mary Jo - Kill It!" A government plan will lead to a single-payer system as businesses unload their health care to the Government and it might even be cheaper because of rationing and squeezing doctors and hospitals. As a result of Government run health care, there are more "used to be doctors" than doctors in the UK. Socialized medicine will do for the U.S. what it has done for Canada and the UK! Difference will be, people there will no longer have the option of coming to the U.S. when then need real health care.

Well said and true.

"Now
we have our brief moment here.
We came yesterday,
are here today,
will be gone tomorrow.
Let that brief moment
be spent in communion
with the whole of life
so that we will not have lived
in vain."

Father Matthew Kelty, OCSO
Monk of Gethsemani