Dear Editor,
Incentive has always driven the decisions we make and therefore our lives. If people have incentive to do something, it becomes much more likely they’ll do it.
Now, say there’s a kid in school who goes above and beyond in his efforts for completing  a project, resulting in an excellent grade. Then, a classmate of his, doesn’t put in any effort, resulting in a terrible job, but is awarded the same excellent grade. Is there any incentive for the good student to put in the extra effort?  This same situation is played out more and more often across our country these days.
Starting Jan. 1, 2014 (about six months from now), The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare” will be fully implemented. This 906 page bill, which went unread by Congress, then was ram-rodded through and signed in March of 2010 has finally come to fruition.
Among several things, it will expand the Medicaid system, making it easier for people to qualify. It will raise the premiums of self-insured to a point where most will eventually be forced to drop their coverage… but wait they can no longer do that.  Obamacare requires that all Americans carry health insurance.  This violation of our freedom is necessary to help pay for the most dramatic step toward Socialism our country has ever seen: The Affordable Care Act.
In January, a large portion of the middle class that is currently self-insured or uninsured will start paying for more of the sick, poor and unemployed.  This “re-distribution of wealth,” as defined in The Communist Manifesto, effectively creates another tax on the “wagon pullers” of our country to pay for those who happily ride in the wagon. Where have we seen this before?
There’s just not enough incentive to be a wagon puller anymore. Why would anyone want to work and pay hundreds or thousands of dollars per month for health insurance premiums, when they could have their insurance for free if they don’t work at all? There’s just no incentive.
Dr. Ryan Swenson
Rapid City

Two Jewish teenagers developed a comic book in 1938, during the Depression era when feelings of powerlessness existed and the fear of Adolph Hitler and war were on the horizon. This comic book gave rise to hope and eventually years later became a T.V show.  This creation was named “SUPERMAN.”
When I was a little girl I saw the very first episode of the new series called “SUPERMAN.” We didn’t have a T.V back then, in fact no one in the whole neighborhood did. An old couple who had no children finally got a T.V.  Gil was in a wheelchair and I suppose that was a way for him to keep in touch with the world.  They so graciously and generously invited the neighborhood children in to watch T.V. one day.  Mae served us home baked cookies as we watched.  As this new kids’ show began, I remember the words so well:  “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! It’s SUPERMAN!”
I was hooked, as was every other kid in the room, in every other living room all across the country.  And to be truthful, I’m still hooked.
Yes, I went to the new movie out about Superman, “MAN OF STEEL.” It was much different than sitting and eating cookies with the neighborhood children.  I had popcorn and M&Ms, but sitting there with other people I didn’t know, I was transported back to September of 1952 sitting on the floor of the Ohlson’s living room with my friends and knowing that somewhere out there, there were people from another planet co-existing with us. I never doubted it for a minute ever after. And the greatest lesson of all was that there are powers in all of us that can help others.  I think about an old couple, one in a wheelchair, that used their powers to help the neighborhood children see the future. They had no idea where that show would lead us, or teach us… or did they?
I didn’t remember what the “S” stood for, I only thought it stood for Superman, but in “Man of Steel” I was reminded. On Krypton it stood for HOPE. Parents of a dying planet wanted their child to live and to help those of another planet to live and co-exist in the universe.  Isn’t that what we all want… to live in peace and harmony, to co-exist with others on our own planet as well as those on distant stars, when we encounter them. I believe that we are our own SUPERMAN or SUPERWOMAN.  We have these qualities in our DNA, just like Superman. It is why we are here… simply to learn to LOVE.  There will always be an antagonist in life, but we have the tools within ourselves to be our own Superman and to overcome the frustration and anger and move on to love. Sometimes it helps to have a Lois Lane to show us the better part of ourselves and to help reveal what is already inside us. Yes, I’m still hooked on Superman, because it is the story of ourselves, the constant struggle to balance out the darkness with the light.
I’ve been on a journey the last couple of years to find the truth. What I’ve found is that we all have our own truth. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I must speak my truth even if it makes others uncomfortable in theirs. It is not wrong, it is not right, but it is mine. Superman had a similar situation until circumstances caused him to speak his truth. So, go forth and find the Superman within yourself.  Learn what your truth really is.  Reach inside, don’t be afraid, for the universe needs each of us to awaken.
From the floor of an old couple’s living room to the cushy seat of a movie theater, the story continues and each generation gets the Superman they deserve.
If you decide to attend “MAN OF STEEL,” I hope you will look at it as more than a cartoon movie.  I didn’t attend the 3D version, not because it cost more, but because I wanted it to be as close to that first T.V. episode I saw as it could be.  It is NOT just a kids’ movie, it is a movie for your soul. Thank you, Gil and Mae Ohlson for giving me the chance to see the future from your living room.