Editor’s note: This letter is in response to the opinion titled: “Polarized catastrophe is hurting America” (Feb. 10).

First, let me say that religious and ideological thinking is present on both sides of the aisle, whether those involved are religious, agnostic, atheist, Conservative or Liberal.

President Obama refers to the Congress Republicans as the party of “NO.” Well, perhaps that’s because they don’t like what is being foisted on the country, not simply because there’s a “D” on the bill.

To make the comparison of the religious people of the United States to the religious people of the Muslim nations is like comparing apples to hand grenades, and as a Christian, I resent it.

Yes, we have all kinds of social programs in this nation. How many do we need, and how high do our taxes need to be? The government is already feeding some 30,000,000 through various programs (not including unemployment benefits) — which is not the job of government. I wouldn’t call the military a social program either. I have to pay for government school, and I don’t plan on sending my kids there (and I’m not rich). Now you want me to pay for everybody’s medical, too?

What is this 38th ranking? What category is that? Is that by the World Health Organization?

I don’t think socializing medicine is going to help infant mortality, life expectancy, or our so-called ranking. How high are the taxes in jolly old England? Socialism is not what made this the biggest economy in the world. Capitalism is. Social programs lead to places like Detroit, where the unemployment rate is like 30 percent. Is that what you want?

To me, this letter is a fine example of the snobbery/ivory tower mentality of the Left. As if to say that having a religious and/or conservative worldview is somehow below the “enlightened” of the Left. Why can’t we just get a grip, and come along with those god-like intellectuals on the Left? Right?

Lance G. Thomas