We get far more letters than we can print. Here are some that got overrun by other topics:
July 30 marked the 46th anniversary of the Medicare program. Medicare is representative of old age in America to most of those who receive it and disability coverage for others. It now includes health coverage and economic security for seniors and their families. As we celebrate this anniversary, lawmakers in Washington are poised to make deep cuts to the Medicare program as part of an effort to reduce the federal debt.
Few programs have seen the unqualified success that Medicare has. With good reason, Medicare is especially important to vulnerable older patients with multiple chronic conditions. Their care is complex and often expensive. Health reform is only making the Medicare program stronger.
I am active in the Campaign for Better Care, which is recommending that lawmakers look to reduce costs by improving the quality and coordination of care for our oldest and sickest patients. Rather than cutting this essential program in ways that threaten Medicare as we know it, by reducing unnecessary hospital readmissions and hospital-acquired infections, and paying only for high-quality care, we can save billions of dollars.
That’s a much better way. We need to preserve and protect the Medicare program that seniors, the disabled and their families rely on.
Patricia Baker
Knightdale
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Your “Mallard Fillmore” comic strip just keeps getting worse and worse, increasingly and outrageously partisan, and personally smearing of our elected president. It is not funny, especially in this most fractiously partisan time in our nation’s history. The strip’s making up ridiculous “quotes” from President Obama for things he hasn’t actually said is way over the top in lack of fairness. It wouldn’t be quite as bad if you put the strip on the opinion page, but its total lack of subtlety and humor would be a waste of space. I’d like to keep my subscription of 21 years, but this embarrassing partisanship in the funny papers during these frightening times is pushing me to the brink.
Terry Eason
Pittsboro
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Your July 25 Science & Technology section included a nice report on the production of 2.5 million pounds of hybrid bass in North Carolina, worth about $10 million. It was pointed out that the former director of N.C. Sea Grant, Dr. Ron Hodson, was instrumental in initiating the crossing of wild striped bass with the fast-growing white bass that flourishes in deep waters of freshwater lakes. I have known Ron for nearly 30 years and his charisma and devotion to North Carolina freshwater aquaculture research is praiseworthy.
Prof. Craig Sullivan of N.C. State University wisely follows Ron Hodson’s original initiative on hybrid bass genetic studies. However, it is also important to recognize Dr. Howard Kerby of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who first introduced hybrid bass research in North Carolina while stationed at NCSU.
There is substantial promise to enhance hybrid striped bass aquaculture in Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake, and obviously this dream hinges on restoring the health of these freshwater bodies that are becoming a victim of nutrient overloading. Falls Lake is an umbilical cord for the Triangle community and provides drinking water for half a million people. Let us encourage all stakeholders to remain vigilant to keep Falls Lake healthy.
Robert Y. George, Ph.D.
Wake Forest
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The caption under a July 30 photo said, “Students won’t have to suffer through an extra five days of school this year.” Is that really the message we want to send? That students have to suffer through school? Education is a privilege, and they should be grateful for it.
Joel and Amy Huenemann
Cary
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I would like to commend the state House for their override of the governor’s veto of legislation that would require a woman to receive additional information prior to having an abortion. While categorized as a restriction, the legislation is anything but. While the option of abortion is still law, a final override will allow for a more informed decision about a procedure that will alter two lives. How can anyone argue against education?
Is one’s life not worth a little education, and is a life not worth at least 24 hours? I’m sorry if the life created is an inconvenience and I’m sorry if a little education and a 24-hour waiting period keeps someone from getting their body back or keeps them from getting back to the grand life they had planned. Decisions have consequences.
I am sure that Rep. Alma Adams, D-Guilford, is thankful that her mom didn’t need any further education in her decision to carry the creation in her womb to full term.
I am thankful that Adams’ mother felt that the life she helped create was more important than the other aspects of her life or her body.
Representatives, it’s about personal courage, not politics.
James Wagner
Mount Airy
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The July 15 photo of John Edwards leaving a federal courthouse could have been one of a jocular “Three Amicis.” Yet the article spoke about three of the most skilled legal entities in the entire state of North Carolina and their daunting task to defend one of their own against “complex charges.” They must meet this challenge in a mere few months! Though the charges have been known for months.
Money laundering. Campaign finance violations. Betrayal. Perjury. Not to mention megalomania.
I see two ways to solve their problem without delaying the trial.
1) Hire the lawyers who defended Meg Scott Phipps and/or Jim Black and/or Mike Easley. They were aware of how badly their clients had screwed up. But they didn’t feign challenge overload.
2) Just plea bargain for simple possession of a controlled substance and throw his butt in jail for five to 10.
The residents of North Carolina will be satisfied. And we will have saved a ton of money that can be better allocated to helping the ever-growing number of Part B members of the “Two Americas” who are delinquent on their mortgage payments due to lost jobs. That would be something to smile about.
Mike Webb
Wake Forest
