Letters to the Editor 10/17

Health system better in Canada, Europe

Did you know that physicians in support of a single-payer health care plan were left out on the White House lawn (Oct. 5)?

It works in Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Sweden, France and many other countries. We are taxed plenty to pay for this already. We are able to spend money killing people - war and building weapons - as well as bailing out wealthy people who spend $80,000 on a rug for their office, and no money to help our children lead healthier lives and take care of our sick ones.

No one should be left to die in an emergency room with an abscessed tooth, like the young man in New York. No one should be shuttled from hospital to hospital in a taxi and shoved onto the curb to die because of the absence of health insurance - this happened in L.A.

It's a travesty. I have been ill in other countries and received top notch care. They feel sorry that I am an American and don't know why we don't take care of our own. It's just plain stupid.

Laura Cook

Incline Village

Health care reform must address cost of smoking

As costly as health care reform has evolved into, the one subject not addressed is this one: The cost of smoking. It's not just the price of the cigarettes but the cost to the smoker in becoming ill (my 31-year-old aunt died of lung cancer from smoking) and the cost to the rest of us taxpayers for the care of those who become unable to work or pay for their medical needs.

Personally, I get a little tired of hearing about the rights written into our Constitution. For my money, our foremothers should have had a hand in writing it up. I am sure it would have had some responsibilities included.

Right at the top of those would have been a requirement, a law, that demands first, that all go to school to learn a trade or profession and, second, that all be required to refrain from addictive substances or take cures. (These are) just a few important things to address.

I'm not a reactionary or a liberal. Both parties have their share of obtuse, frightened-of-enlightenment types. What I am is a very old lady who came from limited means, took advantage of every opportunity and the public library, and learned how to manage my money and resources, and am living comfortably in this lovely historical setting.

Nikki Campbell

Carson City

Too many Americans suffer from lack of insurance

I worked for the VA hospital and saw the wonderful care our veterans receive. It was shocking for me to find out how many people cannot afford either their medical bills or the insurance that would help them pay for those bills - if they can even get insurance.

What kind of country is this? I have excellent health insurance -it's called Medicare. So, why should I worry about anyone else? Well, I'm more than worried. I am horrified and devastated at the situation we have in this country for so many people.

This health reform idea is so overdue; how many more must suffer and die because we can't get out of our greedy and selfish ways? A person's ability to receive adequate medical care should not depend on his job, his previous health, any decline in health or because his illness is considered too costly. Ridiculous ideas.

We are supposed to be our brothers' keepers, so let's help the president improve our health care system now.

Madonna Peterson

Reno

What was keeping you busy, Sen. Ensign?

In the Oct. 7 Appeal, the headline stated, "Ensign says he will not resign." Bad news is a common fare these days.

A few days ago, a commentator stated that Ensign was being smart by disclosing his dalliance over three years before his re-election because the voters will have forgotten his affair by then. This political thinking assumes that voters have short memories and a majority just don't care what senators do at work or on their time off.

Over the last 81⁄2 years, I have written Sen. Ensign five letters concerning false government economic data and the decline in the dollar's value. He didn't bother to answer any letter. I can't say that I never received a letter from him, however. Early this year, I received a letter from him in answer to a letter written by someone else.

Sen. Reid, Reps. Gibbons and Heller have answered all of my letters. Sen. Ensign has put himself above such boring tasks. I now know why he didn't have the time to answer what I thought were very important disclosures.

Donald W. Cunningham

Carson City