July 15 Letters to the Editor

Let’s really ‘reform’ health care

How about rewarding those who live healthy life styles to improve health and reduce medical costs? Items such as tobacco usage, healthy weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels can be and are being measured to provide encouragement.

Steve Burd, CEO of Safeway Inc., in the Wall Street Journal, told how, when employees have achieved healthy life goals, annual premiums have been reduced by $780 for individuals and $1,560 for families under Safeway’s Health Measures program. Results show that “… obesity and smoking rates (have dropped to) 70 percent of the national average.” In other words — it works.

Burd also states that “… plan members (are rewarded) $312 per year for not using tobacco, yet the annual cost of insuring a tobacco user is $1,400.” And further, Burd says “… we are constrained by current laws from increasing these incentives.”

What a rich gold mine of cost reduction and improved health is available by rewarding citizens for taking personal responsibility for their good health.

Auto insurance companies reward “safe drivers” who take personal responsibility to avoid claims. Should not government health insurance programs also reward those who develop good health life styles?

Gordon Sondker

Longview

How are we performing?

Michael Jackson lived a life perfecting perfection in a process of entertainment, which resulted in global recognition as King of Pop and entertainment, but at a price of losing peace and rest during his final days of preparation for the tour of 50 concerts. His artistry drained him of his physical strength and robbed him of peace and rest. There was no escape to refurbish him physically, mentally and psychologically, which drove him to ingesting of medicines.

I am not a medical doctor, but my 20 years of experience as a U.S. Army Chaplain gave me living acquaintance with problems arising from the riggers resulting from unrelenting stress. The memorial service was so appropriate and so very well conducted, but its conclusion ended with the climax of Michael’s daughter Paris speaking from the heart, “I love you so much, Dad.” That moment and those words stir up many reminders that are very personal and I’m sure universal.

Mom and Dad, how well are we performing as parents?

Ed Nelson

Longview

Good Samaritans

On July 3, at the Lake Sacajawea Go 4th celebration, I fainted. Thankfully I had my daughter and granddaughter with me. Very soon some very caring young people rallied around me offering their help, especially a young woman with long brown hair.

Things got pretty fuzzy before I lost my vision. My daughter sent her daughter to get the car. By this time, my daughter and two young men assisted in getting me up. One I assume was a park volunteer with orange jacket had called 911 and handed a cell phone to my daughter who convinced them that I was now up walking, talking and could see.

A special thank-you to a “Mike” who stayed with us, across Nichols Boulevard, to await my granddaughter with the car. I guess I simply “over-did.”

Gini Smith

Longview

Please call

To the beautiful “Doris Day” look alike that I took her picture at the Go 4th Festival, with her approval, please do call me, as we can never have too many friends. My name and number are in the phone book.

I apologize for not asking at the lake while watching the “Crazy Boat Races,” very enjoyable. At 72 1/2 I hope to enjoy more Fourth of Julys.

Wallace C. Davis

Longview