Sept. 19 Letters to the Editor

National health insurance

I have been reading the sometimes uninformed letters the past few weeks regarding the upcoming national health-care legislation. I have some experience in this area, as I spent much of my life as a professor doing training of resident physicians in medical schools at the University of Iowa and University of Arizona. I have worked in two large tertiary care hospitals and one community hospital.

The United States does not do well treating its citizens’ health issues compared to other national health-care countries in Europe, Asia and the rest of the world. Some Third World countries do a better job caring for their sick than we do (e.g., Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate than the U.S.).

If the U.S. keeps going in the same direction it is now, it will quickly become a nation where only the wealthy have health-care insurance. In almost every other country with national health care, people receive more for their health care dollar than they do in the U.S. The cost of doing business is also cheaper for companies in countries where there is national health insurance.

Finally, equating national health care with socialism is just an insurance industry scare tactic. State and federal governments provide many other services without being called socialist.

As someone who already has nationalized health care (Medicare), I say bring it on. Long overdue.

Terry Krisel

Cathlamet

Letter writer is misinformed

In “Seniors don’t want change” (Sept. 13 letter) Mrs. Earl Lohrey makes some rather startling claims, all without any hint as to their authoritative source? Since she purports to speak for me, I felt compelled to check the validity of her statements.

She states that under socialized medicine the life expectancy in England is now 53 years. A 10-second Internet search reveals that the CIA World Factbook ranks the United Kingdom as 25th in life expectancy with 79.01 years. The U.S.A. ranks 35th at 78.11 years. She further states that socialized medicine has also failed in Sweden and Canada. The CIA ranks Sweden as eighth highest with a life expectancy of 80.86 years, and Canada as 6th at 81.23 years. She might find it interesting, too, that such socialist stalwarts as Austria, France and Switzerland also rank in the top 10. New Zealand is 12th.

She further states that after age 57 persons in England cannot have stents. A 10-second trip to snopes.com shows that this is one of the many falsehoods that people think will be true if they just repeat it often enough. Is that what she is referring to when she says doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome?

Mrs. Lohrey does not speak for me.

Chris Hill

Longview

Spending is a concern

I have a concern. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars to rescue (nationalize?) the auto and banking industries. A stimulus bill of $787 billion has been passed, with most of the spending to take place in 2010. Congress is now working to enact a major overhaul of the health-care system, which may cost a trillion dollars over 10 years. As a result, the cumulative deficit over the next 10 years is now forecast to be $9.1 trillion.

Meanwhile most of us have been assured we will bear little if any responsibility for all of this spending. Instead we will use other people’s money by increasing taxes on the “rich” and by continuing to borrow money from China and other foreign countries. My concern is what happens when we run out of other people’s money?

Mike Murphy

Castle Rock

A cruel theft

I hope the person who stole the copper tea pot from my wife’s grave at Longview Memorial Park enjoys it. My wife sure did. Yes, I should have known better.

Dale Burleson

Longview

Help is appreciated

A short while ago, I received a letter from the owners of my mobile home park requesting me to paint my home. Not being able to afford this, I tried to ignore the letter until the manager called to remind me. I knew my funds would be insufficient, so I called CAP. Within a short while, I started receiving calls from various people. My mobile home was painted, my shed was reroofed and my back porch was replaced on Sept. 9.

I want to thank United Way, Steve and Michele of CAP, Tina and Denny of Catholic Community Services, Michael Rainey (the manager of Wal-Mart) and the numerous employees of Wal-Mart, Lonny Knowles of Stewart Title, Lucky of Kim’s Beauty Shop, my nephew Jon Juell, my son Brad and all the others who worked on my home.

I hope I have not missed anyone. The job you all did is so beautiful. I thank you so very much.

Margaret Burchett

Longview

Day of Caring

We call them the four gentlemen from Norpac.

On United Way Day of Caring, four gentlemen from Norpac appeared at Parents’ Place and said, “What can we do to help you.” They came prepared to work.

We took them out to the back yard where one area was covered in rocks and infested with weeds. We asked, “What could you do with this?” They immediately saw the possibility of a green grassy area suitable for a play yard for our youngsters.

After reviewing safety procedures, they grabbed rakes and pulled weeds. One went home to get his rototiller and a lawn roller. When he returned, they cleared out the ground, leveling it and rolling the dirt to a smooth surface.

Next two of the men made a trip to Home Depot for some sod. Upon return, the sod was cut to fit and was laid out. The freshly laid sod was rolled and a sprinkler was set up. A set of stakes and a roll of marking tape completed a “fence” to protect our new greensward.

We rejoiced at the fresh new look and celebrated by taking lots of pictures of the men from Norpac with parents and small children thanking them.

We were impressed by their energy and dedication to helping our agency, Parents’ Place, through United Way’s Day of Caring. Thank you so much, gentlemen.

Judy Bailey

Retired Director of Parents’ Place