Universal care is not government-run
It is sad that the editorial staff of the Daily Mail would report utterly false information on health care in the July 12 Short Takes editorial.
West Virginians need thoughtful solutions to a serious public health problem, not inadequately researched right-wing propaganda. Universal health care is not synonymous with government-run insurance.
Single-payer advocates want socialized insurance that is government controlled, just like Medicare. The delivery of care would be private. In fact, people would have the choice of any doctor they want, instead of the narrow or nonexistent choice people have now.
The statistics in the article could have been checked simply by going to the American Cancer Society Web site.
The rate of stage 1 breast cancer (highly curable) in the United States is compared to the rate of all breast cancers in Britain. This is an invalid comparison.
The implication that the United States has better health care is absurd. In a recent Commonwealth evaluation of the health care of six countries, England was first and the United States was dead last.
An article in the prestigious journal JAMA two years ago found that the poorest one-third of patients in England had better health than the wealthiest one-third of Americans.
In addition, the comment on the waiting lists in Canada for non-emergency procedures fails to mention that many Americans are not even invited to the waiting line.
Twenty-two thousand Americans are estimated to die each year based on the Institute of Medicine's analysis of the uninsured.
James Binder, M.D.
Huntington
Binder is associate professor of pediatrics at the Marshall University School of Medicine and a member of Physicians for a National Health Program.
Partisan election of judges doesn't help
Kudos to David Ridenour for highlighting many problems with West Virginia's dysfunctional tort system in his July 15 column, "The state should pursue tort reform."
I'd like to add one more problem - the state's partisan judicial elections.
Litigation awards tend to be higher in states with an elected judiciary. Judges can effectively buy votes by granting huge tort awards to in-state plaintiffs against out-of-state defendants.
Judges also depend on trial lawyers with cases before them for campaign contributions. It's only natural that they'd be unduly influenced by the arguments of these attorneys once they're on the bench.
When judges act as politicians in robes, the state's judicial system is further eroded.
Systemic flaws like this are why West Virginia was classified as a "sinner" state in the Pacific Research Institute's 2008 U.S. Tort Liability Index, which I co-authored.
Universal care is not government-run
It is sad that the editorial staff of the Daily Mail would report utterly false information on health care in the July 12 Short Takes editorial.
West Virginians need thoughtful solutions to a serious public health problem, not inadequately researched right-wing propaganda. Universal health care is not synonymous with government-run insurance.
Single-payer advocates want socialized insurance that is government controlled, just like Medicare. The delivery of care would be private. In fact, people would have the choice of any doctor they want, instead of the narrow or nonexistent choice people have now.
The statistics in the article could have been checked simply by going to the American Cancer Society Web site.
The rate of stage 1 breast cancer (highly curable) in the United States is compared to the rate of all breast cancers in Britain. This is an invalid comparison.
The implication that the United States has better health care is absurd. In a recent Commonwealth evaluation of the health care of six countries, England was first and the United States was dead last.
An article in the prestigious journal JAMA two years ago found that the poorest one-third of patients in England had better health than the wealthiest one-third of Americans.
In addition, the comment on the waiting lists in Canada for non-emergency procedures fails to mention that many Americans are not even invited to the waiting line.
Twenty-two thousand Americans are estimated to die each year based on the Institute of Medicine's analysis of the uninsured.
James Binder, M.D.
Huntington
Binder is associate professor of pediatrics at the Marshall University School of Medicine and a member of Physicians for a National Health Program.
Partisan election of judges doesn't help
Kudos to David Ridenour for highlighting many problems with West Virginia's dysfunctional tort system in his July 15 column, "The state should pursue tort reform."
I'd like to add one more problem - the state's partisan judicial elections.
Litigation awards tend to be higher in states with an elected judiciary. Judges can effectively buy votes by granting huge tort awards to in-state plaintiffs against out-of-state defendants.
Judges also depend on trial lawyers with cases before them for campaign contributions. It's only natural that they'd be unduly influenced by the arguments of these attorneys once they're on the bench.
When judges act as politicians in robes, the state's judicial system is further eroded.
Systemic flaws like this are why West Virginia was classified as a "sinner" state in the Pacific Research Institute's 2008 U.S. Tort Liability Index, which I co-authored.
Unless West Virginia's policymakers enact common sense, meaningful tort reform, the state will continue to lose businesses and jobs.
Lawrence J. McQuillan, Ph.D.
San Francisco, Calif.
McQuillan is director of Business and Economic Studies at the Pacific Research Institute.
Dick and Nancy Barber make a big difference
Back on July 16, 1994, the Big Brothers-Big Sisters Myrtle Beach Dinner Dance (started by Mary Williams, Glen English and Mike Smith) wasn't the well-oiled machine it is today.
In the beginning, the planning for the first event wasn't particularly organized. A lot has been figured out by trial and error over the last 14 years.
One thing for sure, though, is that without the financial support and the good advice from Nancy and Dick Barber, the event would not be what it is today.
The Barbers have donated adult beverages for the event from the beginning, and if you have ever attended the party, you know it is the one event where Kanawha County businesses let their hair down and have a great time.
The Barbers have also helped provide for a new and improved dance floor through their generous donations.
But perhaps the most generous thing of all is that after recently selling their business, Central Distributing Co., the Barbers asked the new owners, Proud Eagle Inc., to continue to support this event.
Without the donation of beer, the event would not be nearly as profitable for BBBS.
In other words, the Barbers have been instrumental in the past success of this event and have helped to ensure its future success.
This event provides 60 percent of the operating budget for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central West Virginia. This is an organization that has continued to grow over the years and has had a profound impact on the youth of this region.
We all are better off thanks to the goodwill of the Barbers, but most importantly, the youth in the Kanawha Valley are getting the help they need due to the success of this annual fundraising event.
Thanks again to Nancy and Dick Barber
Brenda Brown
Brad White
Mike Smith
Brown, White and Smith are co-chairs of the Myrtle Beach Dinner Dance.
And everyone is pleased with the way that Medicare is run...right?
"Single-payer advocates want socialized insurance that is government controlled, just like Medicare."
Government run is equal to government controlled.