Letters to the editor

A Round of Applause For New Ha'Penny Stage
Editor, Times-Dispatch:

What a pleasant surprise to see the new Ha'Penny Stage in Byrd Park. We went to an afternoon performance celebrating Chinese culture, which was superb. The new stage is higher so one can see better and the backdrop is high enough that performers can stage themselves without being seen. Simple concepts, but they add tremendously to the audience's enjoyment.

What really impressed us, however, was moving the stage out of direct sun. No more sitting in the broiling sun and shading one's eyes to see the performance. Finally someone thought to relocate the stage slightly and now performers and audience alike have shade. Even more surprising was provision of chairs for the audience. This was an unusually large crowd with many older-than-usual patrons and the Dogwood Dell staff made a good call in providing chairs. I hope they continue to do so when the audience warrants it.

I also hope that these Chinese performers come back next year, perhaps even to the main stage at Dogwood Dell. They certainly are Dell-worthy. From the aerial antics of the martial artists to the charming dances of little girls in red overalls, it was a delightful and inspiring performance and a great kickoff for the improved venue.

I am glad that in this day of reduced budgets and service cut-backs, the city recognizes the importance of the Festival of Arts and continues not only to support it, but to offer improvements. Thanks Richmond Parks and Recreation, and keep up the good work.

Elaine Lidholm.
Richmond.

Over the past eight years, health care costs have skyrocketed, with premiums for employer-based family coverage rising more than five times faster than average U.S. earnings. Pre-existing condition restrictions, caps on coverage, and higher deductibles and co-pays have put a significant strain on family budgets. In 2008, over 13 million Americans with insurance spent over 25 percent of their family income on health care costs. More than one-half of all personal bankruptcy cases are due, at least in part, to illnesses and medical costs.

People without access to employer-based coverage have to shop in the individual health insurance market. These expensive policies have even more limits and higher out-of-pocket costs. Many applicants cannot obtain a policy at any price, just because they have been sick in the past.

Forty-six million Americans, including 9 million children, are living without health care coverage. Every year, especially during this recession, more hard-working families join the ranks of the uninsured. Over the past 15 years, the percentage of uninsured workers in Virginia has gone up nearly 16 percent.

This is why a solid majority of Americans supports health reform. The proposals in Congress will allow Nugent to keep his private insurance while they help all Americans get quality, affordable insurance. Everyone will be a part of the system, and no one will have to fear that one accident or illness will leave them unable to care for themselves or their families.

Jill Hanken.
Richmond.

The carpetbagger tag seemed a favorite. The parachuting-in line was another. Connections to Bill Clinton came to be spoken of as a disease. Yet McAuliffe didn't have to spend what has to be millions of his own money on his campaign. He didn't have to decide that just maybe he had something to offer his home state of the past 20 years.

But he did all of that and much, much more.

Whoever heard of a candidate having a business plan of six chapters (123 pages) of detailed, specific, and knowledgeable proposals for education, transportation, economic security, energy, and job creation? Plus, there was a chapter on the question that so many people asked: How was he going to pay for all the promises? Chapter 6 told how.

His plan is full of viable, creative ideas about where the jobs could come from. The problem? No one I've met had read the business plan.

The incredible endorsement of The Washington Post touted Creigh Deeds as the "Transportation Governor" but his Web site didn't mention transportation and Brian Moran's mention was tepid. McAuliffe had a 26-page plan of up-to-date information even down to proposals for the Obama transportation stimulus money.

He sees things differently because he hasn't been involved in state government. He is mystified by what he sees as Virginia's failure to be innovative, to be the most attractive state for new businesses and industries. He urged Virginia to match and exceed incentives that are working for other states.

Part of the charm of Sen. Mark Warner is his sense of humor. McAuliffe seemed to be from that mold. He remained good-humored while Moran became angry and attacked him -- from the February Jefferson-Jackson Democratic Dinner on regularly for four months. Typically, the concession video of McAuliffe was upbeat. He said he wouldn't give anything for the experience of running, that he'd had a great time.

And you know what? I'll bet he did. Nancy St.Clair Finch. Richmond.

Chesterfield Supervisors Ask Necessary Questions
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Hooray for the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors' questioning of the Chesterfield School Board. It is clear the School Board does not like the questions. It has been a long time coming that someone is actually asking how our tax dollars are spent.

In the past, the School Board had one way of balancing a budget and that was to find a new program or project to spend any surplus. Many school systems are required to maintain a certain surplus in order to handle years like this one. Even the state has a rainy-day fund. Why not one for the Chesterfield school system?

Marleen Durfee is my representative on the Board of Supervisors and I commend her for the pointed questions she is asking and pressing for redistricting to solve the overcrowding rather than an automatic assumption by the School Board that capital improvement dollars is the answer.

Robert Derrick.
Midlothian.