Letters to the Editor: News Coverage Isn’t Always Accurate
News Coverage Isn't Always Accurate
Editor, Times-Dispatch: You are to be commended for printing a letter by China's noted dissident, Wei Jungshen, who contradicted an earlier editorial, "Ghosts," concerning Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's recent trip to China and her presumed lack of emphasis on China's deplorable human rights record. Wei, who had read the official transcripts of the meetings Pelosi had with Chinese officials, noted that she had brought up the human rights issue, together with other important U.S.-China issues such as trade.
An important point is embedded in this story. News coverage seeks to find a hook for such events, usually the official opening comments from guest and host. Pelosi, following good diplomatic techniques, did not try to beat the Chinese over the head with their bad behavior in a public forum. Issues such as these are best discussed in one-on-one meetings where a range of issues are covered and proposals, counter-proposals -- and hopefully, in time, progress, -- are made.
It may make headlines (and some people happy) when our leaders meet with foreign leaders and lecture them on their shortcomings. Much more can be accomplished in the long run through quiet diplomacy rather than the chest-thumping, America-knows-best rhetoric that characterized the first few years of the Bush administration.
Phil True.
Glen Allen.
Time to Stand Up To Federal Government
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Actions by Congress and the Obama administration to centralize power in Washington have raised my concern over the future of our free enterprise system and even our democratic way of life.
I served my country proudly for more than 28 years, including 56 combat missions over Vietnam. During that time I voted in every election -- but as a career military person, I remained nonpolitical so I would not compromise my principles and my support to my commander-in-chief.
When I see what is happening to our great country, I can no longer stand on the sidelines. Our political and economic systems are being challenged and we can't stand idly by and watch it happen. We must stand up now and reverse this progress toward socialism.
Virginians such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington led the fight for our freedom and independence. Now it is our turn to carry on this great tradition. If we, the citizens of Virginia, don't stand up to stop this process, who will?
We have the opportunity to reverse this move toward socialism and take back control of our political process by electing a governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general who know and understand Virginia. They will stand up against attempts by the federal government to usurp the powers of the states, and they will provide the leadership to get us through these tough economic times.
Join me in supporting Bob McDonnell and his team.
Albert G. Pianalto.
Chester.
Pets Deserve to Have Guardians -- Not Owners
Editor, Times-Dispatch: A recent AP poll found that half of all Americans "consider their pets as much a part of the family as any other person in the household." But the article referred to these caring individuals as "owners." If Americans consider their animals equal family members, is owner truly the appropriate term to use?
A growing number of citizens, legislators, humane societies, and rescue organizations are replacing the term owner with animal guardian, recognizing that the term owner is outdated and doesn't reflect the human/animal bond that exists in our culture today. Guardian denotes a higher level of responsibility, caring, and respect to our animal companions. It sends a message that they are more than mere property. Guardian accurately describes the appropriate kindness and long-term care to one's family pet, teaching children respect, compassion, and kindness.
Studies show that children who learn compassion and respect for animals are more likely to become responsible adults. Seventeen cities, including St. Louis, Boulder, Beverly Hills, and the entire state of Rhode Island have incorporated the term "guardian" into their animal-related ordinances.
Carl Friedman, the former director of San Francisco's Department of Animal Care and Control, said, "Increased numbers of people thinking and acting as guardians of their animal companions will lead to fewer cases of abuse, neglect, and abandonment, and to fewer animals being killed in our nation's shelters."
The importance of language cannot be understated. It affects how we think and how we act. The dogs and cats who ask so little, and give back so much love and loyalty, deserve the protection and care the term guardian represents.
Warren Richards.
Mechanicsville.
Health Care Town Hall Administered Dose of Fear
Editor, Times-Dispatch: When I heard about ABC's town-hall meeting at the White House, I immediately thought the president would be given softball questions. However, I was pleasantly surprised with Charles Gibson's and Diane Sawyer's design for the evening's battery of questions, which were tough and direct. They were targeted to the heart of the major issues surrounding health care reform.
I fault Gibson and Sawyer only for not calling President Barack Obama out and confronting his non-answers to many of the questions. Perhaps they were letting the television audience make up its own mind about the president's forthrightness.
Dr. Orin Devinsky asked, if Obama's wife or daughter could benefit from a treatment option that was not covered by the national health plan, would one "follow the greater good and sacrifice your loved ones for the good of insuring millions or would you do everything possible you could do for your family member?" Obama responded by discussing his grandmother's terminal cancer and whether her broken hip should be treated with hip replacement. He did not address the question.
Dr. John Corboy's question was also ignored when he asked, "If we could convince the American public that there are limits to what we can pay for with our health care system, who then will design and enforce the rules for the system?"
The bottom line for me is that I came away terrified that we are about to walk off a health care reform cliff. It appears the administration has not thought through many health system design questions and is totally motivated in changing the system to save it financially with disregard for the impact the changes will have on all consumers of the reformed medical services.
Michael B. Thompson.
Glen Allen.
Reader Reactions
“CONFUSED!!!! So am I.“...
Poor little fella. So..con-fused.
Poor little fella does not study and research. It was Dick Cheney who got his buddy, CIA Director George Tenet, to say it was a “slam dunk” Iraq had WMD’s. They lied. They being small # of CIA people dangling under Cheney’s puppet strings.
Fact is (and surely poor little fella believes such), there are thousands of dedicated CIA agents (such as former covert CIA outed agent Valerie Plame) who are loyal Americans, including analysts who toil to research and provide us the the last edition (truly, the last) of the CIA’s World Fact Book.
I’ll try to be calm and kind about how some nitwit feels about the many thousands of low-level CIA personnel who dedicate their lives toward protecting our country; so, here goes my opinion about the fella’s broad brushing of all CIA personnel, including the son of a cousin of mind…SHAME ON YOU!
I have to ask and maybe I will get a straight answer so here goes. Is this the same CIA that said there wer WMD in Iraq? Is this the same CIA that everybody is racking over the coals for giving the government false information? If so now you want us to trust their facts on health care issues. Give me a break. the truth (dubious) has ranted about how they have been wrong in other blogs that he has posted about now he wants us to believe them. CONFUSED!!!! So am I.
“Other countries? Germany’s was 10.6% in 1998. Ten years later in 2008 was 10.7%. Oops! Increased 0.1% in ten years. In 1998 France’s was 9.6%; France’s was 9.5% in 2008. Oh my! They lowered theirs 0.1% in ten years. In 1998 Canada’s was 9.5% and 9.7% in 2008. Stats of ALL major nations, except ours, is within one point in 2008 vs. 1998. See, those countries started their improvements decades, while we have yet to start, and we even some citizens who deny we have a crisis. FAR OUT.“
Now for the rest of the story, each one of those countries has costs controlled totally by the government. You go to government doctors at goverment clinics then wait months to years to get admitted to a hospital for treatment. All of these governments are now worried about the same out of control health care costs that we are but in the US the people pay for open access to health care. CNN just did an article the other day on Canada where the representative of the canadian health care system admitted their system is not as good as the US and they were trying to figure out how to maintain cost over the next 10 years. Aslo admitted was the rationing of health care within the country. This is what the truth (dubious) would force on all of us in his dead fast following of the OBAMA, REID, DODD, CLINTON and now Franken form of health care.
Who gave us HMO’s that were supposed to be the ultimate answer to health care costs. Hilary Rodham Clinton after her closed door meetings, that to this day we don’t know who attended. Remember that form of government mandated health care. Look where we are today. That is what gave control of the Health care industy to the insurance companies. Now they want to add federal government controll of the entire industry. thetruth(dubious) that is blatant socialism any way you put it. By the way I have no time to listen to Rush either so I guess you are one of the few along with the liberal news media that have time to listen to him as you seem to know wht he is saying.
Where are your answer to simple questions? Seems you still don’t have simple answers. Keep ranting as someone might learn nothing as usual.
“So before we “damn” the private sector for making our health care cost so high and decide that ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN SAVE US. The Federal government allows lawyers to pillage the health care industry, the government requires insurers to sell “one size fits all” bloated plans, and the government requires that all health care facilities have these ridiculous data processing procedures that even the CIA couldn’t follow.”….
The government allows lawyers to pillage the health care industry? But is not that our “free enterprise” system at work? Many “me-only, no change” people don’t want government involvement in our Greatest Show on Earth health care system. Someone now asks for partial government involvement? How much should be that partial involvement? Should it be part of our new reform bill? If so, what answer did you receive back from Webb & Warner when you proposed such?
The government requires insurers to sell “one size fits all” bloated plans? What one size fits all? To whom? As to plans for federal employees, note varied plan options on the 2009 U.S. Office of Personnel Mgt premium rate tables and note Virginian Fed workers have 22 plans among Aetna, Blue Cross, Kaiser, and Optima, just for non-postal workers.
The government requires all health care facilities to have ridiculous data processing procedures? Have not researched that point yet, but would like to. As I’ve directed some folk to sources for learning, perhaps someone can direct me to a reliable source for this topic? After all, I am open-minded to learning. “All health care facilities”? That be all hospitals, clinics, physician offices, and such? I’ve read our President has asked Congress to include expansion of data processing within reform. Please share more info about “ridiculous data processing procedures. Who knows, even some other folk will study sources.
Some folk puff-puff, but too lazy to consult the Central Intelligence Agency’s 2008 World Fact Book, too lazy to study findings from the Congressional Budget Office, to lazy to study research form the World Health Organization, too lazy to study stats compiled by the National Council on Health Care, too lazy to study research by the American Medical Assoc. (such as their 2008 National Health Insurer Report Card with interesting comment “Billions of dollars in administrative waste would be eliminated each year if third party-payers (insurers) sent a timely, accurate and specific response to each physician claim.” and AMA’s settlements of hundreds of millions of $’s with all major insurers for screwing patients and physicians out of billions of $’s in claims)….Plum too lazy to study; so, they claim all facts not to their liking, just must be lies. CIA, WHO, NCHC, AMA, all liars?
Stupid is as stupid does. Minds already made up, sewed up, closed up. Slice it, dice it, lie it. When some who know not of what they speak, just plum look foolish when they don’t shut up. But shut up they won’t; so, tis what it tis. There is always their choir to whom they can ramble nothings.
It is important to give “TheTruth” some credit(not much, but some)
Many of our health-care dollars are NOT being spent on health-care.
Lawyers consume a large portion of the health-care dollar through hidden fees. The insurance for an OBGYN is astronomical, even a pharmacy insurance premiums are somewhat off the chart.
When someone wins a $100 million judgement against a doctor for malpractice, or spend $2 million to defend themselves, that is reflected in medical bills. When a pharmacy has to pay $150,000 to settle a lawsuit because someone died abusing prescribed medication and the pharmacist wasn’t “clear enough” in the eyes of a jury, that adds to your bill.
When I’m making a “killing” every year charging medical professionals for data services they wouldn’t need if the government didn’t mandate them(and all unnecessary in my opinion), your medical bills wouldn’t be so high.
So before we “damn” the private sector for making our health care cost so high and decide that ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN SAVE US. The Federal government allows lawyers to pillage the health care industry, the government requires insurers to sell “one size fits all” bloated plans, and the government requires that all health care facilities have these ridiculous data processing procedures that even the CIA couldn’t follow.
Thetruth (or more accurately the lack thereof): You still will not examine your own lies instead trying to frame the debate using cooked books. But you are not openminded. You have your own mind made up, and the real truth will not sway you. I gave you an opportunity - you decided not to explore the avenue. That is your own shortcoming.
Fact: The books “facts” are not comparable until you dig under the glossed over numbers (like requiring full term babies to be counted in infant mortality, etc.). Instead you maintain your own myopia with lies, d.a.m.n lies and just plain lies (that you want to pass off as statistics).
I guess you still believe that the sun chases the moon around the earth. After all, they said so, right?
The difference between ignorance and stupidity is that ignorance is curable. Stupidity is terminal.
Dear Open Minded Folks - Don’t get your information from people calling other people closed minded. Since they have their mind made up already - they’re closed minded too.
To open-minded folk: Guess if one guy just plum want believe info from our CIA’s 2008 Fact Book, guess he won’t believe….
“casual glance at the costs are going up as well. And it is not by small potatoes.”
“Casual” glance? USA skyrocketing health care cost crises is too painful to take casually. As part of our GDP, in 1960 our health care costs = 5% of GDP. That’s about the time all other major countries started improving their systems.
By 1998 our costs devoured 13.6%, in 2008 ate up 17%, in 2009 tracking to spread its financial cancer over 18%, tracking toward 20% by 2017, and the disease will spread until we financially die as a nation. (not small potatoes)
Other countries? Germany’s was 10.6% in 1998. Ten years later in 2008 was 10.7%. Oops! Increased 0.1% in ten years. In 1998 France’s was 9.6%; France’s was 9.5% in 2008. Oh my! They lowered theirs 0.1% in ten years. In 1998 Canada’s was 9.5% and 9.7% in 2008. Stats of ALL major nations, except ours, is within one point in 2008 vs. 1998. See, those countries started their improvements decades, while we have yet to start, and we even some citizens who deny we have a crisis. FAR OUT.
What the heck. When someone has no ammo (facts), they can always just fart in the wind and hope some will notice. Can’t reason with people who won’t do their research; but that’s why my postings are only for open minded folk.
“Example of always right, never wrong arrogance. “Bleating the stupid mantra like masters have told you”? That old boy is speaking to his bathroom mirror.“
It is only arrogance when it is not supported - as your “facts” are not. You cant even quote the reports or agencies behind your talking points, but then they dont march you off with those figures (since as I mentioned and you did not address) even a cursory glance behind the numbers shows you to be incorrect and ignorant of what you are saying.
As for Rush, I wish I could listen to him. I do enjoy intelligent demagoguery over talking points. But alas, I have work to do and he is not on when I am not working.
Now go to Langley and tell the CIA you want access to their files. Tell us when you get it - if we are still alive.
You can get away with your 30 second sound bytes when talking to your glassy eyed friends. But it dont cut it when Google (or Bing) is available to even the worst internet users.
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