Letters to the Editor
Nequals1
Published Letters: 295 Editor's Choice: 6
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Unqualified, and here's why
[Read the article: Sex ed, junk food and universal healthcare]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Holsinger has a consistent track record: of using bad science, bad administrative practices and unresponsiveness to patients.
That he didn't know the science behind abstinence-only education is astounding. The Commonwealth Fund has published the definitive results that demonstrate that it is absolutely worthless and shows worse outcomes than does no education at all!
The VA he headed had terrible patient outcomes and a high mortality rate. From accounts, he had a deaf ear and no truck with participative management, preferring to issue edicts from on high.
What hasn't been mentioned in the hearing is the abysmal pandemic flu preparation attempts to date by the HHS. The Surgeon General should be the public face of pandemic flu planning and preparation, and yet he didn't even bring that up.
What he did mention was simply playing a reactive response role to an emergency with a public health focus. Well, sorry, but the Surgeon General's role is that of a health educator and one who focuses on prevention.
I'm glad to see that both Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Waxman are introducing legislation to strengthen the position of the Surgeon General which will make it more independent of the political partisanship. That's just what the public deserves of its national doctor.
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Questions to Consider
[Read the article: My Southern grandmother is dying, and I don't want to go back]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There is no one right answer to this. But there are several factors to consider in making choices:
1) Love does not equal like. Love is in action. One is not dependent on the other. Does Prodigal Daughter have love for her grandmother?
2) The act of separating from abuse may be dramatic or subtle. it may be complete or incremental. Prodigal Daughter needs to determine where she is along this continuum. If the break is already complete, then for her health, she needs to determine whether re-entry into the family's relationships will cause harm, and what that risk is.
3) What does Prodigal Daughter want to achieve?
4) What does her grandmother want?
5) Are Prodigal Daughter and her grandmother's wants, needs and desires compatible?
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The New Patriots
[Read the article: Bush's worst day ever?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Joan, I can't help but think that the single bright light in the long, dark nightmare, is that of the presence of the blogosphere. You, Glenn, and all of the intelligent, insightful and articulate bloggers take heavily filtered, inaccurate and distorted information that comes from political and mainstream media sources and scour it for fallacies and inadequacies. That the blogosphere acts as a giant, amplified and limitless filtering and purifying organ is the single greatest weapon against misinformation and the public's inability to get accurate and complete information.
Not only is this the work of patriots, it is also keeping the Constitution in front of the electorate, so that they can no longer hide behind obfuscation and pandering.
With a corporatocracy, the sole means of regaining control of the government to do the will of the people is by free expression of speech and communication. The blogosphere is providing the broadsheets to the public with more horses available to get the message disseminated to all quarters.
It's up to the public to take the action required to restore the Constitution, to hold the electorate accountable and to rid us of the dictators who have usurped power and control over which they have been given no jurisdiction.
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Press Corps and Real Reporters
[Read the article: Fred Hiatt defends the administration's mild, restrained secrecy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Please provide more detailed understanding of the similarities and differences of the "rotted press corps" and "real reporters". Who makes up the membership in each group? Do they work for the same entities? Do they have different responsibilities? Are they made up of the same membership but act differently in different situations?
If the press corps was functioning, what would look different?
Finally - a reaction to Fred Hiatt's editorial today and your post: frightening, and a call to the Speaker: Start impeachment proceedings immediately. Your country demands it of you.
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Sink(hole) or Swim
[Read the article: The scourge of E. coli conservatism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Digby:
I'm delighted to find you in the War Room here at Salon!
The tax cut(to benefit the top earners)and neglect policy outcomes are now self-evident in gutted governmental agencies, total and catastrophic failures to assure safe roads, safe food, potable water, breathable air, and swim-able waters.
What hasn't quite made it to the average person's radar is that the country isn't at a start-over position, but rather, it is much further behind than the original starting point.
Our workers are overworked and underpaid. They have less access to affordable essential healthcare. They eat preservative, fructose and fat-laden finger foods on the run, while chained to desks or uncomfortable work positions for long stretches of time. They breathe in exhaust and particulates for hours every day while commuting to jobs at far distances from their homes.
The average citizen's bootstraps are cracked and worn and are in danger of breaking.
I believe that the sink(hole) or swim self-help against all odds policy references the surplus population of yore - the poorhouse and the prison populations are flourishing.
Mr. Scrooge and Mr. Marley were so progressive and ahead of their time!
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Easy Answer to Pentagon's Middle Finger
[Read the article: Shot across the bow]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Withdraw all war funding for Iraq.
There. That was direct and to the point.
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The cure
[Read the article: Bush's magical shield from criminal prosecution]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Impeachment is the cure.
Impeach Cheney and Bush immediately.
Withdraw all funding for the Iraq occupation.