Letters to the editor (8/1/09)

If the federal court was to decide that the halibut fishery resource should be divided equally between the two user groups, the commercial halibut fishing industry and the general public, then, when conservation measures are needed, each user group could contribute equally to the reduction of the allowable annual catch.

-- Bruce Warner

Homer

We already know government can't run health care system

Is the public nuts?

What evidence is there our government can run a health care system? (local examples) NONE

1. Military medicine: Few if any subspecialists, ever-changing M.D.s, Walter Reed hospital, horrific paperwork

2. VAH: Nine-to-five hours, limited subspecialists, horrific paperwork, limited pharmacy

3. PHS/ANMC: Best of the lot but same problems as above

4. Medicare? Who likes it? Patients? No: terrible access, complicated paperwork. Doctors/hospitals? No: poor reimbursement, complex paperwork. Society? No: cost overruns, poor structure, poor outcomes

All depend heavily on the private sector to help.

Ask most patients where they prefer to get their care; it isn't with these government programs.

To think the government can get it right is a clear example of hope triumphing over experience.

In short, there is no evidence that the U.S. can deliver any reasonable-quality, cost-efficient health care.

Despite the column by Ms. Patkotak ("Health care critics short on solutions," July 29), there have been plenty of alternative proposals. I sincerely doubt she's read the 1,000 pages of reform, which constantly changes.

-- Steven B. Tucker, M.D.

Anchorage

Let Palin fade from view

In that Sarah feels that she has been unfairly treated by the media and was compelled to chastise them while at the same time parading herself and family across the political stage, and now that she has abandoned the job that she was elected to do, perhaps the media should do her and us all a huge favor and no longer give her a platform. Don't mention her in any way, shape or form. She claims now to want the attention, so don't give her any ... period! Let her go off into oblivion, which is where her mind must be anyway.

-- James Tilton

Chugiak

Minority organ donors sought

Today is the 13th annual National Minority Donor Awareness Day to increase awareness of organ and tissue donation among minority communities. The event also recognizes minority donors and their families.

More than half of the national transplant waiting list is made up of multicultural populations. That's because some diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver that are best treated through transplantation are found more frequently in these populations. For example, African-Americans and other minorities are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease than Caucasians.

Although it is possible for a candidate to match a donor from another racial or ethnic group, transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background. Consequently, a lack of organs donated by multicultural populations can contribute to longer waiting periods for transplantation.

You have the power to donate life. Please register today at AlaskaDonorRegistry. org or at your local Alaska DMV office.

-- Michael W. French

public education coordinator

Life Alaska Donor Services

Anchorage