Switchover to digital TV just eliminated viewing options

With fanfare and repeated media instructions, we were told what we needed to do to have a seamless conversion from an analog to digital TV signal. We purchased the required set-top box and installed it according to instructions. Before the changeover we received channels 2,4,5,7,11,13. The change took place and removed half of the channels we are able to receive. We no longer receive channels 2,4,11. Channels 5,7,13 are great.

We called the TV stations expressing our concerns and were given various explanations such as, "We are working on the problem," or an equivalent, such as that there may be a hill in the way. We do have hills in Alaska.

Several months have passed since calls were made to the missing stations and nothing has changed. I fear that we may have fallen into the attritional abyss. So much for analog to digital TV.

I think the advertisers will be happy to know that there are a number of us who do not receive their message.

-- Ron Castor

Wasilla

Americans taken for a ride over reforming health care

A couple of issues around health care that need addressing:

First: What are we trying to accomplish? The original proposal was for excellent care for everyone; streamline the system and save money at the same time. Since the cost of that proposal became known, we have gone through several iterations. Now the current plan is to blame the insurance companies for everything. If we keep changing the target, we will never get there. What are we trying to accomplish?

Second: The administration tried to ram the bill through Congress before anyone knew what was in it. When the American people realized that practically no one in Congress or the administration even knew what was in the bill, we realized that we were being taken for a ride. No wonder that people have lost faith in our elected officials and "are mad as hell and won't take it any more."

-- Stephen W. Jones

Anchorage

'Sad' has different meanings

Julia O'Malley's reminiscence in Sunday's ADN about her wayward pooch Stella was warm and compassionate and sad. ("No matter how we try, love isn't always enough," Aug. 16) Dan Fagan's commentary ("Gay laws just widen community divide," Aug. 16) about those wayward gays was not-so-warm, not-so-compassionate, yet also sad. With "sad" having a whole different connotation.

-- Steve Williams

Anchorage

Some comparisons can make health care options clearer

The health care public options might be more easily understood if we compare them to existing systems.

Veterans hospitals and the Alaska Native Health Center are similar to the British system and could save the most money with government doctors and hospitals.

Medicare and Medicaid are similar to the Canadian and French systems with government payment to private hospitals and doctors.

The most expensive is the Massachusetts system, similar to Switzerland, with private health insurance for all.

No health care system is perfect, but the citizens of countries with universal health care overwhelmingly prefer their systems to ours and live longer, healthier lives.

If the only fear is government involvement, consider the mailing of a postcard. Are you going to use UPS, FedEx or the U.S. Postal Service? Each of them will deliver your card, but our own postal service gives you the best deal financially because it doesn't pay huge salaries/bonuses to CEOs, no dividends to shareholders and for fewer lobbyists and advertisements.

-- Dan Heynan

Palmer

Easy choice in U.K.

Last year, I fell off a bike and broke my arm. The fall was one in a million -- my forearm became a battering ram, crushing my elbow joint. I couldn't repeat it if I tried.

I was also an uninsured student, suddenly facing the prospect of losing the use of my arm or undergoing a costly surgery followed by costly physical therapy.

Fortunately, I was in the U.K. at the time, so the choice was easy. I was immediately seen by nurses, a doctor and a specialist surgeon. My surgery was scheduled within days. By the next week, I was already healing -- with two titanium screws in my arm, physical therapy on the way, and not one mention of the bill.

Nationalized health care may not be the best choice for the U.S., but given the incredible standard of care in the U.K., it's hard to think that our own health system can't be improved.

-- Hilary Singer

Anchorage

Win-win for state, lucky players

Perhaps a solution to Alaska's economy is to have a city or state lottery. It would be worth a try.

-- Joan Tremont

Anchorage

Best to work to get health care

Regarding "Has Obama given up on health" (Aug. 18):

Mr. Treider apparently wants a public health care option which would ultimately be paid for from higher taxes on the so-called wealthy. In other words, redistribution of wealth from those that worked for it to those who haven't. Perhaps you should ask yourself who the parasites are? -- Matthew Michetti

Anchorage

Kelly didn't get his due

As a former colleague of Sen. Tim Kelly, I found this week's obituary ("Former legislator Tim Kelly dies," Aug. 18) lacking in at least two respects.

First, Tim was a fair and judicious chair of the committee which conducted the impeachment trial during the administration of Gov. Sheffield. In a divisive and emotional atmosphere, Tim calmed the waters without sacrificing his own principles.

Second, Tim was the earliest and most earnest Alaska legislator who sought to address AIDS as a public health issue, and alert public opinion to the need for action.

On a very personal level, I remember Tim as a gifted athlete and sports enthusiast. Perhaps it was his athletic background which helped him to exemplify good sportsmanship and respect for others in his work as a lawmaker.

-- Joe P. Josephson

Anchorage

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