Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, July 16, 2017

Would Charlie Gard do better under private insurance?

My heart goes out to the parents. But there's an absurd theme being promoted regarding Charlie Gard, the British child whom doctors and the hospital want to remove from life-support because there's no hope of improvement (and presumably because it's extremely expensive). See for example the column by John Kass (July 13).

Though he must know better, Mr. Kass would have us believe that cost-saving measures — possibly contrary to parents' wishes — could only happen in a single-payer (i.e., government-run) system.

Is Mr. Kass unaware of the widespread practice (pre-"Obamacare") of insurance companies refusing to accept subscribers with pre-existing conditions? How would not having insurance at all compare to having reasonable limits on care?
In this case, the judgment to terminate care is not being made primarily on cost grounds but rather because further care would do no good and is not in the child's best interest.

Is Mr. Kass unaware of the widespread practice (pre-"Obamacare") of insurance companies imposing lifetime maximums? How would hitting a lifetime maximum compare to having unlimited care, subject to its actually providing some benefit?

— Rick Wicks
Anchorage

Consider the consequences

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Multiple news reports, commentaries and letters to the editor have clarified that the Senate health care bill (BRCA) would be a disaster for Alaskans, driving up premiums and deductibles for most Alaskans and taking health care away from tens of thousands of Alaska residents. Unfortunately, our two senators have painted themselves into a corner by joining the "repeal 'Obamacare' " bandwagon without thinking of its consequences.

Those consequences are now visible, front and center. Their vote on this bill therefore becomes a good test of character for Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan, whether they can stand on principle and do what is best for the state and country, or whether they will allow themselves to be seduced into voting for a harmful bill.

— Randall Plant, MD
Anchorage

To-ma-to, to-mat-o …

To All It May Concern: The cradle of civilization is where humankind is recognized to have taken form. See Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 5. You say to-ma-to, I say to-mat-o.

The point of the article I referenced was, if not for black/brown people (to be argued at a later date) there would be no white people, only "Neanderthals." So instead of hate being directed at people of color by our white brothers and sisters, it certainly appears to me, it should be love and respect.

By the way, I believe in "God"; it's just that I'm not going to allow the Bible to take precedence over common sense.

— Phillip Labay Mikes
Anchorage

The 'no collusion' lie is over

On the TV show "To Catch A Predator," the investigative journalist Chris Hansen lures pedophiles into his trap with online enticements of illicit access to children. The pedophiles need only show up at the designated location to be fully guilty of solicitation, of trying to commit the sex crime, and accordingly earn a long trip to jail.

And so it is with Donald Trump Jr., despite all the incredulous defenses by the White House staffers, sycophants and Fox News. They profess that attempting to flip an election by soliciting enemies of our country is just normal stuff, all in a day's work on the superheated campaign trial, which makes exactly as much sense as the pedophile saying he just showed up at the home of the 13-year-old for a harmless chat and that he did not actually "do" anything.

I have to agree with Charles Krauthammer: The lie that is "there was no collusion" is over. All that remains to be revealed in this rancid tale is how many more were involved, beyond the president's son, son-in-law and his campaign manager. And a memo to our U.S. senators and our glorious Don Young: Now is the time to call a spade a spade. It really is OK to speak and act for us when you finally have irrefutable proof. You now have it. We put you there to act. There is no longer anywhere to hide. History is being written.

— Bob Lacher
Wasilla

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.

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