VIEWPOINTS
EDITORIALS
Are you worried about a possible worsening of the swine flu pandemic this fall and winter? Why or why not? “Honestly, I’m not worried about a possible worsening of the swine flu this fall and winter, because worrying won’t do a darn thing to avert the crisis, if indeed it does happen, though I hope it doesn’t. “I’m more worried about the damage being done to the structures of our country, like banking, the auto industry, and health care, by an ambitious narcissist who has no idea of the long-term negative effects that his unchecked meddling will produce.” Bill B. “No, I’m not worried about swine flu going pandemic. This issue is already being engineered as something that will happen. “Fear and anxiety is being generated by officials to promote experimental, toxic, filler-laden vaccinations as the weapon of choice. CDC labs can only test 100 flu samples/day and they don’t count any death unless its own lab confirms the infection. “Pandemics are a regular feature of life on earth, and they occur with surprising regularity throughout world history. “There are common-sense recommendations for avoiding and treating the flu. Do your research and stay calm.” K.D. “H1N1 (swine) flu should be a concern for all of us regardless of age or place in life. Last spring’s start-up was mild in comparison to what the experts are predicting for fall season. “I think we continue our personal missions to wash hands often and encourage those people experiencing symptoms to stay away from schools, churches and the workplace. It is all of our responsibilities to be vaccinated and stay informed. “We need to help each other during yet another tough time in our history.” E.E.C.
Next question What do you like and dislike about the health care proposals currently before Congress? Every week the Eastern Hills Journal asks readers a question they can reply to via e-mail. Send your answers to easternhills@community press.com with Chatroom in the subject line. “Various flu strains kill hundreds of thousands of people every year and will continue to do so regardless of media panic. “I’m not worried about the swine variety any more than the typical strains. We’ll take our usual precautions, like washing our hands and avoiding kissing pigs.” P.C.
July 15 question
Do you think the economic stimulus plan is working, or should the federal government implement another round of stimulus packages? “The stimulus is obviously not working. Obama said we had to do it right away so that the unemployment rate would not go above 8 percent. Yet we are currently at 9.5 percent and certainly willl head north of 10 percent very soon. “But that should not surprise anybody, since, as the Republicans correctly pointed out, very little of the spending was planned to occur right away. Incredibly, most of the almost $800 million was not even budgeted for this fiscal year! How could they possibly think that would jumpstart the economy in 2009? “The only thing this is ‘stimulating’ is tired old liberal programs that they have wanted to implement for years and Democrat donors and special interest groups who will be the recipients of most of this money. “The stimulus needs to be reworked immediately into tax cuts for individuals and small businesses, which create most of our jobs. That money will then get put into the economy and stop this current slide.” T.H.
OFFICIALS DIRECTORY Federal
U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt
2nd District includes nearly all the northeastern and eastern Cincinnati communities. Local: Kenwood office – 8044 Montgomery Road, Room 540, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236; phone 791-0381 or 800-784-6366; fax 7911696. Portsmouth office – 601 Chillicothe St., Portsmouth, Ohio 45662; phone 740-3541440. In Washington, D.C.: 238 Cannon Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; phone 202-2253164; fax 202-225-1992. E-mail: jean@jeanschmidt.com Web sites: www.house.gov/schmidt
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown
Cleveland – 216-522-7272. Cincinnati – 425 Walnut St., room 2310, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-3915; phone 6841021, fax 684-1029. Washington, D.C.: C5 Russell Bldg., Washington, D.C., 20510; phone 202-224-2315; fax 202-224-6519. Web site: www.brown.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. George Voinovich
In Cincinnati, write: 36 E. Seventh St., Room 2615, Cincinnati, OH 45202; call 513684-3265; fax 513-684-3269. In Washington, D.C., write: 524 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; call 202-224-3353
State
State Rep. Tyrone Yates
33rd District includes parts of Columbia Township, parts of Cincinnati, Deer Park, Sil-
verton and parts of Sycamore Township. Locally: 2200 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati 45206; phone 281-5474. In Columbus: House of Representatives, 77 S. High St., 11th floor, Columbus, Ohio, 43215-6111; phone 614-466-1308; fax 7193587. E-mail: district33@ohr.state.oh.us
State Rep. Peter Stautberg
34th District includes most of eastern Hamilton County. In Columbus: House of Representatives, 77 S. High St., 11th floor, Columbus, Ohio, 43215-6111; phone 614-644-6886; fax: 614719-3588. E-mail: district34@ohr.state.oh.us
State Rep. Ron Maag
35th District includes parts of Columbia Township, Indian Hill, Loveland, Madeira, Mariemont, parts of Sycamore Township and Symmes Township in Hamilton County and parts of Warren County. In Columbus: House of Representatives, 77 S. High St., 10th Floor, Columbus, Ohio, 43215-6111; phone 614-644-6023; fax 614719-3589. E-mail: district35@ohr.state.oh.us
State Sen. Robert Schuler
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LETTERS
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COLUMNS
Editor Eric Spangler | espangler@communitypress.com| 576-8251
CH@TROOM
July 22 question
7th District includes most of eastern Hamilton County and all of Warren County. Locally: 3648 Jeffrey Court, Cincinnati, 45236. Phone: 792-0702. In Columbus: Ohio Senate Building, Room No. 221, 2nd floor, Columbus, Ohio, 432154276. 614-466-9737. E-mail: sd07@mailr.sen.state.oh.us
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CH@TROOM
JOURNAL
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Takeover of health care is not reform The United States is home to the best doctors and hospitals in the world. We are blessed to be living in a country on the forefront of cutting-edge, life-saving technology and pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, the rapid advances in medical care and treatment that we have seen over the past few decades have come with a steep price tag. Ever-increasing costs of medical coverage have left many Americans without access to the life-saving treatment many of us take for granted. President Obama is correct when he says the costs associated with our current health care system are unsustainable. Too many Ohio families cannot afford health-care coverage and too many Ohio employers are struggling to provide coverage for their employees. As costs for coverage continue to climb, the quality of the coverage we have continues to decline. Having insurance that doesn’t pay much is little comfort to those who rely on coverage when it is needed. There is broad support in Congress for reforms that will increase competition, make coverage more affordable for families and individuals, ensure coverage for preexisting conditions and allow individuals to retain their health care when changing jobs. Unfortunately, the health care reform bill that Speaker Pelosi will bring to the House floor in the near future will actually increase the cost of health care coverage, mandates a government take over, force people out of their current coverage and lead to the loss of millions of jobs. Under the speaker’s plan, the federal government would establish minimum coverage requirements for acceptable health plans. Individuals will be required to be covered. If you choose not to obtain coverage or cannot afford
coverage, you will be penalized 2.5 percent of your Modified Adjusted Gross Income. Employers with a payroll exceeding Jean $250,000 will Schmidt be required to Community provide acceptcoverage to Press guest able all of their columnist employees. Those who choose not to provide coverage or cannot afford to do so, will be penalized 8 percent of their payroll costs. According to the non-partisan Lewin Group, these provisions will cause 114 million individuals to lose their current health coverage. The Congressional Budget Office has concluded all the changes to our health care system will cost almost $1.3 trillion – at a minimum. To pay these costs, the speaker proposes to impose a surcharge on individuals earning more than $280,000. Unfortunately, of taxpayers who file in the top income brackets, more than half are small businesses filing as individuals. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 68 percent of manufacturers file as individuals and they have an average payroll of $570,000. Using a formula developed by President Obama’s own economic advisers, these tax increases will lead to the loss of 4.7 million jobs. At a time when our economy is in the throes of a deep recession and Ohio’s unemployment rate has topped 11 percent, we should be working to increase employment and actually lower the costs of health care coverage. This plan does the opposite. In fact, in recent congressional testimony, the director of the Congres-
About letters and columns
We welcome your comments on editorials, columns, stories or other topics important to you in The Eastern Hills Journal. Include your name, address and phone number(s) so we may verify your letter. Letters of 200 or fewer words and columns of 500 or fewer words have the best chance of being published. Please include a photo with a column submission. All submissions may be edited for length, accuracy and clarity. Deadline: Noon Friday E-mail: easternhills@ communitypress.com. Fax: 248-1938. U.S. mail: See box below. Letters, columns and articles submitted to The Eastern Hills Journal may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms. sional Budget Office said this plan would actually increase the costs of health care as well as increase the federal budget deficit. We can and must do better. I stand ready to work with my Democratic colleagues to improve our health care system. Let’s start over and work in a bipartisan way to accomplish this important goal for the American people. But, let us first agree to some core principles. No one should be forced to accept worse coverage than they already have. No one should be forced to change doctors. Finally, we should all agree that the easiest way to help those who don’t have and desperately need coverage is to reduce the cost of everyone’s coverage. Send comments to Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, 418 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515.
Ozone: One gas, many layers Ozone is very much a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde case. It is simply a gas, with the same scientific make-up at all times. However, its location in the atmosphere causes it to take on very different properties. The results are either very helpful or very harmful to health and the environment. The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) wants the region’s two million citizens to know why ozone gas is a big concern. First, there is the Dr. Jekyll of ozone: stratospheric ozone. This could also be known as the “good” type of ozone. Found anywhere from six to 30 miles above the Earth’s surface, stratospheric ozone acts as a natural shield, protecting earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. This type of ozone is imperative for life on earth. Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, levels of the stratospheric ozone have been depleted and have caused a variety of problems including an increase in health concerns such as skin cancer, and environmental concerns such as crop depletion. With stratospheric ozone, preservation and protection are key, unlike its counterpart. Although the other type ozone has the exact same chemical
makeup, the Mr. Hyde of ozone has a different effect on the environment. This form of ozone is known as ground-level ozone. Emily As the name Feldman suggests, this it is found in the Community air closest to the Press guest Earth’s surface. columnist G r o u n d - l e v e l ozone is one of the main components in smog, a harmful kind of air pollution. Smog is created through chemical reactions when emissions, such as those from vehicles and industry, react with sunlight or heat, making this a major problem during the summer. Smog poses a serious risk to both humans and the environment. Research from the EPA has shown it can decrease the lungs’ working capacity, causing shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain and coughing. It can also cause eye and nose irritation and reduce the body’s ability to fight infection. Longterm exposure to smog can permanently scar lung tissue and lead to emphysema, bronchitis and asthma. Furthermore, ground-level ozone is harmful to the environment because it damages crops,
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Eastern Hills Press
July 29, 2009
Eastern Hills Journal Editor . . . . .Eric Spangler espangler@communitypress.com . . . . . .576-8251
trees and other vegetation. Because of their harmful effects, ground-level ozone and smog are monitored throughout the Greater Cincinnati region. When high levels of ozone are expected in the presence of sunlight or high temperatures, a smog alert is issued to warn individuals. During the warmer months, it is important to pay attention to local media outlets to find out when a smog alert is in effect. Those who have an increased interest can also call 1-800-621SMOG to sign up for smog alert notification when an alert is issued. There are things everyone can do to protect the region from pollution before a smog alert is issued. OKI outlines many simple changes that can help cut down on the harmful emissions that lead to ground-level ozone and smog. Some of these tips include carpooling, riding a bike or walking, refueling and using gasoline-powered lawn equipment after 8 p.m., maintaining vehicles, conserving electricity and spreading the word to others. More information and additional tips to reduce air pollution can be found by visiting www.DoYourShare.org or by calling 1-800621-SMOG (7664). Emily Feldman is a clean air assistant at the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.
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