AUGUST 6, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 9
L e a d e r F O R U M Letters t o t h e e d i t o r
Produce energy in U.S. Some of the comments of Mr. LaForge are puzzling to say the least. If my memory is correct—and it often isn’t— in the ‘70s we were able to provide over 90 percent of our energy needs through domestic sources. Yet for some reason, we stopped exploring for new supplies of oil, stopped building nuclear power plants, stopped building oil refineries, and started relying on Far East and Middle East countries that want to kill us all. Mr. LaForge’s “we shouldn’t use it if there is a risk involved” approach would probably have led his stone-age ancestors to lobby against the use of the wheel. We have lost people to coal mine explosions and cave-ins, natural gas explosions, and oil well fires for decades but have never lost one person in the U.S. to a problem at a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power is the safest source of power available. While the initial construction costs are immense, once online they produce power very efficiently and safely. The argument that drilling would not yield any oil for 20 years is only believable if we allow people to file lawsuit after lawsuit on behalf of the field mice and meadow moles that might be displaced by a nuclear power plant. What about the field mice and meadow moles displaced by ethanol plants? Were it not for these roadblocks, the technology is in place that would bring oil online in a matter of months. Even the liberal Democrats contend that it might take seven to 10 years—not the 20 years offered by Mr. LaForge. I have no objection at all to the expanded use of solar and wind power alternatives. That’s fine with me. But why is it that –right here in Polk County – the desire to build a cell phone tower brings out people arguing about the terrible price our mother the earth would pay if a single pole cell phone tower was constructed and— God Help us all— if it is within sight of a lake or river? Yet these same people find no problem with acre after acre and mile after mile of huge windmills cluttering up the view and interfering with bird migration and even killing birds that are to stupid to fly around them. Why is it that these
people will protest the construction of an oil refinery funded by private sector dollars, but have expressed no opposition at all to the construction of hundreds of ethanol plants that are subsidized by our tax dollars and take food off of our tables to create a poor quality fuel that requires nearly as much fossil fuels to produce as the process yields and creates a different set of environmental concerns? Mr. LaForge refers to the “climate crisis” as if it is somehow real. Where’s the scientific proof? A Michael Moore film or an Al Gore book? Spare us please. The U.S. does the best job of any country on Earth at attempting to protect the environment. Some scientist are of the opinion that –if global warming ever was a fact—that it ended in 2004 and we may now be entering a time of global cooling, similar to what we experienced in the ‘70s. The safest place to produce energy is here in the U.S. The liberal Democrats are preventing it for political reasons only. Throw them all out. Bob Blake Frederic
Listen to talk radio About noon, Friday, Aug. 1, the U.S. House of Representatives shut off the lights at the demand of house speaker, Nancy Pelosi. This, in turn, shut off the microphones and the press was ordered to leave. Pelosi was trying to stop a vote of our elected representatives on offshore drilling. She knew the public response had been positive from 75 to 80 percent to try to help oil production so as to get fuel and heating costs down. Her democratic, communist support-
ers, namely the Sierra Club and George Soros, are pulling the strings and paying to buy her, and other’s, support. If you wonder why your gas and fuel bills are high, you don’t have to look any further. On watching the news at 5:30 p.m. on Channel 4, there was no mention of this event. Switching to P.B.S. at 6 p.m., there was a vague mention that the house of representatives had shut down. Had I not been a listener to radio I would not have been aware of these occurrences. On Friday, Aug. 1, as I previously noted, our representatives were tying to bring an issue, including offshore drilling, to a vote, but Pelosi’s decision to shut off the lights and the microphones, knowing the vote would not go her way, was stopped. However, the representatives phones and pictures show what happened. Now the major media is under the gun for not showing this. Also, they have not reported the 500 tons of yellowcake uranium that was recently found buried in Iraq. It would have been an inconvenient truth to do so. I listen to talk radio so I am allowed to retrieve all of the worthwhile news the major TV stations are way to socialist to report. Bruce Muehlhauser Cushing
Roundabouts A great deal has been written recently about the construction of roundabouts throughout the state. Some letters to editors have complained that they’re confusing and expensive; others, that they’re easier to navigate and are safer. For the roundabout novice, they take
Letters to the editor
The Leader welcomes letters to the editor. Diverse and varied opinions are welcomed. Letters are subject to being edited for length, taste and/or clarity, and we urge writers to be brief and limit their letters to 500 words or less. Writers must provide their name and give their complete address and phone number. Content that will cause letters to be rejected include: Crude language, poor taste, disrespectful comments regarding a group’s or individual’s ethnicity, gender, religion, culture, sexual orientation or race; other incendiary language or personal attacks.
some getting used to. But over time, people generally come to understand how they function and embrace them. Some roundabouts can be more costly, some less costly than a standard signalized intersection. It’s really a case-bycase evaluation. But a signalized intersection requires ongoing operational and maintenance support – someone has to pay for the electricity to run the traffic signals and to replace the burned out lights and knock-downs from traffic crashes. Roundabouts, on the other hand, don’t require signalization, and have fewer operational costs, which saves money in the long run. No, not every intersection is suitable for a roundabout. But where they make sense, and the Federal Highway Administration requires that we consider roundabouts as an alternative for all proposed new intersections on federally funded highway projects, WisDOT will recommend their installation. It should be noted that a typical intersection has 32 points of conflict where collisions could occur. A roundabout has only eight. Slower speeds in roundabouts also give people more time to react to other vehicles within the roundabout and, when crashes occur, reduce their severity. Roundabouts have shown to reduce fatal crashes by 90 percent, injury crashes by 76 percent, and pedestrian crashes by 30 to 40 percent. Violent T-bone crashes are virtually eliminated. These staggering safety statistics are difficult to ignore. Things to keep in mind when encountering a roundabout: slow down, yield to pedestrians and traffic already in the roundabout, and then turn right onto your destination street, again, yielding to pedestrians when exiting. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has a helpful Web site (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/roaddesign/roundabout.h tm) that can answer many of your questions. I encourage you to visit it and learn about the advantages of modern roundabouts. Frank Busalacchi Secretary Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Gov. Doyle announces sixth-annual Up-North Tour to begin Aug. 10 Governor, first lady, lieutenant governor, cabinet secretaries to bring government to the Northwoods MADISON – Gov. Jim Doyle announced that the six-annual UpNorth Tour will begin on Sunday, Aug.
10, and run through Monday, Aug. 18. During the nine-day tour through the northwoods, Doyle, the first lady, Lt. Gov. Lawton, and members of the governor’s cabinet will promote Wisconsin tourism, outline state initiatives to grow the economy, and bring state government directly to the people. “I’m looking forward to spending more time in the communities of northern Wisconsin, and hearing from residents on their concerns, needs and pri-
orities for the state,” Doyle said. “This tour will be a great chance to promote our northern tourist attractions, discuss our efforts to bring jobs and opportunity up north, and highlight our efforts to invest in our children and families. Most importantly, it will allow us to bring government directly to the people of the northwoods.” During his tour, Doyle will meet with local officials, community and business leaders, tribal leaders, tourism
officials, public health officials and members of the public. Communities the governor and cabinet members will visit include: Ashland, Bayfield, Park Falls, Lac du Flambeau, Hurley, Minocqua, St. Germain, Rhinelander, Woodruff, Eagle River and Three Lakes. A complete schedule of events for Doyle and cabinet members will be released later this week. - submitted
Spooner Health System named 2008 Most Wired Hospital SPOONER — Spooner Health System has been named to the nation’s list of Most Wired Hospitals, according to the results of the 2008 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. The 100 Most Wired Hospitals show better outcomes in patient satisfaction, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of information technology, according to a new analysis. Marking its 10th year, the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study continues to lead the field in analyses and benchmarking of healthcare IT. Commenting on this award, Dr. Mark VanEtten, chief of staff at SHS said, “This exciting recognition reflects the
commitment SHS has to investing in technology that can assist us in providing high quality care to our patients and residents. It also reflects the hard work of not only those who have implemented the systems, but also those who have had to change the way things are done in order to adapt to and to take advantage of the opportunities our technologies provide. Information technology is constantly changing, and to remain a leader among rural hospitals, we will have to continue to change and adopt the technologies that come tomorrow. Yet, we have to be careful to remember that the technology is not an end in itself, but rather a means to help meet our goal of providing high quality health care to all those who choose Spooner Health System.”
The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the American Hospital Association, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, businesses processes and workforce issues. “Spooner Health System is honored to receive recognition as one of the 100 Most Wired Hospitals in the United States,” said Mike Schafer, chief executive officer of SHS. “It is a reflection of the commitment that we have taken towards assuring that our patients receive the high quality health care they expect. We have taken major steps uti-
lizing the most current technology to improve patient safety, to improve patient outcomes and to computerize our patient medical records. To be honored along with some of the largest and most well-known hospitals in the Upper Midwest and the nation, validates the systematic approach that Spooner Health System has taken towards being a leader in the area of health care technology. The board of directors, medical staff and management staff through a comprehensive strategic planning process identified the technological needs of the facility and invest the necessary funds. The commitment to continue to invest in improving patient safety and outcomes will continue,” said Schafer. — from Spooner Health System