LETTERS c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 5
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CN&R
november 22, 2017
was superior. Access, delivery, attitude, effectiveness and, most significantly, cost were all better for the consumer in Canada. And as a health care provider, with no concerns about payments, insurance or patient income, health care delivery was much simpler, friendlier and more focused on health care. Canadians love their guaranteed health care system. No politician, no matter his or her party or philosophy, would seriously consider attacking the core of their health care system. A recent Canadian poll asked, “Who was the most admired Canadian in history?” The winner was Tommy Douglas. Who was Tommy Douglas? Not a hockey player. He was the creator of the Canadian health care system. Doug Fogel Chico
Vehicular embarrassment Sitting at Second and Main, I see multitudes of pickup trucks going by in all their obese, over-engined, pointlessly four-wheel-drive, dual-cabbed, military-style glory. These vehicles are an embarrassment to the very idea of human intelligence. By the 1970s or ’80s we could, and should, have begun to make pickups as light, safe and fuel-efficient as passenger cars, while still being able to haul a thousand pounds when necessary. Instead, we made them bigger and heavier, with bigger engines and four wheel drive (which is purely a sales hook), and we mostly drive them as passenger vehicles! Ford brags that the F-series line is its most profitable, which means the company has manipulated our egos so as to separate us from our cash. We move tens of millions of people hundreds of millions of miles every day in this country. We run millions of tons of unused cargo capacity on American highways every day. AAA says that the average cost of a car is now $10,000 per year, which, multiplied by the 253 million registered vehicles, means more than $2 trillion per year. This is stupid; nothing to brag about. Surely we can use this astonishing wealth to better effect? Nelson Kaiser Chico
‘Maladroit behavior’
Innocent until ...
While Trump’s bombastic display of ineptitude continues, the Republican-controlled Senate continues its quiet assault on our judicial system. While the GOP has always sought the help of the courts to further its narrow and self-serving agenda, the sleaziness of its members’ contemptible behavior came to the forefront when the Republican Senate contemptuously disregarded the Constitution, as well as ethical behavior, and blocked President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee. When Trump took office there were 107 judicial court vacancies. These justices are lifetime appointments, and they will have extraordinary influence over our elections. They will oversee lawsuits on voter suppression, congressional district gerrymandering, and campaign finance laws. The Federalist Society, an ultra-conservative organization that seeks to overhaul the judicial system, was instrumental in President George W. Bush disregarding the rating process for judicial nominees. It holds great sway over whom Trump nominates. So far, in keeping with his bigoted and sexist behavior, his nominations are 91 percent white and 81 percent male. Hardly representative of our country’s population. One nominee is a 33-year-old lawyer who has never litigated a court case. This is but one example of maladroit behavior that could permanently damage the integrity of our voting system.
A founding principle of our democracy has always been “innocent until proven guilty”—until now. Today it’s: “guilty if I say so and keep repeating it.” Since when does the media get to find anyone guilty without an indictment or court trial? Hollywood’s reputation of the “casting couch way” of starlets finding fame has been around for years. Do I condone Harvey Weinstein’s actions? No way! But he should be allowed that same principle of innocent until proven guilty. Ditto for judge Roy Moore or all the odious men throughout our nation who have abused their power over women (or men.) This same media tactic was used against President Trump before and after the 2016 election. He’s still painted an abuser of women, when his only proven action was being taped talking about women throwing themselves at him, etc. The actions of accusers who wait for decades, then come forward to ruin careers and reputations, should be suspect.
Roger S. Beadle Chico
More on Trump Trump is at it again. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave a no-bid contract to a Russian company [called Elite Security Holdings]. The head of this company, Viktor Budanov, was the former head of the KGB. His employees and security officers are all ex-KGB officers. This no-bid contract is to guard the United States Embassy in Russia. So now we know what Trump and his bro-mate Putin talked about at the recent presidential trip overseas. Mona Uruburu Janesville
Loretta Ann Torres Chico
Editor’s note: President Trump was taped telling Access Hollywood host Billy Bush that his celebrity allowed him do whatever he wanted with women, including, as Trump put it, to “grab them by the pussy.”
Tax plan is harmful I am an advocate with the Alzheimer’s Association, and I am deeply concerned about the proposed elimination of the medical tax deduction within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, currently under consideration in the House of Representatives. As a retired pastor I saw firsthand the effects of Alzheimer’s on the entire family. It takes a tremendous toll in physical and emotional stress to the caregivers, but it also takes a toll on the family’s finances. Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in the nation, with health and long-term care costs far greater for people living with Alzheimer’s. Caregivers spend their life savings on long-term care, and rely on the medical tax deduction to offset these costs. More
than 630,000 Californians have Alzheimer’s disease, and it is the fifth leading cause of death in the state. As Congress moves forward with negotiations, I encourage community members to join me in asking Congressman Doug LaMalfa to consider the impact on those caring for the nearly 5,000 people in Butte County who may very well rely on the medical tax deduction. Richard Hoyt Jr. Chico
Speaking of Alzheimer’s November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. During November, the Alzheimer’s Association recognizes and honors the more than 15 million people in the U.S. who currently provide unpaid care to a person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, with approximately 12,000 of those family caregivers living in Butte County. Having been one of those 15 million people caring for my grandmother, I know how important it is to recognize this problem and push national and state legislation that would help ease the burden for families. One such bill is the federal Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), HR 1676. Palliative care is a medical specialty separate from hospice focused on managing symptoms and easing pain at any stage of a chronic disease like Alzheimer’s. It has been shown to improve quality of life for chronically ill patients, and lower health care costs by preventing hospitalizations. PCHETA would launch nationwide education and training programs to expand the palliative care workforce. I thank Congressman LaMalfa for cosponsoring PCHETA, and I also send a heartfelt thank you to all the caregivers who give their love, support and patience to those affected with Alzheimer’s. Angie Martin Chico
More letters online:
We’ve got too many letters for this space. please go to www.newsreview.com/chico for additional readers’ comments on past cn&r articles.