Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Letters to the editor

Health reform

Collecting on medical bills costs

I find it interesting that with all the discussion around health care reform no one has come calling on the health care financial professionals who run our hospitals and physician offices. Thanks to President Reagan's Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, hospital emergency rooms must provide medical screening to all who show up regardless of there ability to pay. You don't have to be a CPA to understand who those uncompensated dollars get passed on to.

Plus now patients with insurance don't feel the need to pay their co-pays and deductibles. Never mind that the cost to collect using attorneys and collection agency gets rolled into the charges for everyone. I encourage everyone to review the Healthcare Financial Management Associations white paper on health care reform at www.hfma.org. There are solutions other then what's being proposed. In the mean time, please pay your bill. You might just lower the cost of health care.

Frank Grella

Myrtle Beach

Outrage

Pet owner's off the hook in deaths

The July 24 edition contained an article about Ellyn Jamie Johnson being arrested and charged with ill treatment of animals (misdemeanor) and torture (felony) in the deaths of her two Labrador retrievers, Canaan and Talmidge. Despite the horrific nature of these killings, the case has already been remanded to magistrate court and the felony charge has been dropped. Voters in Horry County who care about the welfare and humane treatment of animals should be outraged by the leniency of this action. This sends a message to Horry County that animal cruelty will be tolerated and go unpunished. Those who agree that this is a travesty of justice for two beautiful creatures whose only crime was trusting their owner and obeying her command to enter their crate, where she [was accused of leaving] them to die, should express outrage to Solicitor Greg Hembree, 1301 Second Ave., Conway, SC 29526 (915-5460).

Ashley Harelson

Myrtle Beach

Wall Street

Public wants to know about payback

Lately we've heard of Wall Street plans for big bonuses again, and it rightly upsets many of us, especially in these hard times, that some make so much money for contributing so little to our society other than helping out by spending. However, that's the way of the free market system if you're in the right place at the right time. The news media generally fails to tell at all, or barely, whether firms that owe our Treasury are among these big bonus payers and whether they have repaid our Treasury before bonuses. That's a question we should all ask. So often the news media forgets the meat of the matter but chooses the sensational.

Alan Burrell

Pawleys Island

Response

Pain in Afghanistan puts lie to letter

John McNerney ("The war is over; ignore the hawks," Oct. 19 letter) saying the Afghanistan war is over because there are only 100 al-Qaida and no Taliban in Afghanistan reminds me of a story about a prize fighter coming back to his corner all bloodied and with his eyes swollen shut and his manager telling him, "He didn't lay a glove on you." The fighter said, "Then you better watch the referee because somebody's beating the hell out of me."

Clyde J. Davis

Pawleys Island

Nobel column

Rivenbark's not at her best in politics

Re Celia Rivenbark column, "Obama's newest award surprising," Oct. 12:

I know you are entitled to your opinion and so am I, but, I was so disappointed in your comments about the Nobel Peace Prize.

I don't think Laura or George Bush had a bad thought about Barack Obama receiving this award. It was not decided in 12 minutes. This is a long process.

I really enjoy some of your columns in regard to your daughter and her activities and to your funny approach on life, but this column was an "ouch" in the political vein. I just did not expect that from you. Who knows? Guess everyone wants to get his or her hat in the political ring.

While growing up (I am a senior citizen) we were admonished to never discuss the following topics: religion, sex, politics.

Don't worry - perhaps there is a Nobel Peach award for such a genteel, Southern lady as you in the future.

Beverly A. McGovern

Longs

Dog fights

Boycott NFL over Vick's re-entry

It's hard to believe a person can commit the atrocities Michael Vick did and be allowed to continue his life and career with only a short interruption. This is a monster who our children are now watching and admiring playing professional ball again for the NFL. My hope is all decent people and, yes, even die-hard football fans will boycott the Philadelphia Eagles, especially the people of Pennsylvania. This can be the only justice the dogs Michael Vick brutally tortured and killed will have. Please be the voice for the voiceless and write to the local Philly paper and express your disappointment in the NFL. By E-mail views@phillynews.com or write to Philadelphia Inquirer, P.O. Box 8263, Philadelphia, PA 19101.

Dawn Risner

Myrtle Beach