LETTERS 05/07/08

Pamela Barone

Kansas City, Kan.

Kudos for Carter

Michelle Malkin’s commentary on Jimmy Carter (4/25, Opinion) has to be the most mean-spirited and narrow-minded column she has ever written.

Former President Carter and the Carter Center have done more to foster world peace and brotherhood than the saber-rattling far right ever dreamed of doing.

The policy of our State Department, confronting our adversaries with a peace sign in one hand and a saber in the other, is just not working. President Bush and Condoleezza Rice need to begin greeting the world with an open heart and mind and forgo their super egos and hidden agendas.

They need to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths and put politics aside if they are truly seeking peace.

Bill Mace

Overland Park

Costs of long-term care

Your article “Survey shows cost of nursing homes (4/30, Business) raises an issue our country must consider: How can we ensure that all individuals can receive the care they need at a price they can afford?

Millions struggle with the financial responsibility of caregiving for someone we love. Despite individuals’ efforts and substantial public expenditures, many are left with unmet needs and catastrophic costs. With the aging baby boomers, the demand on Medicaid will stretch beyond its ability to pay, leaving many without necessary care.

Our country needs a national insurance trust, whose premiums provide cash benefits to pay for long-term care. All adults who need assistance would receive cash benefits to pay for services such as hiring an aide or paying a family member who misses work to help. Benefits would be received regardless of ability to pay premiums. All adults with means would contribute premiums, pre-funding care for the baby boomers. We must make care affordable.

Denise Clemonds

CEO, Missouri Association

of Homes for the Aging

Jefferson City

Principled Phill Kline

Phill Kline is the most admirable kind of zealot — a zealot with principles.

Richard L. Kiper

Leavenworth

It seems a lot of folks really don’t like Phill Kline, in large part because of his ongoing battle with Dr. Robert Tiller of Wichita. They say Mr. Kline is zealous, powerful, egotistical and ruthless.

Personally, I’ve never met the man — don’t know him at all. Call me crazy but, of the two men, my likeability factor seems to favor the guy who isn’t actually killing babies.

Bob Jenkins

Kansas City, Kan.

Friendly congressman

It was really exciting to see my U.S. Congressman, Sam Graves, running up and down the Apple Blossom Parade route Saturday in downtown St. Joseph. Rep. Graves was all over the place, shaking hands and talking with people.

It’s nice to know that I have a congressman who is willing to personally interact with the people he represents.

Brandon Boswell

Chillicothe, Mo.

Medicare coverage

Medicare is supposed to be health insurance for the elderly. Then why isn’t it? My doctor informs me that Medicare will no longer pay for the weekly injections of Procrit I need to stay alive. Now I must have blood transfusions to do this. Blood transfusions are certainly no picnic and, I might add, they are risky.

My doctor charges $1,280 for one weekly injection of Procrit. Medicare pays my doctor only $290. I certainly can’t afford to pay for this, which amounts to about $66,000 a year.

When is our president or our next president going to fix this problem? Or is the plan to kill off the still very useful to society 70-year-olds?

 

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