Who is behind

Issue 2?

I think it is time to examine who is behind the campaign to get everyone to vote for Issue 2. We can start with the American Farm Bureau Federation which is asking everyone to vote “yes” on Issue 2. Who is the Farm Bureau? Rep. Joseph Resnick (D-NY) in a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives charged that the Farm Bureau had done more to prevent the economic and social advancement of rural citizens than any other organization in America. Resnick also declared “What once might have been a conservative, business-oriented organization is now considerably more. By my calculation, the Farm Bureau is the most efficient conduit now in existence for the dissemination of right-wing propaganda. The Bureau is a perfect sewer line for transporting right-wing ideology, particularly to our young.

Also the people who want us to vote yes, complain that there are those who are out-of-state that are fighting Issue 2. That might be, but how many members of the Farm Bureau actually work on the farm. A good portion of the members of the Farm Bureau are members only so they can purchase health insurance from Nationwide Insurance Company.

They probably know very little about farming or even care.

Now for the Chambers of Commerce. A friend of mine one time told me that when it came to the right way to vote on issues, that he always checked to see how the Chamber of Commerce advised the people to vote on a certain issue and then he said he figured it was to his betterment to vote the opposite way. Now I have always considered that good advice.

If the small farmer, the consumer or the ordinary working man ever benefits from any decision made by the Farm Bureau or the Chamber of Commerce it would be just a happenstance, because it is a foregone conclusion that the corporations and agribusiness people will come out on top smelling like a rose.

If the small farmer, consumer and ordinary working man and woman just sit back a little and look at who is pushing Issue No.2, they will vote “no” on Issue No.2 this coming Nov. 3; the same as I am going to do.

Roger S. Wilson

Director of Alternative Communications

Celina

Piatt’s column was refreshing

Thanks to the Daily Times and staff writer G. Sam Piatt for the Oct. 24 commentary “Give Peace Prize to Someone Who Deserves It.”

It was refreshing to read a truthful and factual series of events that did not have the imprint of politicians or spin merchants.

Since the arrival of a new White House resident whom I affectionately refer to as “Wonder Boy,” public presentations without “hype” and “spin” have become obscure.

The Nobel Peace Prize in many instances, including the latest, has lost world respect and has been replaced with ridicule and political finger pointing. Under present circumstances the prize award was demeaning to the people of the United States.

Its acceptance was worse.

Lowell C. Newberry

Wheelersburg

Thanks to SOMC

I would like to thank Southern Ohio Medical Center, Shawnee State University School of Nursing and Life Ambulance for coming to my office and participating in our Community Appreciation Day. The event was a health screening day for our community.

I want to extend a special thank you to Dr. Henry Childers, Dr. Mattie Burton and Jill Preston as well as all the nurses and assistants who provided services at the event. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Bruce Parsley of McDonalds, Susan Walls of Auto Zone for allowing us to park the Mobile Health Unit, Rhonda Sturgill of Pepsi for providing beverages as well as Bob Bagshaw and Jim Collins for allowing us to use their lot for Life Ambulance to provide the food.

It was a great day for our community as well as for all who attended the health screenings.

Dr. Marty Staker

Clinical Director

Wheelersburg Chiropractic Clinic

Wheelersburg

Garbage problem needs attention

Why can’t our city have property owners take responsibility for their houses. Specifically the 2300 block of Grant Street and 1400 block of Center Street — front porches that look like swap meets, yards loaded with junk and trash and alleys that have had the exact same trash laying in them for years now.

I would invite someone to come and take pictures of these unsightly things; then, come back in six months and witness it still there. It is an insult to pay property tax in this neighborhood the way its kept. These people don’t know what a rake and broom are for. Their leaves and trash are left for their neighbor to enjoy in their yard. Apparently there is no noise ordinances in this neighborhood either. Stereos are cranked up until the wee hours. Dogs bark incessantly day and night.

Some may say just move, but I say these basic city ordinances need to be enforced. City government and city police department don’t seem to give a hoot.

Hopefully this newspaper does?

Jack B. Jones

Portsmouth

Auditor’s response: It was my responsibility to inform

I was disappointed to read suggestions that my Aug. 19 declaration of a fiscal emergency in Scioto County was based on motives other than my strict legal obligations as Auditor of State. Your readers should know that a declaration of fiscal emergency is not a matter of choice for my office. It is a responsibility required by Ohio law whenever a local government’s financial situation crosses certain thresholds.

Unfortunately, Scioto County’s finances fell under those requirements when our August fiscal analysis showed a combined county fund deficit of $3,528,482. As Auditor of State, I was legally required to declare a fiscal emergency. It is also unfortunate that Scioto became the first Ohio county to require a declaration of fiscal emergency, a historical fact that in itself attracted outside media attention.

A number of complex issues, made worse by the struggling statewide economy, contributed to this situation. In the Auditor of State’s office, it is not our intent to assign blame for these problems, but instead to help solve them. Working, as we are, with Scioto County officials and other concerned citizens, I am confident we can and will find solutions that resolve the deficit and return county finances to a more favorable status.

Mary Taylor, CPA

Auditor of State

Columbus

Are we sure this is what we want?

Are you sure you want a government-run health insurance plan?

As a small business owner and an independent insurance agent, I know all too well about the inequalities of the current health care system. Far too many Americans can’t afford quality health care and the cost of health care is on an unsustainable upward path.

There is no question that Congress must act in a bipartisan manner to implement real and substantive reform of the private market to address the serious problems with our health care system. However, Congress is currently going about this the wrong way. Some in Washington believe we can fix the system by implementing a government-run health insurance plan to compete against private carriers in the health insurance marketplace. Supporters contend that it will help make the private market more competitive and level the playing field. That sounds pretty good, right? Except, one only needs to take a look at how our current government-run health insurance plans are operated to realize that the federal government sets its own rules and there is nothing fair or level about them

As it currently stands under Medicare, the federal government sets artificially low reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals. To quantify, a 2006 Milliman study found that Medicare ultimately shifts an average of $88.8 billion to the private market each year. So does the proposal on the table saddle the private market with billions of dollars in additional costs but the quality of care is better? No. In fact, Medicare patients have a difficult time finding primary physicians as well as specialists who are willing to treat them. A June 2008 report by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission found that 29 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had problems trying to find a primary care physician to treat them.

Medicare beneficiaries have even more trouble trying to find specialists. For example, the New York Times reported on April 6 of this year that of the 93 internists affiliated with New York Presbyterian Hospital, only 37 accept Medicare patients. At the very least, the federal government must run a more efficient and cost-effective health insurance plan, right? No. In fact, Medicare loses $60 billion each year due to fraud alone. According to the Medicare trustees, the Medicare Trust Fund will be exhausted by 2017. In other words, Medicare will effectively be bankrupt in a few years. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that individual and corporate income tax rates would have to rise by about 90 percent to finance the projected increase in spending through 2050.

A government-run health insurance plan would shift billions of dollars in costs to the private market, limit consumer choice, lower the quality of care and increase the taxpayer burden. Does that sound like an insurance plan you would like to have?

The United States has bar none the best doctors and medical facilities in the world. When folks from around the world are stricken with a serious illness or disease, they know they can come to the United States for the best and brightest in medicine. If a government-run insurance plan is implemented, Americans will eventually be left wondering where they can go for the best care.

Franklin Toland,

Toland Insurance Agency

Portsmouth