This is Viewpoints for Monday, Feb. 15, 2016
What's the solution
The expansive plea in The Telegraph by professor Jarome Gautreaux, Mercer law school, for "Justice" for emergency room victims caused by the 10-year-old Tort Reform Act offers no legislative plan to solve the problem he describes. The original act obviously passed the Legislature, as usual, among a room "full of lawyers" while containing the cited egregious "gross negligence" standard. Were these legal minds, elected by those depending on them "asleep" when the insurance company's spinmeisters and corporate special interests were spinning their web of deceit or thinking about riding atop 18 wheelers, or in the shower when the phone of justice called? Why has it taken 10 years to get to this point?
How many cases where there was an ER charged with "failure to exercise even a slight degree of care," and were they referred to the appropriate state regulatory board for investigation and action? What were the results?
Is there a desire to achieve corrective action in all ERs or justice by means of successful litigation? Tell us the stories of the lawyer(s) who were so incensed by the referenced case(s) of substandard care to a human being willing to pursue justice during the years without the possibility of a big payday and the results so it is better understood.
The article highlights inadequate facts that would help his case before the court of public opinion, which I assume was the reason for the article," but offers inadequate specificity and no suggested action or time line, legal or state regulatory board to address the health issues.
— Arthur D. Brook.
Macon
Disparity
While our president has expended an enormous amount of oversight toward social unrest (attorney general), America is witnessing the most flagrant abuse of the working class since the Great Depression. With food and health care costs soaring, nothing is being done to intervene. As the true unemployment ratchets upward, in the upper management of those companies earning $1 million to $100 million persists. All of a sudden a mere existence trumps the cost of food and health care.
At the Super Bowl a beer cost $13, while a Tylenol cost $8 in a hospital. You could do without the beer, but not without medicine. Hospitals know they are a necessity, but like all other costs there should be oversight. Veterans are facing death due to a medicine that costs $1,000.
All of this is certain to culminate in utter chaos. America is no longer No. 1, and China, Russia, North Korea, Japan and other nations will not help us if this great nation fails. America can either cut hundreds of billions in federal payrolls, troop deployments, welfare, foreign aid and politics as usual, or there will be dire consequences.
I love my America, but do we need mail delivery six days a week? No. Two days would do.
— Joe Hubbard
Macon
Cox cable bill
Right on Mike Wilson. You are absolutely right. Cox cable, DirecTV, Dish Network, they are all like a runaway train and nobody is stopping them. It's like sticking a gun to your head and saying, "Give me your money." Where are the regulations?
— George Scoville
Macon
Doonesbury footprint
We really like that you use folded instead of tear-off ads on your section fronts on Sunday. The tear-off type was very annoying. Thanks. Now another favor, especially for us older readers: Can't you find space to print the Doonesbury cartoons on the Opinion page somewhat larger? We can't read them even with a regular magnifier. Please be considerate of your loyal subscribers.
— Bill and Becky Yeatman
Warner Robins
The 'Right' lies
It began as incrementalism. To slowly vote Republicans into Congress until, gradually, they won the majority. The Republican leadership lied as they were only employing the tried and true "carrot on the stick" game. And this lie worked and, one day, Republicans woke up to find they controlled the House and Senate. Republican leaders now had a new problem. Because they had no intention of putting forth a conservative agenda, what were they to do? Well, they decided to push back against the Democrats until they almost won, then fold like a cheap suit and get blamed for gridlock. This angered their base further.
Today, the GOP says the party must reach out to groups it has never tried to influence in order to win the presidency. And that is exactly what Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have succeeded in doing. In both Iowa and New Hampshire, these two candidate's support came from all demographics, including the groups the GOP claims to desire.
So, why are they received by the leadership with disdain and anger for achieving this goal? Why is the Republican Party deliberately placing obstacles in their way and purposely laying the groundwork for a brokered convention that will only hurt their chances in November?
Many in the base believe the GOP is lying — again. Many are suspicious of the statements coming from leadership. They are disingenuous. And in truth, many in the base are only in the Republican Party because they have no other choice. The leadership has lied itself into a position where they will have all the blame if the White House is not won this year.
— Bob Norcott
Byron
This story was originally published February 14, 2016 at 9:33 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, Feb. 15, 2016 ."