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I have listened and read thoroughly concerning all of the controversy concerning the healthcare reform bills passed under the leadership of President Barack Obama.
I frankly do not understand why the majority of Mississippians, working class Mississippians, Mississippians who have children in college and the majority of the citizens of our state do not support health care reform. Statistics show that we are one of the unhealthiest states in the country.
Many of our citizens are uninsured. The Healthcare Reform Act has many good benefits, such as the right to retain on your group insurance a minor child until the child is 26. Furthermore individuals in the past with pre-existing conditions frequently were at the mercy of insurance companies and could not get insurance or could not afford insurance. As a bankruptcy lawyer, I know many, many individuals are forced to file bankruptcy due to medical bills.
Frequently individuals fail to get routine medical care when they do not have insurance and end up going to the hospital emergency room when disaster strikes because they have failed to take care of their medical issues. At present, it is not unusual for an emergency room bill to be $5,000 to $15,000. It seems like the Mississippians who were polled to show that they do not support the Healthcare Act are in my opinion misinformed about the act or the act has been misrepresented to them.
Furthermore the argument has been that it is unfair to require everyone to carry health insurance. The reality is that everyone pays for those individuals that do not have health insurance because they end up in hospital emergency rooms and hospitals getting care and the cost of such care is passed on to other individuals who have insurance.
If you are opposed to it, I would ask that you reconsider your thoughts concerning this Healthcare Reform Act. Almost all civilized countries have such provisions. The Healthcare Act passed under the Obama administration is not socialized medicine. To quickly jump to repeal a law which has taken so long to finally get passed would be a terrible mistake.
Gene Barton, Chairman
Chickasaw Chickasaw County Democratic Executive Committee
Okolona
Editorial missed the mark on start-of-school dates
I wish to disagree with your editorial article on April 11 concerning the start date of public schools in Mississippi. I am currently a teacher with 29 years experience in the public school system. I have attended school, practiced with a school band, taught classes and coached cheerleaders in hot temperatures. However, it has only been these last few years when school began the first week of August that these have become almost unbearable. Until one has experienced basketball practice in an non-air-condtioned gym, football practice, band practice or softball practice when outside temperatures are 100-plus degrees, then one is not qualified to make judgments about when schools should begin.
In addition, many Northeast Mississippi campuses have buildings that date back to 1940 or earlier. A window unit in a classroom or auditorium will not sufficiently cool the area. Even in these air-conditioned rooms, trying to hold 25 to 33 students’ attention with perspiration rolling down the face because it is 85-90 degrees in the air-contioned room is almost impossible.
Also, why is it not the legislators’ job to say when school should begin? They make the laws that govern the operation of our schools and the number of days we must attend school. They control the schools’ budgets which have to provide money to pay utility bills, etc. Why not mandate when school should begin? Even if we have to go into June to get the 180 days in, the first of June is cooler than the first of August.
Tourism may be one of the considerations for a later start date. However, the “educational rationale” we should be concerned about is the students who have to participate, study, listen, comprehend and think in sweltering temperatures whether in a classroom, a gym or on a practice field. These are students of all ages, not adults, who we expect to perform to the best of their abilities not only in sports but also in a classroom. Why not make the best possible conditions available to these students? That is what should be sufficient.
Patsy Braddock
Falkner
Sinus procedure proved ‘life-changing’ event
This letter is positively meant to inform people in this area of a health procedure available at Tupelo Ear Nose and Throat Physicians of North Mississippi that has changed my life. For the first time in at least 50 years I am able to breathe freely and sleep without snoring. This procedure uses a balloon, operated by the doctor, in my case, Dr. Robert Yarber, who inflates and widens the nasal sinus passages, allowing better sinus drainage and free airflow. (See Michaela Morris’ article about the procedure in the March 23 edition)
There is no surgery and local anesthesia is used. The method takes about one hour and most of this time is spent in preparation and no more than 15 minutes is spent on the insertion and inflation of the sinus openings. The actual inflating method takes about 3-4 seconds.
During this time there is some bearable pain, minimal bleeding and swelling, but you will be able to breathe through your nostrils with minimal restriction just after the process. In 18-24 hours one could if they desired run a marathon! That’s just how drastic the change is.
For more information about this procedure, go to the website, acclarent.com or call Ear Nose and Throat Physicians of North Mississippi at (662) 844-6513.
I am so elated over the results I want others to share the comfort I feel.
Ray Thornton
Tupelo