Letters
Letters to the editor, Feb. 5
TBO.com
Published: February 5, 2012
Think twice before movingPublished: February 5, 2012
I am writing this letter to the editor to let people know who may be considering moving to counties along the gulf (more specifically Hernando and Pasco) they may want to reconsider due to the lack of quality healthcare available to anyone who is a self pay patient.
This is a situation anyone can find themselves in, and it is unfortunate. I am a registered nurse with 18 years of experience. I had insurance and a good job. I was then hit head on by a driver who had no insurance. My insurance would only pay for so much before stopping payment for my bills. My employer laid me off.
For a fresh start I moved here, seeing the many hospitals and doctor offices in the area that I could work. Unfortunately, I am still having issues with head pressure and visual disturbances that prevent me from working both in and outside the home.
I was hoping this would be temporary, and that I would, with appropriate treatment be able to return to work, pay my bills and obtain health insurance. Without treatment, I cannot go back to work.
My problem that I'm sure has plagued others here is that there is no one willing to help a person unless they pay upfront, in full. Then I would have to pay upfront, in full for any tests or treatments.
This is impossible unless I live on the street. When I have asked the "healthcare providers" for referrals to places that may be able to help with my type of payment, I am given the answer, "I don't know of any one that does that."
This is unacceptable. I have been a nurse in many emergency rooms and have always provided people without the financial means for medical care a contact for help to obtain medical care. This is an integral part of community nursing, which whether these hospitals, and doctors want to admit, they are supposed to be helping, only if it is referring patients to more affordable care. What I am seeing here is reminiscent of a third world country, where only the rich are allowed to live pain free or without injury or illness.
I understand the financial burden of people without insurance, but unless people get well, they will put a further burden on the state in which they reside due to the inability to achieve the highest level of functioning they can.
In the meantime, I may look for another place to live that is more humanitarian and compassionate. I won't be like this forever, and I will be a productive member of society once again. I will be a nurse practitioner who will not treat people only as well as they are rich, because this can happen to any one of you reading this. I hope it doesn't.
It hurts almost as bad as my injuries I received in the original crash.
Ruth Lawson
Spring Hill
2012 election predictions
Barak Obama will be reelected for the following reasons:
1. The African American population will continue to vote for him. That means 90 percent of 36 million plus African Americans will vote Democratic as they did in the last election. That means 32 million plus votes for Obama. It does not matter that the Democrats had their boots on their neck for over 100 years. He still gets their vote.
2. The union bosses will order their union workers to support Obama. A high percentage, probably 80 percent of Union members who are around 10 million strong will continue to vote Democratic. That means 8 million votes for Obama. The party is their back stop to continue huge pay and pension packages. He has also made them immune to the healthcare bill provisions on forced payment for insurance if they don't elect to have it. He still gets their vote.
3. The Latino population will still give him 70 percent of their vote. That means the estimated 49 million Latino population will provide 35 million votes for Obama. The Democratic party has been providing special consideration to Latinos for years. The Democratic party has always pushed hard for benefits including education, healthcare, Social Security protections for illegal immigrants and their families.
Estimates are that there are 20 million illegal aliens in this country. They will vote heavily for Obama, especially in those states that support sanctuary for illegal aliens in this country. Those who fill out voting ballots, and there will be a lot of them, will all vote Democratic.
4. A large percentage of teachers and college professors members of the NEA will vote Democratic. I would estimate 90 percent of the 3.2 million members of the NEA will vote for Obama. He entered into their fights in Wisconsin and Ohio and I believe Indiana. That means 2.8 million will still vote for Obama. They want to keep their high pay packages and pensions the same as the other unions.
5. The gay, bisexual and transgender population number about 9 million plus in the U.S. I would estimate that 80 percent or 7.8 million will vote for Obama. They rely on the Democratic Party to continue to push for their agenda.
6. The older senior population holds 63 million registered Democrats in this country. History tells us 60 percent, or more, will vote in the next election. Of those 37 million 90 percent plus will vote for Obama. That means 34 million will vote for Obama no matter what he does to them. He can continue to take 4 percent of their Social Security Trust Fund away through the Payroll Tax Law holiday and they will still vote for him.
Take more money away from Medicare like he did with Obamacare and they will still vote for him. Does the word lemmings come to mind?
7. Independent voters in the 2010 election numbered about 32 million voters. The record indicates that about 50 percent of independents will vote. That means nearly 16 million votes will be divided between parties.
So an estimated 8 million people will vote for Obama. I am an Independent. I vote strict conservative on fiscal problems. I vote liberal on social problems. Since Obama is for the payroll tax holiday and, OK with taking money from Social Security and medicare, I will vote against him.
Because as a senator he voted for over 1 trillion of added deficit in 2007 and 2008 and has supported the Democratic Congress running up the debt up another 4 trillion he will not get my vote. The only thing that has stopped part of it is the Republicans took over the House in 2010.
For the above 124 million reasons, plus the majority of the 47 percent of people who pay no income taxes and wish to never pay their fair share of the income taxes Obama will win.
Of the 308 million Americans 47 percent equals 144 million. My estimate is that maybe 50 percent or about, 72 million, will actually vote. That means that around 35 million will vote for Obama. The end result is that he will garner 159 million plus votes in the national election or about 50/51 percent of the vote. If he gets that amount he will win the election. God don't let this prediction come true. I'm on my knees here begging you. Don't let this come true.
Gerald Lesmeisteer
Weeki Wachee
Another view
Nick Morana, our senior statesman at 86 years of age, once again gives so many of us not only the pleasure of his company but also nostalgia in his recent letter to the editor offering his considerations for communication venues from the telegraph and pony express to wood-paneled rotary wall phones one could crank for the operator to tell her a neighbor's name you would want to call.
Then, he moves on to our current cellular phone technology that connects everybody to everybody for events seconds from happening. Millions and millions have their cellular phones with camera capabilities and quick photo processing to others across America or the world in an instant. Cell phones can even provide global satellite positioning for directions on our roadways.
Editorial policy for Hernando Today allows opinion from many sectors of the community to share with their neighbors who may be conservative, progressive or activists of any persuasion so it is refreshing to have Nick, so well known in all circles of our community, bringing his views to a constituency eager for his voice.
Deron Mikal
Brooksville