The answer?
I believe we are entering into a new reality in the economy, and that simplicity is a major survival tool. There are not enough well-paying jobs to ensure that we will all have the cash to live as some of our parents did.
The answer? For me, it is downsizing from a four-bedroom home to a two-bedroom condo, with a fireplace to help with heating bills. It is buying bulk foods such as 50 pounds of oatmeal and 20 pounds of rice at a time. We are canning apples from the farmer's market. We are growing our own vegetables. We are open to living with other family members or friends if needed. We go on walks for fun and bird watch rather than spend a lot going out.
I feel sad to see poor people dependent upon expensive processed foods, and families struggling to keep a home and staying poor because of an expensive mortgage.
Wealth to me is not based upon one's bank account or home ownership. It is the peace of mind to know we will be fine. We have found a way that does not require a lot of cash.
CONNIE DILLON
Winston-Salem
We need both campuses
I recently read the editorial on the efforts to keep at least one of North Carolina's Governor's School campuses open for next summer ("Hard decision should lean toward Salem," Nov. 8). I was one of 300 students fortunate enough to be selected to attend Governor's School East last summer. It was easily the best experience of my life.
Throughout the summer the possibility that we might be the last group of people to have our horizons broadened by the program hung over students and faculty like a dark cloud. Needless to say, all who realize the immense value of the program were elated to hear at least one campus will be maintained. However, I believe efforts to keep both campuses open should continue so that more students from Winston-Salem can benefit.
This year 18 students from Winston-Salem and 55 from the Triad area attended. Budget cuts have forced the Governor's School program to charge each student a $300 tuition fee, which undoubtedly impeded many students from applying. With only one campus, even fewer students will have the chance to attend.
Winston-Salem should support the efforts toward opening both campuses so as to secure a tremendous opportunity for local students to better prepare for the transition into adulthood and become highly valuable members of their communities and professions.
AYANA BURKINS
Winston-Salem
Medicare for all
I agree with many who believe that Obamacare is not ideal for this nation. Instead, Medicare for all is the best and least expensive way of providing health care to all Americans. CEOs of private insurance companies are paid millions of dollars. The CEO of United Healthcare, which AARP recommends, took home $106 million last year. The less fortunate receive $3 million to $50 million a year. The more they make, the more they want, and these are people who in no way participate in the treatment of any patient.
As for those who do treat the sick, extra personnel is always needed in doctors' offices and hospitals in order to handle the complicated and divergent systems of the various insurance companies, an administrative expense that contributes to the rising cost of health care. Administrative costs for Medicare are around 3 percent; for private insurance companies, 17 percent. Medicare premiums increased by 400 percent from 1969 to 2009; private health-insurance premiums rose 700 percent in the same period. It is predicted premiums will increase 8.5 percent in 2012, and large and mid-sized businesses may be given the option to stop contributing to the cost of employee's insurance.
The label of "socialized medicine" is the source of hysterical reactions, fueled by millions donations from large corporations that benefit richly from the current system. Fifty million Americans don't have health insurance. Medicare for all is the only structure that will help all Americans, and will also decrease the cost of health care.
DR. ERNESTO DE LA TORRE
Lewisville
Higher expectations
The Journal should not have lowered its standards or ethics to publish the column "The institutional pass" by Joe Nocera. We can expect such trash from The New York Times, which is known for a reputation against the Catholic Church. We had higher expectations from our local paper — which loyal readers are more likely to believe. This column was the media acting as judge, jury and executioner of someone not yet convicted.
Everyone deserves their day in court. The described acts have not been proved as facts. This is not an opinion — it is media taking over our justice system. This should not be allowed.
So far the unfortunate situation compares with other locales where adults shower with kids and it is an accepted though vulnerable practice. Let's go back to "innocent until proved guilty." Some have been proved innocent even after a guilty verdict.
REGINA FRANCK
Winston-Salem
I believe we are entering into a new reality in the economy, and that simplicity is a major survival tool. There are not enough well-paying jobs to ensure that we will all have the cash to live as some of our parents did.
The answer? For me, it is downsizing from a four-bedroom home to a two-bedroom condo, with a fireplace to help with heating bills. It is buying bulk foods such as 50 pounds of oatmeal and 20 pounds of rice at a time. We are canning apples from the farmer's market. We are growing our own vegetables. We are open to living with other family members or friends if needed. We go on walks for fun and bird watch rather than spend a lot going out.
I feel sad to see poor people dependent upon expensive processed foods, and families struggling to keep a home and staying poor because of an expensive mortgage.
Wealth to me is not based upon one's bank account or home ownership. It is the peace of mind to know we will be fine. We have found a way that does not require a lot of cash.
CONNIE DILLON
Winston-Salem
We need both campuses
I recently read the editorial on the efforts to keep at least one of North Carolina's Governor's School campuses open for next summer ("Hard decision should lean toward Salem," Nov. 8). I was one of 300 students fortunate enough to be selected to attend Governor's School East last summer. It was easily the best experience of my life.
Throughout the summer the possibility that we might be the last group of people to have our horizons broadened by the program hung over students and faculty like a dark cloud. Needless to say, all who realize the immense value of the program were elated to hear at least one campus will be maintained. However, I believe efforts to keep both campuses open should continue so that more students from Winston-Salem can benefit.
This year 18 students from Winston-Salem and 55 from the Triad area attended. Budget cuts have forced the Governor's School program to charge each student a $300 tuition fee, which undoubtedly impeded many students from applying. With only one campus, even fewer students will have the chance to attend.
Winston-Salem should support the efforts toward opening both campuses so as to secure a tremendous opportunity for local students to better prepare for the transition into adulthood and become highly valuable members of their communities and professions.
AYANA BURKINS
Winston-Salem
Medicare for all
I agree with many who believe that Obamacare is not ideal for this nation. Instead, Medicare for all is the best and least expensive way of providing health care to all Americans. CEOs of private insurance companies are paid millions of dollars. The CEO of United Healthcare, which AARP recommends, took home $106 million last year. The less fortunate receive $3 million to $50 million a year. The more they make, the more they want, and these are people who in no way participate in the treatment of any patient.
As for those who do treat the sick, extra personnel is always needed in doctors' offices and hospitals in order to handle the complicated and divergent systems of the various insurance companies, an administrative expense that contributes to the rising cost of health care. Administrative costs for Medicare are around 3 percent; for private insurance companies, 17 percent. Medicare premiums increased by 400 percent from 1969 to 2009; private health-insurance premiums rose 700 percent in the same period. It is predicted premiums will increase 8.5 percent in 2012, and large and mid-sized businesses may be given the option to stop contributing to the cost of employee's insurance.
The label of "socialized medicine" is the source of hysterical reactions, fueled by millions donations from large corporations that benefit richly from the current system. Fifty million Americans don't have health insurance. Medicare for all is the only structure that will help all Americans, and will also decrease the cost of health care.
DR. ERNESTO DE LA TORRE
Lewisville
Higher expectations
The Journal should not have lowered its standards or ethics to publish the column "The institutional pass" by Joe Nocera. We can expect such trash from The New York Times, which is known for a reputation against the Catholic Church. We had higher expectations from our local paper — which loyal readers are more likely to believe. This column was the media acting as judge, jury and executioner of someone not yet convicted.
Everyone deserves their day in court. The described acts have not been proved as facts. This is not an opinion — it is media taking over our justice system. This should not be allowed.
So far the unfortunate situation compares with other locales where adults shower with kids and it is an accepted though vulnerable practice. Let's go back to "innocent until proved guilty." Some have been proved innocent even after a guilty verdict.
REGINA FRANCK
Winston-Salem
The answer. We are entering a new economic reality for sure. Politicians have not figured this out yet. Trouble is, our economy is not finished sorting itself out. It sounds like the writer is going to start living like a great many of us did growing up. Debt driven lifestyles always come to and end. Too may "borrowed wealthy" and "equity wealthy" people don't sustain a healthy economy. True wealth is more self worth and not net worth. It took a cancer diagnosis and following recovery time for me to figure that out. Of course it helped me that the economy crashed during the same time to put an exclamation point on the whole idea.
ReplyDeleteBoth campuses. I have a feeling both will be open in time.
ReplyDeleteMedicare for all. Impossible. More like a rationed Medicaid for most. Single payer is the goal. All this other stuff is designed to collapse the existing healthcare system and cause everyone to throw up their hands in panic. A one size government run solution. Nonsense. Not too many people are enamored with government anymore. "Medicare for all is the only structure that will help all Americans, and will also decrease the cost of health care". Absolutely and utterly insane.
ReplyDeleteHigher expectation. We knew a man some years ago who was falsely accused and over time the accusations were proven false. He was a very meek fellow and subject to being picked on by all ages and that is what happened. The damage done during the investigation and accusation period took its toll on him and even though he was innocent, he killed himself less than a year later.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon...WW! Anybody else out there?
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: We entered this "new" reality back in the 90's with the advent of the web and the various trade agreements. The 80's and 90's saw a celebration of greed and the idea that having more equals success and happiness. Although the US is the wealthiest country (though not by GDP/capita), it didn't even crack the top 10 most content countries in this 2009 survey. Family, social and community networks were found to be the greatest contributor to happiness.
LTE 2: Congratulations on being chosen! Of all the stupid decisions by the state legislatures, defunding this program ranks as one of the most stupid. Both campuses should be opened. Hopefully, there will be enogh money raised to open both and new legislators elected next year who care about our future.
LTE 3: I initially thought extending Medicare to everyone was going to be the end result of the reform. It would certainly require hiking the amount paid into the system. I'm not sure how feasible it would be to implement.
LTE 4: The media has always acted as judge and jury. Ever watch Nancy Grace or Geraldo Rivera? Muliple victims and eyewitness accounts do provide a convincing argument of guilt. I don't know of any situation where adults showering with 10 y.o's is an acceptable practice. Gym showers I've been in have always been off limits to those underaged.
Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
ReplyDeleteErnesto de la Torre is one of the top neurosurgeons in this part of the world and also trained most of the other best ones while he was teaching at Duke Med. He is a very bright man.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he knows something that we do not.
I too am unaware of any place where men routinely shower with kids. When I was a kid, the YMCA downtown had separate entrances and facilities for men and boys. The signs are still there, carved into the stone above the doors.
He's also one of the most charming guys you'd ever want to meet.
ReplyDeleteMedicare for all would end United Health Care's chief excessive compensation. Ain't going to happen.
ReplyDeleteBut I bet some posters here enjoy here enjoy their socialist Medicare single payer government health insurance.
Arthur is right about charm...the good doctor has a courtly old world aura that is rarely seen these days.
ReplyDelete