Satisfied with treatment
In defense of Wake Forest Baptist Hospital ("Baptist scores poorly in key areas," Nov. 27), I underwent a cardiac catheterization as an outpatient last month. I couldn't have asked for better treatment, even as a Medicare recipient, from everyone at the hospital. One staff member went out of her way to ensure that I got where I needed to go when we got lost trying to find the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
My heartfelt thanks to the doctors and staff at the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
STEPHEN P. RUSK
Elkin
Disagree this time
Usually I enjoy Scott Sexton's columns and agree with him. Not "Voting is the best protest method" (Dec. 1), though.
It seems to me that those with jobs always know what those without jobs should be doing. I think we all should take to the streets. What else will change the ridiculous salaries paid to top executives? Votes have not and will not do it.
When unemployment payments end in January, many people will be hungry. What happened in France when the people had no bread and the aristocracy lived well? What happened in Russia in 1918? We pride ourselves on being a nation of laws, but people will not starve while fat cats dine on caviar.
If the Occupy movement can effect some nonviolent change, it has my support. The vote is a wonderful thing, but it just doesn't seem to be working for us, does it? Too often, we are given only the choice of the lesser of two evils.
ROMAINE POINDEXTER
Kernersville
Effectiveness
I am continually amazed by TV announcers who report that no one knows what the Occupiers want. Don't they read the signs the people are carrying? These people want the government to control big business.
My problem with people in the Occupy movement is not that they cause a mess. The FDA caused medical messes when it approved Thalidomide and Avandia. After Hurricane Katrina, Homeland Security caused a societal mess in New Orleans. BP caused an environmental mess in the Gulf of Mexico. Corporations caused an economic mess that still hovers after the bank bailout. Anything can cause some kind of mess. Cleaning up a park is not so high on the difficulty list.
My problem with the Occupy movement is that it is not effective. If those protesters register and vote, they can get their purpose implemented. That's effective.
But effectiveness doesn't seem to be the name of the game these days. We aren't effective in controlling the protests. Health codes, drug busts, permits and police activity only fan the flames. If we really want to stop the protests, get the protesters employed. Working people don't have the time or the energy to camp out every day.
And that is the big 2012 election question: Where are the jobs?
DOROTHY MATHEWS
Rural Hall
Bedrock
My thanks to Tom Patterson for his wonderful column on Millicent Greason-Spivak and Urban Artware ("Closing is another painful blow," Nov. 20). Millicent and Urban Artware are the bedrock of the Arts District, the first place I have always stopped when I have been downtown looking for something to buy or just hanging around on Gallery Hop night. It is almost unthinkable that the district could exist without them.
The city should do everything in its power to keep Millicent and her shop right where they are, pointing everyone in the right direction for all the other fine venues in the area.
JAMES HANS
Pfafftown
Permit and responsibilities
With reference to your editorial "Packin' guns: City wise to exempt most parks from new law" (Dec. 2), you failed to tell the criminals that it's illegal to carry concealed weapons in the parks. I'm sure they really care about breaking the law ... not! ("When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns"). They'll be glad to know that no one will be able to defend themselves.
It's always important for law-abiding citizens to know that, when being assaulted, robbed or raped, they should just call 911. ("Remember, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.")
By the tone of your editorial, I'd guess that no one on the editorial board has completed the requirements for a concealed-carry permit, nor have you studied the responsibilities that go along with it. We can only hope that you'll change your opinion after someone in a park is attacked. Sadly, it's just a matter of time.
STANLEY G. SIMM
Winston-Salem
In defense of Wake Forest Baptist Hospital ("Baptist scores poorly in key areas," Nov. 27), I underwent a cardiac catheterization as an outpatient last month. I couldn't have asked for better treatment, even as a Medicare recipient, from everyone at the hospital. One staff member went out of her way to ensure that I got where I needed to go when we got lost trying to find the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
My heartfelt thanks to the doctors and staff at the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
STEPHEN P. RUSK
Elkin
Disagree this time
Usually I enjoy Scott Sexton's columns and agree with him. Not "Voting is the best protest method" (Dec. 1), though.
It seems to me that those with jobs always know what those without jobs should be doing. I think we all should take to the streets. What else will change the ridiculous salaries paid to top executives? Votes have not and will not do it.
When unemployment payments end in January, many people will be hungry. What happened in France when the people had no bread and the aristocracy lived well? What happened in Russia in 1918? We pride ourselves on being a nation of laws, but people will not starve while fat cats dine on caviar.
If the Occupy movement can effect some nonviolent change, it has my support. The vote is a wonderful thing, but it just doesn't seem to be working for us, does it? Too often, we are given only the choice of the lesser of two evils.
ROMAINE POINDEXTER
Kernersville
Effectiveness
I am continually amazed by TV announcers who report that no one knows what the Occupiers want. Don't they read the signs the people are carrying? These people want the government to control big business.
My problem with people in the Occupy movement is not that they cause a mess. The FDA caused medical messes when it approved Thalidomide and Avandia. After Hurricane Katrina, Homeland Security caused a societal mess in New Orleans. BP caused an environmental mess in the Gulf of Mexico. Corporations caused an economic mess that still hovers after the bank bailout. Anything can cause some kind of mess. Cleaning up a park is not so high on the difficulty list.
My problem with the Occupy movement is that it is not effective. If those protesters register and vote, they can get their purpose implemented. That's effective.
But effectiveness doesn't seem to be the name of the game these days. We aren't effective in controlling the protests. Health codes, drug busts, permits and police activity only fan the flames. If we really want to stop the protests, get the protesters employed. Working people don't have the time or the energy to camp out every day.
And that is the big 2012 election question: Where are the jobs?
DOROTHY MATHEWS
Rural Hall
Bedrock
My thanks to Tom Patterson for his wonderful column on Millicent Greason-Spivak and Urban Artware ("Closing is another painful blow," Nov. 20). Millicent and Urban Artware are the bedrock of the Arts District, the first place I have always stopped when I have been downtown looking for something to buy or just hanging around on Gallery Hop night. It is almost unthinkable that the district could exist without them.
The city should do everything in its power to keep Millicent and her shop right where they are, pointing everyone in the right direction for all the other fine venues in the area.
JAMES HANS
Pfafftown
Permit and responsibilities
With reference to your editorial "Packin' guns: City wise to exempt most parks from new law" (Dec. 2), you failed to tell the criminals that it's illegal to carry concealed weapons in the parks. I'm sure they really care about breaking the law ... not! ("When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns"). They'll be glad to know that no one will be able to defend themselves.
It's always important for law-abiding citizens to know that, when being assaulted, robbed or raped, they should just call 911. ("Remember, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.")
By the tone of your editorial, I'd guess that no one on the editorial board has completed the requirements for a concealed-carry permit, nor have you studied the responsibilities that go along with it. We can only hope that you'll change your opinion after someone in a park is attacked. Sadly, it's just a matter of time.
STANLEY G. SIMM
Winston-Salem
Mr. Simm:
ReplyDeleteIf you've ever watched city council members in action on the government channel, you'd know that they aren't the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree. Some can hardly string together cogent sentences to make a point.
People always say, vote 'em out. Well, the sad truth is we can't just vote 'em out. Why? Because nobody that's competent ever runs. You see, who would want to sit around and routinely listen to a bunch of morons babble? Not me.
I hope that all these patch work gun laws will be done away with at the federal some day. There's a new law currently being proposed by
Republicans that would eliminate most of these problems. Who else? You don't expect a Democrat to come up with a common sense proposal, do you? The law would combine all of the states individual concealed carry laws, and this would stop the psychotic application of gun laws.
Let's hope it passes. It would be nice to put sanity back into the governing process.
Effectiveness....if these protesters vote-I'll bet they do anyway- their votes will only duplicate what we already have as our government and that is a complete ineptocracy.
ReplyDelete*_Ineptocracy_****(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least
capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded
with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
Much of this Occupy thing is comprised of this.
Disagree this time...Voting can be a good method but it is not the only method. It would take massive organization to pull off but a sure way to get the attention of Washington is to withhold tax payments. For those of us who pay quarterly estimates, the task is easier. For others it would take widespread employer cooperation even to the point of putting as many people as possible on 1099s. Also increasing the already large cash economy would be a part to. No money for politicians is as terrifying as no votes.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post as usual whitewall.'Ineptocracy' is truly an appropriate term for government.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that what is going on here, is precisely what happened in Venezuela when Hugo Chavez came to power. When Chavez, the socialist, first ran for president, he appealed to the poor campesinos of the country to vote for him, with the promise that he would 'give' them money from the Venezuelan oil fields, and from the rich.
Chavez was, subsequently, voted into power, and Chavez began to unfairly taxing the rich, which caused them to sell off their property and flee the country.
So when people scoff at the socialist movement that is going on in our country, I would like to remind them of what just happened, not too long ago, in Venezuela.
Good afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: My family memebers who have been treated at WF have received excellent care as well. I don't recall if the article addressed if the results were skewed by transfers.
LTE 2: "It seems to me that those with jobs always know what those without jobs should be doing." - ain't that the truth. I've noticed that extends to many other areas as well where someone who's never been in the situation knows what's best. To get the ear of the politicians requires money which the Occupiers don't have.
LTE 3: I see the Occupy movement as more of a social movement than political whereas the Tea Party was strictly political. Wanting jobs and a divorce between the "1%" and govt is far more nebulous than fewer regulations and a lower tax rate. I'm not sure what the Occupiers are after can be fixed at the polls. I do agree with Ms. Matthews that the availability of jobs would cause the protests to end.
LTE 4: When I've travelled to Charleston in the past, there were art galleries on every street, but when I went there 2 years ago, the majority of them had closed up shop. Art is spent on by descretionary funds which are in short supply these days, so I'm not sure there is anything the city can do to keep Urban Artware afloat.
LTE 5: Umm, guns have not been allowed in parks, so why do we not see daily reports of multiple instances of crime taking place in parks? You are far more likely to be injured or killed in a car accident on the way or coming from the park. Guns would not reduce the already very slim chance of being a crime victim in a park, but it would increase the likelihood of an accidental shooting from 0 to > 0. Btw..the crime stats can be found at www.cityofws.org.
Umm, Bucky, I would strongly suggest doing a little research into how the Venezuelan govt works vs. the US before making a post such as your 1:56.
ReplyDeleteWho are the occupiers? O.T. said he had spoken with some of our local ones.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter had an internship this summer in DC. She stayed on campus at George Washington University and all of her suite-mates were from Ivy league universities. Two attend Columbia, in NYC.
She was herself surprised to see via FB that that the her suite-mates from Columbia had been down to Zuccotti park to participate in the OWS protests.
According to my daughter, these young adults must have never had to clean up anything for selves. They were shocked, shocked shocked to learn if your leave food out it would attract bugs. Alas there was no maid service at GW.
Based on their lack of household skills, these Columbia students probably have all their financial needs meet. Their internship placements indicate their parents probably also have friends in high places. Yet they choose to go to Zuccotti.
Dotnet.....if you are going to 'try' to refute my post, please provide some facts. Making a flippant rebuttal proves nothing.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you must get a lot of 'breaks' at your job, especially since your boss is paying you to waste time in this forum.
Sometimes I feel like I'm the lawnmower, and people's posts are the grass.
ReplyDeleteWordly....a lot college students went to those OWS protests because it was the 'thing' to do. It was their 'Woodstock', or the cause that everyone should support because it is/was fashionable.
ReplyDeleteMost college students start out as liberals, but then after reality sets in, many soon convert.
If George W. Bush had tried to appoint people like Caitlin Halligan on the right, the liberal media would have screamed bloody murder.
ReplyDeleteHere's a little summary about the liberal activitist that the Obama Administration wanted to appoint the Circuit Court of Appeals in D.C.
__________
As solicitor general for former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Halligan also took "activists positions" like supporting NOW's claim that pro-life groups had engaged in extortion; the use of race in college and law school admissions is constitutional; illegal immigrants should be awarded back pay in labor disputes in the United States; and the Clean Air Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases
She was, however, blocked by senate republicans.