Profit shouldn’t be focus of health care

In my 27 years as an emergency room doctor, I have become increasingly frustrated by the multiple absurdities of our health care system.

In producing a video about why it is so expensive, I have found that the drivers of cost include advances in technology, fear of liability, the dwindling supply of primary care providers, the mass marketing of prescription drugs, inflated expectations, the pressure for profits, and, most significantly, insurance companies that add 25 percent to total cost without contributing anything to health.

Increasingly I have been drawn to the bigger picture.

Does our health care system reflect who we are? Are we all about money? Maybe. Maybe not. But it surely is a reflection of the political process that blocks our ability to fix it.

Because our politicians need to raise enormous amounts of money to get elected/re-elected, lobbyists and those who pay them have great influence over lawmakers.

The majority of Americans want some form of a national health plan.

Lobbyists continue to foster the political wisdom (myth?) that embracing anything that resembles a single-payer system is political suicide.

Reality check: our health care system will remain broken until the focus shifts from profits to health.

That won’t happen until somebody other than insurance companies, takes control.

Our citizens need to make enough noise and put enough pressure on our politicians to get them to listen to us instead of the lobbyists.

Then we need to make some difficult decisions, based on what we can afford.

Paul Hochfeld, Corvallis

Good for wetlands, affordable housing

As a board member of Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services, I strongly support the proposed development of affordable housing at Seavey Meadows.

Because I’m also a committed environmentalist and wetland supporter, it may seem incongruous that I’d be willing to see housing built on a wetland.

But part of the beauty of a wetland is that it’s a natural feature. In this case, however, it is not.

The 1.65 acres of wetland to be developed is a degraded site with compacted soils from previous development, and it doesn’t function like the wet prairie surrounding it, which will be preserved.

And since WNHS will restore 1.75 acres elsewhere in Seavey Meadows to compensate for the 1.64 acre loss, we’re left with a net gain in natural wetlands.

Clearly good for the wetlands. And clearly good for affordable housing.

John Tappon, Corvallis

Schroff would offer needed perspective

As a Corvallis business owner, I am writing in support of Rick Schroff for City Council Ward 7.

Rick will champion sustainability, yet remain open to planned growth. Rick will weigh all aspects of economic improvement, as opposed to just taking an inflexible stance.

With the loss of our greatly missed business leader Scott Zimbrick, there is a real need for someone with a business perspective on the council.

I believe Rick Schroff can provide a thoughtful voice for business and education, conservation, fiscal responsibility, diversity and managed prosperity.

Rick owns his own business, so he knows the challenges businesses may face in an economic slump and what is needed to keep our city prosperous.

Rick can see the forest through the trees. Please vote for Rick Schroff: a father of two, a community volunteer, family business owner and a person of good judgment.

Marti Staprans Barlow, Corvallis

Let’s stop subsidies to oil companies

Gas prices are rising every day. No one expects this trend to change.

I have a problem with this because the reason gas prices in the U.S. have traditionally been lower compared to other countries is due to the subsidies the U.S. government gives to oil companies.

If gas prices in the U.S. are going to be at the same levels as the rest of the world, why is the government still subsidizing the industry? Why is the federal government allowing the U.S. population to be robbed blind by the same companies our tax dollars are subsidizing?

According to Taxpayers For Common Sense, subsidies for oil and natural gas began in 1916 with the federal government creating its first tax breaks for oil and gas production.

After almost 90 years of taxpayer-funded subsidies, the oil and gas industries are flourishing but taxpayers still continue to contribute billions annually to the energy sector.

Instead of requiring energy companies to stand on their own feet, the government has set up a perpetual subsidy system. Large energy companies act as if they cannot survive without taxpayer handouts, perpetuating an endless cycle of subsidies.

The government should stop giving taxpayers’ dollars to powerful energy companies.

If we are going to pay high prices for gas anyway, why should tax dollars continue to be dumped into subsidies?

Get informed, get active and help make change happen.

Terry Thayer, Philomath

Macpherson is choice for attorney general

I was particularly taken by Jay Sexton’s letter (“John Kroger the best choice for Oregon attorney general,” April 24) endorsing one of the candidates for Oregon attorney general, because he so aptly described the other candidate.

Greg Macpherson is also “a sharply focused, thoughtful, energetic advocate for the people of Oregon.” He also “believes the attorney general is the chief legal advocate for the people of Oregon.”

Greg Macpherson also recognizes the problems connected with illegal drug use in Oregon, and supports treatment and prevention as important tools in combating those problems.

Greg Macpherson is already on the front line in protecting Oregon’s environment. As co-chair of the committee that crafted Measure 49, he led the fight to defend and update the land use system put in place by his father, Hector Macpherson.

In addition to all these qualities, Greg Macpherson will bring an intimate knowledge of Oregon values and government to the position of attorney general.

As a third-generation Oregonian and a three-term representative, he knows what needs to be done and how to do it.

Janet Wershow, Corvallis

Hope thief needed trailer wheel, tire

To the person who stole the tire, wheel and lug nuts from our car trailer; I sincerely hope that you needed it.

Maybe one day you can give one of your tire/wheel combinations to someone who needs it.

Or maybe even yet return ours or pay for it. Our Insurance doesn’t cover theft.

Carolyn and Jim Morton, Corvallis

Educated community values free thinking

I recently read that in the city of Corvallis we have the highest level of education per capita of any city in the nation.

Having lived in Corvallis for 40 years now, and graduating from OSU with two degrees, I have engaged in many conversations with many people in our college town where it’s acceptable to have differing opinions, open mindedness and being encouraged to be a free thinker.

If you’re scientifically minded or you just value your ability to be a free thinker and own the right to have opinions, then I strongly encourage you to watch a move that’s now playing at the Carmike theater, entitled “Expelled.”

Usually in school you get expelled for doing something very wrong. But, there are actually college professors in America who have either lost their teaching position, or have been prevented from receiving tenure because of their right to be a free thinker and express their opinion concerning their view towards science.

I thought in America it was OK to express your opinions, especially in the academic world where expanding your mind is usually encouraged.

I can’t believe censorship could take place like that in America, and prohibit free thinking of college professors and cause them to lose their tenure or position, just for standing up for their thoughts toward science and what they choose to believe in.

If you value the educational process, then encourage people to watch this movie.

At the Corvallis core, we value education.

Todd Powell, Corvallis