Letters to the EditorFriday, July 4, 2008
Help handicapped I read with interest your June 25 article "Caught in the act, Watchdog Parking Cheaters." I also have a handicap placard because I have trouble walking any distance. I don't look like I have problems most of the time. I do use the placard when I need it. My question is if people are taking pictures, and most of these violations I have seen daily, then why don't law enforcement officials take action on the offenders who have been captured on film? Maybe if action was taken or at least a warning given on first offense, then the violations would not occur as frequently. People do not consider the handicapped persons' need for space and the requirements for their equipment. I think the effort that the handicapped people are putting forth is to be applauded, and the community needs to take action to support their efforts in this cause. The shopping carts and motorcycle parking in the blue stripe areas need to end, and the public needs to be more considerate of those in need of our help. RONALD G. POVERO Now for McCain I have not been a John McCain supporter. I sure would not support a closet socialist like Barack Obama. But after the recent comments by retired Gen. Wesley Clark that disrespected Mr. McCain's service in Vietnam, I will do what I can to support Mr. McCain. It is not enough that Mr. Obama has friends all over the anti-American spectrum, he has to have a retired general smear Mr. McCain. How weak can one be to do such a cowardly act? Mr. Clark can join John Kerry in the disgraced veterans' club. SAM TRIPPI Heart healers A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I had to make the incredibly sad decision to put our much-loved dog, Josie Joe, to sleep. Josie had a wonderful life for 13 years, and the joy, love, friendship and just plain fun he gave everyone will never be forgotten. But, unfortunately, his last year of life was filled with sickness from diabetes and other "doggie" problems, including blindness and confusion. He had successful surgery on his cataracts, thanks to Dr. Anne Cook of Mount Pleasant. So in his last year of life he did have the joy of seeing his family and his beloved yard he guarded so lovingly. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Johnny Ohlandt and his staff, Josie's last year was free from pain. My daughter and I went by Pet Helpers recently, just to see the facility and see what animals they had for adoption. And what a fabulous facility it is. One particular little dog, about 8 months old, named Maggie caught my eye, a black lab mix, so friendly, just licking and kissing my hand. I could feel my resolve not to get another pet, because of the hurt when they die, leaving my heart. Just as I was asking one of the workers there about her history, a young lady came by and said she had just adopted her. It lets me know that my heart is ready at any given time to welcome another pet into my life. Time heals your heart. You can and should love another animal again. If we can't do that, what will become of all the thousands of animals already here that need a home? I know I will open my heart again. Josie would have wanted it that way. JIM & JUDY BENNETT Medicine savings Medicare does not consider hospital charges for oral drugs administered to out-patients as allowable charges. Therefore neither Medicare nor your Medicare supplement will pay anything for these drugs and the hospital will bill you at exorbitant rates. I was recently charged $149.96 by a local hospital for pills I routinely take and buy at CVS for less than $3. The lesson to be learned from my unfortunate experience is: If you have to go to a hospital emergency room, bring your own routine medications and demand that the hospital use your pills if necessary. STUART F. BLUM Deadly delay In 2004, Congress passed legislation, nicknamed PEPFAR, to stop the spread of deadly but preventable diseases in some of the poorest parts of the world. And it worked. Since it started, PEPFAR has allowed more than 1.4 million people with HIV/AIDS to regain their life with medicine and treatment. When PEPFAR started, there were only about 500,000 people on AIDS drugs in sub-Saharan Africa. Now 1.4 million are living healthy, productive lives. PEPFAR is an emerging American legacy of compassion and hope through lifesaving medicine. But that legislation expires soon and needs to be renewed. However, despite the amazing track record of success, the legislation is inexplicably stalled in the Senate. If Congress fails to act, thousands of people waiting to receive lifesaving treatment will not receive it. Thousands of parents waiting to protect their children from malaria — a disease transmitted by a mosquito bite — will not receive the $5 bed net they need to cover those children while they sleep. The bill has already received bipartisan support from the House. So what is the Senate waiting for? Seven senators have decided that they don't like the bill and have stopped any debate, any discussion, and any progress on the legislation. In Senate lingo, they've placed a "hold" on the legislation; in the real world, they are jeopardizing the chances for more people to get basic medicine or care to fight entirely preventable diseases. Our democracy honors open debate. Agree or disagree, a debate should happen and move forward. It is time for the Senate to pass this legislation. The clock is ticking, and every second truly does count. KIM FREEMAN Bike safety As an avid motorcyclist and bicyclist, I was so glad to see that Gov. Mark Sanford signed the new law protecting bicyclists' rights to the road. Now that that has been done, there needs to be a required course and test given to bicyclists who are brave enough to get out on the highways. I find that most bicyclists I see out on the roads have no idea whatsoever where they are supposed to ride. And hand signals when they want to turn? Forget it. There is a South Carolina bikers handbook issued by the state just like the Drivers Handbook that those who are applying for a S.C. driver's license must study in order to pass the test for a valid driver's license. I understand that with the high gas prices, many will pull out the old bike and take off. While this seems most practical, it could prove to be catastrophic if they do not know the rules of the road. Most bicyclists don't even know that they are required by law to ride with the traffic, but instead ride on the wrong side of the roadway, creating a potentially fatal accident by way of a head-on collision. I really hope our lawmakers are considering these things with this new law, and do whatever is needed to protect our "lawfully protected bicyclists" by also requiring them "by law" to become educated, and perhaps even licensed to operate their bicycles on the highways. Unfortunately, that is the only way most of them will get and read the book. MIKE MOORE Painful epoch Like other monumental tragedies, people will remember where they were the first time they paid $4 for a gallon of gas. LENNY BRANCH |
Article tools Write a letter to the Editor |
