Health insurance mandates; a bishop’s action on abortion; the White House’s pianist

Bringing healthcare into the 21st century

Re “Healthcare mandate is safety in numbers,” Business, Dec. 21

As a government physician, I have seen huge leaps of quality of care in the past decade. David Lazarus didn’t explore what should be the most viable option and what is already the case: offering government care for the uninsured while leaving those currently insured alone.

Most large cities, including Los Angeles, already provide a safety net through the county system. If the federal healthcare network was expanded, incorporating the county health systems, excellent, low-cost care would be available to all.

Sure, the private insurance risk pool could be expanded, but at the price of making insurance unaffordable for most. Indeed, insurance companies have provided a mere prelude to the huge premium hikes that will occur under healthcare reform.

Although I agree that good healthcare is a right for all, it need not bankrupt the country nor arouse the ire of those currently insured.

Jonathan Kaunitz

Santa Monica

Thanks to Lazarus for reminding readers of the importance of mandatory health insurance.

The narratives that have been planted in the minds of many Americans constitute the greatest subterfuge of enlightened self-interest in my lifetime. As Lazarus explained, health insurance isn’t welfare but rather a spreading of cost risk, just as the case with automobile insurance.

The problem is that the young and healthy can easily see the need for auto insurance because the risks are not skewed to particular segments of the population. This is not the case for health insurance.

Unless the insurance pool includes the young and healthy, they too will be without resources later when they really need it.

Karen Hellwig, RN

Los Angeles

Just for the record, nobody opposes healthcare reform; it’s just that Obamacare is so bad. People like me want two things.

First, insurers should be able to compete across state lines, dropping premiums by increasing competition. At the moment there is virtually no competition.

Second, we want complete tort reform. Let’s get unnecessary lawyers and lawsuits out of the equation and put the money toward getting people well and reducing premiums.

Those changes alone would drastically change the landscape but are nowhere in Obamacare.

Eric Cooper

Santa Monica

My solution is similar to that of Bob, the reader in Lazarus’ column who proposed that those who decline health insurance get a tattoo saying, “Willfully uninsured. Do not treat; do not resuscitate.”

If we do not require everyone to carry insurance, those who decline should be required to sign a statement that says they have been offered insurance and “I understand that if I become sick or am injured and cannot afford medical care, none will be provided for me at public expense.”

I could live with that.

Catherine Cate

Santa Ana

Catholic bishop and abortion

Re “Bishop splits with Phoenix hospital,” Dec. 22

The good news for Phoenix residents is that the Roman Catholic church is leaving St. Joseph’s Hospital. Bishop Thomas Olmstead preferred to condemn the dying pregnant woman to death.

And congratulations to Sister Margaret McBride, who had the intellectual and moral honesty to challenge Olmstead. She was excommunicated, but I see this as a benefit to the ex-sister. I welcome her to the world of free thinkers.

Mark O’Connell

Irvine

Olmsted chose rigid doctrine over humanity.

The medieval Jewish philosopher-physician Maimonides held that, until the head of the fetus is delivered and capable of drawing breath, it is not a living being and may be sacrificed to save the life of the mother.

I would refer the good bishop to Genesis 2:7 for guidance on the subject: “And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life, and man became a living being.”

I commend the Sisters of Mercy in their decision to abort the fetus to save the life of a living, breathing, human being.

Herbert Weinberg

Marina del Rey

Aid to homeless

Re “Bringing Daniel back,” Opinion, Dec. 19

Susan Partovi’s excellent piece is indicative of the challenges facing the chronic homeless and also of the solutions that Los Angeles County is aggressively pursuing. We have connected thousands of homeless men and women to housing; as a result, we are seeing a reduction in emergency room visits and incarcerations.

A great example is the Access to Housing and Health program. Created in 2006, it is intended to help homeless men and women cycling in and out of hospitals by connecting them with safe, permanent housing and appropriate care. In 2009 alone, the program resulted in savings of more than $1.3 million.

I will continue to advocate for the most effective ways to end homelessness and give people hope for a brighter future.

Don Knabe

Cerritos

The writer is Los Angeles County supervisor, 4th District.

A pianist of note

Re “Pianist has keys to White House,” Column One, Dec. 20

David Osborne has come a long way indeed, from his humble beginnings in a small town to the White House. His skills on the piano have earned him well-deserved accolades from the casino crowds in Las Vegas and U.S. presidents in Washington. Of Osborne, George W. Bush said, “The boy can play!”

By his fine example, the virtuoso shows us why adequate funding for music and art appreciation is needed in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The next David Osborne could be sitting in a classroom right now. I, for one, hope that his talent is developed and discovered.

David Tulanian

Los Angeles

Slavery and S.C.

Re “ ‘Secession Ball’ spurs protests,” Dec. 21

The South Carolina elite in tuxedos and long dresses attended a ball to honor those who “were willing to sacrifice their lives for their vision of states’ rights.”

Of course, the rights they were fighting to preserve was their freedom to have slaves.

Emil Lawton

Sherman Oaks

Positive charge

Re “Fuel cells powering up,” Business, Dec. 21

Hurrah for these clear-thinking companies. They realize that the real future of power generation and distribution lies in more local and individual installations.

My children will live to see the day when we are not dependent upon huge, centrally organized electric power conglomerates.

Carleton Cronin

West Hollywood