A USC medical student who is battling cancer; money, politics and California’s Prop. 23; Obama’s plan to boost the economy

Real-life medicine

Re “Cancer educates a med student,” Column One, Sept. 7

As this article illustrates, it is unconscionable that anyone should have to deal with having their medical insurance taken away just when it is most needed. When the recently enacted healthcare reform is in full force, stories such as these should be largely a thing of the past.

Josh Lilienstein was fortunate to be able to get insurance again, despite his preexisting condition. There are many who are not so fortunate. The healthcare reform legislation also helps those people.

Those who opposed healthcare reform might think differently if a loved one had to go through what Lilienstein has endured. The legislation may not be perfect, but it will provide welcome relief to many from the kind of anxiety addressed in this article.

Elizabeth Weinberger

Los Angeles

Thank you for the article that chronicled Josh Lilienstein’s story. I hope that it heightens awareness of the issues faced by the uninsured.

It is a topic we cover in the medical school curriculum, but unfortunately the lesson doesn’t seem to hit home until you experience it.

I want to acknowledge the Physician Aid Assn., a nonprofit, benevolent organization dedicated to helping L.A. County physicians, their dependent families and physicians-in-training get through un-

anticipated financial hardships. Its financial support was very beneficial in Josh’s care.

Erin A. Quinn

Los Angeles

The writer is associate dean for admissions and educational affairs of USC’s Keck School of Medicine.

Lilienstein’s experiences as both a medical student and a cancer patient/survivor were quite enlightening and moving.

The real point of the story is, once again, the very sad state of our health insurance system.

The fact that he could find himself uninsured for having used up his “lifetime benefit” by age 30 is unacceptable.

Andy Linsky

Palm Springs

Paying for a proposition

Re “Prop. 23 effort gets big boost,” Sept. 4, and “Prop. 23 is lose-lose for GOP hopefuls,” Sept. 8

This article is about Koch Industries, headquartered in Kansas, giving $1 million to promote California’s Proposition 23.

The most arresting statement concerned the money raised for Proposition 23: “97% has come from oil interests and 89% from out of state.” That says it all.

The almighty oil industry and non-Californians have the audacity to meddle in the policies of our state.

Cheryl Kohr

Redondo Beach

Two recent headlines, “Prop. 23 effort gets big boost” and “Whitman demonstrates the power of her money,” demonstrate why we individually, as a state and as a nation are suffering.

Voters are easily bought, not because they don’t care but simply because they are uninformed. They take guidance from those who scream the loudest, and the loudest are those with the money to buy the airtime.

Politicians and pundits can say anything they want. The truth simply doesn’t matter anymore, because no one checks. The professional liars know that what they say today will make its impression, and tomorrow’s correction will be buried, or not reported, in the scurry to air the latest talking point masquerading as a fact.

Laurie Pane

Burbank

After reading your article about the billionaire Koch brothers’ efforts to overturn California’s legislative response to global warming, I began wishing that the brothers were much more interested in sports.

Perhaps then they might have found satisfaction in owning a professional sports team or two, as so many of their elite fraternity have. If only they could limit their desire for world dominance to the athletic field rather than attempting to use their fortune to reshape government.

Brian Levant

Cornell, Calif.

Proposition 23 makes sense. California’s global warming law does not. Human activity is responsible for only a minor percentage of carbon dioxide emissions.

Proposition 23 will prevent the adoption of costly, misguided, ineffective, job-killing programs like cap-and-trade.

I have no connection to the oil industry.

William McKillop

Walnut Creek

The “tea party” rails against issues disliked by such billionaires as the Koch brothers and Fox news owner Rupert Murdoch. The Koch brothers give financial support to the tea party; Fox News continues to promote the tea party.

Do tea party members know their efforts go primarily to benefit billionaires? Do they think the billionaires underwriting the tea party are actually interested in anyone’s benefit other than their own?

As always, follow the money.

Chuck Almdale

North Hills

It’s oil money that got rid of our mass transit long ago (the trolley line). It’s oil money that had us forget about those long gas lines in the ‘70s, and now it’s big oil money that wants us to forget about global warming and suspend AB 32.

Please, please don’t let that happen. We are running out of time. The complete destruction of our environment might not happen in the lifetime that I have left, but it will during my children’s and grandchildren’s lifetimes. That is not the legacy I want to leave them.

Margaret Henrich

Northridge

I am amazed that given that the No. 1 problem in California right now is jobs, so many people think that the global warming bill should not be put on hold. The global warming bill will make energy more expensive during a recession, which is not a smart move.

Perhaps what Republican candidates should do is explain why people should vote in favor of Proposition 23.

Dafni Black

Culver City

Tough call on tax breaks

Re “ Obama plans big tax break for business,” Sept. 7

President Obama’s stimulus and tax policy is like driving your car by looking at the hood ornament. At its best, it can only be described as amateurish and misguided. At its worst, it has been

and will continue to be a disaster.

Don Black

Rancho Palos Verdes

Wow, this is a really tough one for Republicans. They naturally want the economy to remain sour until after the elections so that they can pick up seats in Congress. As a result, they will vote against any plans for improving the economy.

But now Obama comes up with a tax break for business. Tax breaks are the backbone of the Republican mantra. So do the Republicans vote for or against Obama’s tax break plan?

Martin A. Brower

Corona del Mar

Corporations are not going to create jobs because they have extra cash. They create jobs when they need to put out a product and don’t have enough people to do the added work.

Les Hartzman

Los Angeles

Questions on an LAPD shooting

Re “Protestors, LAPD clash as chief defends shooting,” Sept. 8

Personally, I cannot imagine a police officer shooting someone who has a knife but no gun, unless the person with the knife is holding it directly against another person.

And when there are two officers — well what can I say?

Karl F. Schmid

Los Angeles