DIAGNOSIS: MUDDLE
Dear Aaron Mesh: Why do you call Michael Moore "a fake populist and an authentic liar" and also "another bad guy" ("Physician, Heal Thyself," WW, June 27, 2007).
You don't go into an explanation, so I don't know why you say these things. You mention that Moore's "idea of offering solutions is to accept, without question, the policies of other nations?" So what? Does that make him a "bad guy?" What did he lie about?
The tone of your review was quite angry, which is unfortunate, especially since Moore is trying to help shed light on an entrenched, often times non-functioning healthcare situation we Americans are in. Perhaps you meant that Moore is simplifying a complex issue.
I mean, does your dad work for an insurance company? Is your mom a doctor at an HMO? Do you wish you were a filmmaker instead of a writer for WW? The venom throughout the piece is really sad.
I really liked Sicko. If nothing else, it opens up for discussion the healthcare scam we all live with. I know your piece is your opinion, to which you are entitled, and it was well written. I don't think it did any service to the community, however.
C. Rambo
Portland
NO SOUR GRAPES
Despite the catchy headline, I need to assure our loyal customers, visitors and fans who come to experience our beautiful property on a regular basis that our cherished grapes are certainly not trash, but rather, diamonds in the rough ["Grapes of Trash," WW, July 18, 2007].
The Estate Vineyard, so unfortunately situated next to the sprawling dump, was planted in 1969 when Grabhorn [Lakeside Landfill] was just a mere 1/4 acre. It is not planted on landfill and therefore, it is not contaminated by the waste Grabhorn continues to dump. At present, the well water has been tested and is not contaminated. Fortunately (unlike beer) we don't add water to wine anyway. Most importantly is to note that more than 100 acres of our quality vineyards—which happen to be managed with the highest practices of sustainability in the world (LIVE certified sustainable)—are planted on other sites throughout the Chehalem Mountains. Those vineyards are critical to our quality blends as they remain at the foundation of our wines.
It may be of interest to also note that despite the unruly practices of [Lakeside owner Howard] Grabhorn and his continuing noncompliance issues, Ponzi Vineyards remains a strong wine brand with a bright plan for the future. The Ponzi family plans to build a new winery facility far from the sites, smells and sounds of Grabhorn's growing monster. However, it remains unfortunate that county and state officials cannot understand the impact his facility is having on one of the state's thriving tourist attractions—wine touring—especially at a landmark site like Ponzi Vineyards with such a stellar international reputation.
Maria Ponzi Fogelstrom
Managing Director, Ponzi Vineyards
Beaverton
CLarifications
A couple of details to clear up in our 2007 Finder magazine: The development adjacent to the Lane-Miles Standish building (page 79) is for apartments, not condominiums. Great Gatherings (page 51) is, according to owner Rain Star, an "everything consignment store" selling furniture, tools, music and more, not just resale clothing. We regret any confusion.
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As a result of sky high healthcare costs health insurance carriers offer more and more plans with less comprehensive benefits in an effort to maintain affordable, or at least attainable coverage options. In turn the state and the feds pour on unnecessary coverage mandates forcing carriers to raise rates further and cut down on options they would otherwise offer. These mandates are always appaulded by the unkowing public who don't seem to understand that everyone pays dearly for them in the end.
Oregon based carriers run on 10 to 12% overhead. That's an awfully efficient margin. Consider Medicare runs 25% (not even close to 4% as often stated by single payer proponents) without taking into account billions in waste and fraud. Private and nonprofit carriers in America are vastly more efficient than the feds when it comes to administering healthcare. How can we expect them to soak up these additional costs (mandates, ever increasing service fees, outrageous Rx prices) and still keep their doors open?
Coverage mandates are just 1 relatively small example of what drives insurance rates up but they take a toll. The price of services and Rx costs are going through the roof. Most Americans have no idea that Canadian drugs are cheap because in part, they're subsidized by American tax payers (look up the NIH).
These are the real problems with our system. They must be addressed before any meaningful health coverage refom is put in place. Demonizing the carriers is naive, not constructive. If they can administer healthcare for less than 1/2 the cost of the feds, clearly a single pay system would cost us that much more, quality of care aside.
Of course we have a handful of crooked carriers (beware of Megalife or the "NASE") but they are not the norm.
Sicko offers up a few compelling stats, but for the most part Moore bases his entire case on anecdotal nonsense. Can you imagine what kind of horror stories could be documented that would show single payer to be the worst possible system? Moore's ala carte approach becomes worthless once you consider what he hasn't told you.
Moore is either not an honest man, or he's terribly uninformed. Sicko serves up a steaming pile of rhetoric that's ate up by millions of Americans who want to believe all blame can be placed neatly on top health insurance carriers. This mentality won't change a thing, but if it makes you feel better...