Letters and Comments for October 20, 2009

Letters and Comments for October 20, 2009

Fox Hill situation improves

To the Editor:

Since early this summer when Bill Rautenstrauch and I took a ride around Fox Hill Road and Robbs Hill Road to survey the damage of illegal shooting, dumping, vandalism and trespassing and the subsequent story that he wrote, some very positive things have happened. The mountain is much cleaner and we are seeing a vast improvement.

My thanks goes out to not only Bill for writing a great story that helped make the community aware of the growing problem, but also to Robert Strope, La Grande city manager, who worked with me to put up baracades on Fox Hill Road to stop dumping and shooting at the city rock pit. I also want to thank Don and Randy Hampton with Roger’s Asphalt helping us fence off the top of Fox Hill Road to stop dumping and shooting in that scenic location. David Johnson gets a special thank-you for fencing off the old Boise Cascade property at the junction of Robbs Hill Road and Fox Hill Road where an incredible amount of dumping and shooting had taken place in addition to late night parties and illegal activity. His vast cleanup and improvement of that property over the last few months has been incredible. Finally, thanks to Jim Voelz of the Union County Sheriff’s Department for the extra effort in patrolling the area.

We can’t stop now. A few weeks ago someone dumped a yellow flower hide-a-bed couch over the side of Fox Hill Road that my family and I hauled up the hill and took to the dump. Yet another individual shot the signs on Robbs Hill Road.

Everyone can help by patrolling and reporting these illegal activities to the Union County Sheriff’s Department. By working together we can continue the cleanup and stop future problems.

Thank you to everyone who has helped.

Steve West

Ponderosa Ranch

Time for overhaul

To the Editor:

Paul Morehead’s letter regarding the health care system misses the point. Yes, the U.S. health care system works ... as long as you can afford to pay for it. Many can’t afford it, which is the point.

We have well-trained doctors and the latest technologies and drugs. But all of that costs a lot — more than they should. And we use them more than is necessary. As a result, we pay more for our health care but aren’t healthier for it. Forty-nine other countries/territories have longer life expectancies than we do.

The U.S. is the best place to get sick or injured if you have insurance, but it’s the worst place to get sick or injured if you don’t have insurance because the cost will drive you to bankruptcy. When those without insurance need medical care, they go to the emergency room, where they get treated, by law. Since they can’t afford to pay for it, the hospital passes that cost on to everyone else in the form of higher fees for services.

Those who complain about paying for the health care of others need to realize that they are already doing so. We need to provide health care, especially preventive care, to everyone. This will reduce the overall cost of health care by preventing illness, instead of treating it. And, yes, reducing other costs, such as frivolous lawsuits and ridiculous administrative costs (both government and corporate) are also necessary.

Some worry that government bureaucrats will make health care decisions, but they don’t seem to care that corporate bureaucrats are now making those decisions based on profit potential (insurance companies are incredibly profitable).

It is well past time for an overhaul of the health care system — not of the care we get but how it is provided and paid for.

Tim Hoffnagle

La Grande

Headline misinterprets

To the Editor:

My recent letter to the editor was given the headline “No forgiving Polanski.” I did not say nor did I mean to imply there is no forgiving Polanski.  The quote I used from Kate Harding did not say this either.

Roman Polanski’s actions were despicable and criminal. But they don’t place him beyond the reach of God’s incomparably rich grace.

Steve Boe

La Grande