Letters to the Editor

7/16/2009

Dear Editor,
I joined an organic food co-op in Manhattan in l978. I had a doctor fix my broken ankle at the foot of the slopes in Stowe, Vermont and went to a hospital to have my appendix removed, but by and large, I've tried to avoid hospitals as much as possible, and haven't taken an aspirin or a Tylenol for well over 25 years. To head off Jinxing myself, I have my own health problems, and use selected doctors, but
I deal with those that allow me to avoid Big Pharma, since it is ingrained in me as my personal health path. I believe in "Preventative Medicine", and do not have a prescription drug plan.
However, being of an age where many of my friends and family are facing inevitable health problems, I watch as many of them are taken to the hospital for various surgeries, frequently bone surgery.
Being in hospitals in NYC is a difficult experience. My warning signals went off when one of my friends, who had donated all of her organs, was kept alive for almost a week, while they arranged to find homes for her various organs. Another was denied re-hab, after surgery, simply because the Social Worker didn't approve of it. He
then went home on his own, fell down, and now is re-applying for re-hab coverage.
I share these personal stories to help inform you that our health care system is broken, not just because illegal immigrants are using the emergency rooms, which I'm sure is a small part of the problem, but because the entire system is based on greed and over-abundant profits which unfortunately is the present American Dream. When you go to the doctors office, and you are behind the salesman that is calling on the doctor, you might wonder if the doctor profits from the prescription drugs that he suggests you take. Well, he often sells them to you at a reduced price from the pharmacy, but that's because he gets it wholesale and marks it up a bit less. He also gets vacations in Hawaii.... or trips to conferences at resorts.
Over the last 25 years, clinical research has been largely privatized, along with everything else. To quote from the L.A. Times: "Three-quarters of the clinical studies published in the three most respected medical journals (the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Assn. and the Lancet) are now commercially funded. As a result, our medical knowledge grows not in the direction that best improves our health but toward corporate profits, the way that plants grow toward sunlight. The vast majority of clinical trials are commercially funded, and with the financial stakes so high, there is mounting evidence of individual scientists and corporations manipulating their findings."
When our government allowed the drug companies to advertise directly to consumers in 1997, they did so to the tune of $19 billion annually. Now, where is that money coming from? If we trust our doctors, then why are we now told to "go to your doctor and ask him for Vioxx"? Advertising money comes out of the profits of the product. So, if we eliminate the drug advertising, (like it used to be when I was in advertising), our drugs would be a lot cheaper.
Which brings me back to my familiar question: Why do we need more billionaires and less middle class? Why are we not heeding the lesson that is right in our face, regarding our beloved democratic
way of life? If we don't stand up for it, it will be taken from us. It's really difficult for the Iranians to go from where they are to where we are, but if we don't stand up for ourselves, we might lose more of our own power.
We need to reform our Health Care System. I'm glad that Steve Jobs got a new liver. I'm an Apple user and appreciate his brilliance, but, if I needed a liver transplant,, what would my chances be? In my opinion - none. There is still time to
get our country back, but not if we sit by and do nothing. Let's at least start by telling our representatives that we want health care reform... NOW.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
The Town of Olive meeting hall was alive and kickin’ at the recent standing room only Olive Dem caucus which to me was more fun than a night out on the town with surprise, passion and drama spilling out everywhere. I love to and will continue to nominate any challenger if asked as that is the essence of what democracy is all about. Almost any Olive resident can walk in, seek a nomination, make their case and have their peers yay or nay placement on the party ballot line. Nominating someone is easy, pleading a case for a ballot line is not and I admire anyone who is confident and brave enough to do it. Countless have fought and died for this right and I believe it important to assist anyone in this priceless and hard won tradition whenever I am able to. Some if not all of the Olive Dem leadership appeared to have a dim view of this enthusiasm for choice but that is of no surprise nor concern to me. I am saddened at the hard feelings encountered at the event but I also believe that this is due merely to deep seated human nature and that as the issues are more clearly defined by the electorate, they will be mulled by all and it will all resolve well according to the will of the masses. The old adage “If there is no shouting, its probably not a democracy” certainly rang true but compared to the wild west town further up the line and the interminable enchanted caucusing in the kingdom to the east, I’d say that we were positively genteel and quite efficient considering the high level of passions in play. Olive Rocks. All of it.
Charlie Blumstein
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
I'm anxiously awaiting the results of the July 2nd meeting on Rte 28A. What a mess. I am reminded everyday of the ineptitude of these people. What was once a beautiful stretch of road is now a massacre of needlessly flattened land and debris with a few more hastily cleared areas for construction vehicles to park. And it's all neatly wrapped in an appalling orange plastic bow.
Yesterday I saw a young fawn trying to follow it's mother frantically trying to cross this man made barrier. Also thanks for the long traffic light where you're lucky to see three cars pass at any given time.
Well obviously the money's been divvied up so someone's happy. Do you really think straightening the road's going to help? Come on. The same people that race through that stretch are just going to go faster causing more needless injuries.
What's going to happen now? More deforestation because of their gross
miscalculations? I am seething from this. I think it's time we organize and get to the bottom of this. Now, more than ever, we should be more careful with taxpayer spending.
David Stone
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Many thanks to Paul Smart for his excellent article, “Doing it the Olive Way: Neighbor’s Complaints About Site Plan Irregularities Result in Harsh Words.”
I was shocked at the comments attributed to our elected and appointed officials. For example, Town Supervisor, Bert Leifeld, spoke about me “running around bitching about needing a site plan,” and Zoning Enforcement officer, John Ingram, spoke about having “had a terrible time” with me.
I t is true that I have spoken to, written to, and sent photographs of zoning violations to our town officials, which they have consistently disregarded, and now, as Mr. Ingram is quoted as saying about his approach to zoning matters, “We’ve taken care of things pretty well here. We’ve made it work very nicely. When it hasn’t worked it’s been because of people like Alan.” Does he mean that when citizens request that laws and regulations be followed, they are somehow upsetting the comfortable “good old boys’ club” of Olive – the folks who do not have to follow the laws the rest of us must obey?
The issue isn’t whether or not “If we stir this up all it’s going to do is make one big mess,” as Ingram is quoted as saying. The issue is that our elected and appointed officials have not followed the zoning laws that were written for all of us. I hope that they now will.
A site plan should not take years to submit, and should not be approved after the site modifications have taken place. In fact, my concerns are relatively minor, and the solution is even simpler: Follow the rules that you made and enacted.
Beyond the normal site plan submission required by law, all I’ve requested is that the flooding in the back and the front of my property that was created by Mr. Jones constructing his new road, be corrected in the fashion he and I have discussed -- and he has agreed to do -- on numerous occasions.
Alan Eisenson
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
And another one bits the dust....Michelle Friedel, a knowledgeable and experienced educator in both ciriculum planning and special education resigned from the Onteora school board siting personal reasons; Maxane Resnick, seated president of the Onteora School Board does not seek reelection siting personal reasons; Ralph lLegnini, one of the elected "fearsome four" resigns from the Onteora School Board after only serving six month, siting irreconsiable differences with his own elected majority....all in one year....coincidental?....maybe.
We also have a board seated for one full year who haven't even set goals for their tenure.A board who seems to only look to disembowel our central administration staff claiming high salaries and over staffing, when in fact our administrators are only median in salary compared to the rest of the county and the staffing is below average in population.
This is a board that chooses to fight every battle, large or small that comes along and forgets they are there to set policy, direction and goals, only, for the district. We have a talented , highly motivated and experienced administrative and teaching population but this board feels that they, more than our salaried staff, know the answers to all the educational questions posed to our district.
The Onteora district population elected them with a primary goal of keeping an elementary school open......well, they have but at whose expense?
Wake up, Onteora...your student population has dwindled to 1692, as predicted....your classroom sized are dwindling too one classroom per grade size and the cost per student is rising to over 30,000.It's time to set emotions aside and look to the best education, for our children, that our money can buy.It's time to circle the wagons and tighten our boundaries. Bring all the expertise that we are paying so sorely for and put them in closer proximity so that together they can share with our children the knowledge they were hired to impart.....CONSOLIDATE our facilities....give these kids a whole, diversified solid education that will really bring our district into the 21st century.
Rita Vanacore
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
60% of personal bankruptcies are due to medical costs for people who are insured! Tom from Portland, OR was in the hospital for 10 weeks after a motorcycle accident. He had 21 liens on his house, before he was released from the hospital,totaling $531,000. It is time to stop this scenario and others like it. Support Single Payer Health Care aka Improved Medicare for All. Take the profit out of health care, out of the hands of the insurance companies and put decision making for your health into the hands of your doctor. Currently, 30% of health care cost goes to the insurance companies while medicare overhead is 3%. If you want to cut health care costs, let's start with insurance company profits. Call your representative for support of Single Payer Health Care (HR 676). Call Hinchey at 1-845-331-4466, Gillibrand at 1-202-224-4451, Schumer at 1-202-224-6542.
Larry Andreassen
New Paltz, NY

Dear Editor,
I'd like to respond to M. Montalbono's 6/4 response to my 5/7 comic strip.
First, don't get too mad at the Olive Press: They have little control over me, and I have no control over them. Also, my li'l strip wasn't news, it was editorial. (Few sensible people expect news or objectivity from a comical strip.)
Second, and I do hope this doesn't further enrage Mr. Montalboro, but I'm pleased he got so mad. Means the strip sorta worked. But I DO think that Congressional Republicans are dominated by white southern racist men. Yes, the term "racist" is loaded, but that shoe seems to
fit rather well. (The only measured group of white voters who went for Obama was first-time white voters.) And, yes, too, scorched-earth attacks are not nice. But Congressional Republicans have been earth-scorching since the 1990s. If those heirs of Gingrich aren't quite still scorching, it's only because they're out of ammo. (Chickens coming home to roost, wearing little shoes?)
By the way, I'm a poor example of a liberal Democrat. More of a crackpot libertarian. Before '96 I voted overwhelmingly for Republicans.
Third, some quibbles. What "over 50% of the US electorate" is he talking about??! Surely not Republicans or even conservatives. I perceive only two over 50% groups: Females, and those too lazy to vote or even pick a side.
And if he wants to see some really antagonistic "journalism," he should check out the stuff they were publishing around 1800. Now, THAT stuff was CRAZY.
PS: That third fellow in the 5/7 strip was supposed to be John Boehner, House Minority Leader. From southern Ohio? Heh heh?
Gus Murphy.
goofball cartoonist (male stripper?)

Dear Editor,
Do you realize that if McCain were president, we would already be at war with Iran and Honduras?
Sparrow
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
The Age of Transparency and potential political fraud seems to have gone right over the arrogant halos of national journalists. No wonder the print media is going downhill so fast.
The Associated Press, the national news stereotype, has foundered because of apparent bias toward Democrat Barack Obama. Does the rest of the MSM march in lockstep with the AP?
Is Obama waiting for the next presidential cycle to come clean about his citizenship status? He may be just giving us poor ordinary citizens enough line to embarrass ourselves. Or maybe spending a million on covering up his long-form birth certificate, academic and passport records through Perkins and Coie, et al., and Strumwasser and Woocher, active in fighting more than 40 lawsuits filed across the country that seek to bring out the facts, is just bothersome metal chaff to avoid all attacks on his veracity.
John L. Grogan
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
I write this letter simply because there is very little coverage of the following issue in the mass media and many, many people have no idea what has occurred.

Twenty three miles off the coast of Gaza, on June 30 in an open act of piracy, in international waters, Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the Spirit Of Humanity, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
The boat had left from Cyprus after being thoroughly inspected by Cypriot authorities and only after it was determined that the Spirit was carrying medical supplies and other humanitarian necessities such as toys and olive trees. There was nothing on board whatsoever that could or would threaten Israeli security.
Cynthia McKinney, the former U.S. Congresswoman, said, “This is an outrageous violation of international law...Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip. President Obama just asked Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do.”
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are desperate to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.
”The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of ‘Cast Lead.’ Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone” said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.
Just before being kidnapped, Huwaida Arraf, the Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: “No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children’s toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters.”
What kind of cruelty is this? Has Israel no shame or sense of humanity whatsoever?
I was raised in a Jewish family very loyal to the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine - a refuge for a persecuted people. However, as time went on, I began to see and understand the reality of political Zionism, the same political and militaristic Zionism that Albert Einstein, who also had initially supported the Zionist idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, warned us about. As I understood more of the unscrupulous grab for land and power, with little regard for the Palestinians living there for centuries, the myths, lies and distortions promulgated by Zionists became obvious to me and it became increasingly easier to see through the fog to the deeper truth.
I just read a statement from the Free Gaza movement regarding the kidnapping of the 21 international human rights workers and the boat Spirit of Humanity, which speaks volumes. I hope people of good will, Jewish and otherwise, can take the following to heart.
”With respect, it is not enough. We are not the story. Since its founding in 1948, the State of Israel has regularly kidnapped and tortured Palestinians, throwing them into forgotten prisons where they can languish for years. Today, over 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners without benefit of due process, some never even charged - men, women, and children - endure torture and isolation in Israeli jails, outdoor prison camps, and secret black sites. They come from all walks of life: doctors, journalists, parliamentarians, workers, resistance fighters, homemakers, students and others. They are our sisters and brothers. The 21 passengers aboard the Spirit of Humanity have been illegally incarcerated for their solidarity work with Palestine. 11,000 other members of our common human family are already imprisoned simply for being Palestinian.” For more information please go to http://www.FreeGaza.org.
Tarak Kauff
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
As the war in Iraq continues, it often seems like there's nothing we can do about the terrible situation there. However, now there's a concrete way you can help someone from Iraq.
Currently, I'm assisting an Iraqi refugee, who moved to New Paltz in February, as she tries to buy a used car. Our goal is to raise at least $1,000. She has an immediate need for transportation because in July she'll begin courses in Kingston in preparation for finishing her M.B.A.
Amal Maseer is a courageous woman and gifted artist. After her home was bombed twice and her then 6-year-old son's front teeth were blown out by a car bomb, she fled to Jordan. Through the support of Michele Riddell in New Paltz and the intervention of U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey and Queen Rania of Jordan, she was granted refugee status in the United States. Trained as an economist and math teacher, Amal has been supporting herself by selling her beautiful paintings.
Amal is in desperate need of transportation and housing. Since late February, her family has lived with Michele in extremely cramped quarters. Amal shares a small bedroom with her sons, ages 10 and 12, who sleep in a bunk bed while she has a single bed squeezed into their room. Abeer, her lovely 16-year-old daughter, has a small separate bedroom. In addition to the lack of space, you can imagine how difficult it is to share a home with another family in a completely different culture.
If you can spare any amount from $5 to $100, it would help us reach our $1,000 goal. Please send cash or a check made out to me: Paula Silbey, PO Box 156, Lake Hill, NY 12448. If you want to make a larger donation and need it to be tax-deductible, please contact me and we'll try to funnel the money through a local non-profit peace organization.
Also, if you know of anyone with a used car that they'd be willing to sell inexpensively, please contact me. If by some lucky chance someone can donate a vehicle, we'll use the raised money for upfront housing costs such as deposit and last month's rent.
Thank you, in advance, for your support.
Paula Silbey
Lake Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
A fantastic day was had by all who attended the Shandaken in Bloom! Garden Tour, sponsored by the Shandaken Democratic Committee. Great appreciation for the following people who opened their garden treasures to glowing admiration: Marvella Casale, Peter DiModica and Chandra Lencina, Mary Herrmann, Marilyn Manning,Tom Mohan, Sean Mounier, and
Dean Riddle.
What a wonderful day! Thanks to all!
Susan Robertson and Michelle Spark
Shandaken Democratic Committee

Dear Editor,
We Americans do manage to get our world messed up for sure. Here we have valiantly struggled to insure freedom of the press and here we are not buying papers but getting news on the internet from the fewer and fewer papers being published. Much of the news is now in the hands of papers backed by powerful groups who use the press for political purposes. If you have stopped buying newspapers but are instead going to the internet, reconsider your move.
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Friends and Family of Maureen Odenwald, a 1980 graduate of Onteora Central High School, are hosting a Benefit Concert and Silent Auction on Sunday, August 2, 2009, from 12 to 6 pm at Davis Park in West Shokan, New York, to raise funds to offset the medical costs related to a recurrence of breast cancer. Maureen had her second mastectomy in April and is awaiting two further surgeries later this summer.
Our good friends, The Pontiacs, Dorraine Schofield and Friends, The New Lazy Boys and other surprise guests will provide music for the day, and local restaurants and grocers are donating food and drinks for this town-wide event.
Goods and services for the Silent Auction are still being sought and can be dropped off at Threads of Time on the Boardwalk in Phoenicia, or by calling Kim at 688-7173. Already we have collected amazing donations from local artisans and business owners. There will also be a special raffle for an original oil painting of the Ashokan Reservoir by award winning local artist, Kate McGloughlin (who was Maureen ‘s college roommate). Only 100 tickets will be sold, 5 chances for $100 or single chances for $25 each, while tickets last. Call Kate to reserve a ticket soon, at 657-8761. Drawing for the raffle and close of the Silent Auction will be at 5 pm that day.
Please come and out and support our friend at this great day of music, fellowship and feasting; you may not know Maureen, but we bet you know someone just like her—hardworking, responsible, bill paying, fun loving, and unable to keep up with the rising cost of medical insurance-- exactly when she needs it most. We know that Breast Cancer can happen to anyone of us, and that the rising cost of medical insurance is keeping all of us humble. Suggested donation for the day is $25 for adults, $10 for kids, children under 5 are free. If you can’t come to the event and want to help, please make checks payable to Maureen Odenwald, and send in care of D Odenwald, PO Box 114 West Shokan, NY 12494. For further info, call Maureen’s sister Peggy Maldonado at 657-6632, or Siobhan Scanlan at 399-1432.
The Friends of Maureen
Darlene Beesmer Griffin
Kim Tisch Houska
Suzanne Parkes Large
Kate McGloughlin
Marian and Dorothy Odenwald
Peggy Maldonado
Siobhan Scanlan