Entries for December 2008

Kudos for getting the facts right. This concise, well-written article helped educate readers on the benefits of earlier admissions, the full scope of hospice care, Medicare coverage, and other important information ["A Spreading Appreciation for the Benefits of Hospice Care," December 15-22]. But there is a long way to go to get people to realize that hospice is not a facility; it's a philosophy. I especially appreciate the article's subhead, "Putting terminally ill patients at ease in their final months." As reported, referrals to hospice tend to come unnecessarily late: The average time in hospice is just 20 days. By emphasizing that hospice care is appropriate for the final months, not just the final days or hours, this story may help patients and families seek the wonderful support of hospice care sooner. All you need to do is see one family in crisis who finally finds hospice to know that the hospices in this country are one of our most valuable assets.

Martha Vetter, Transcend Marketing Group, Holland, Ohio

You failed to say that in-home hospice does not provide 24-hour care and that a primary caregiver must be designated in order to receive in home care. This is an ongoing misconception. As for assistance with actual patient care, we had nurse's aides who came for one hour, three times a week. A licensed nurse came every other week, but somebody was always on call to field questions and come to the house on an as needed basis. Weekends found us essentially alone. I must add that we were given lists of agencies whose personnel we could hire if we needed extra hands. This being said, the entire hospice experience was a positive one. Each team was a very compassionate group. It takes an exceptional individual to love another human being enough to help guide and navigate the often choppy waters of the final journey. The hospice philosophy assures that peace and comfort are of the essence. I can think of no greater gift to give a person during their last days.

Bernadette Peter, Richmond, Ky.

When it comes to education and professional background, she [Caroline Kennedy] has a résumé that puts Sarah Palin's to shame ["Caroline Kennedy and the Sarah Palin Qualifications Test," usnews.com]. I have no doubt that Caroline is intellectually able to do the job. What I really want to know is: Where does she stand on the hard issues? That is the elephant in the room in my opinion. As far as comparing her to Palin, I think that's a real lame duck. There is no comparison. Palin managed to become the governor of a state that has a population that is half that of the city in which I was born. Call me erudite, but I am hardly impressed by someone who governs a state that has more caribou in it than actual human beings. Caroline Kennedy at least has an Ivy League education and a law degree from a reputable institution.

Comment by M. Fuller of WA

Governor Palin has the ability to win office in a free election. She has proved that. She has a good track record as an administrator, and while her weakness in international affairs was evident, she still was a good candidate for vice president. She has that undefinable "it" that is important in politics. Caroline Kennedy has a name. That is it. There are a lot of better candidates to fill the vacant Senate seat.

Comment by G. Macquire of TN

"Looking Back on a Troubled Presidency" [December 15-22] was about as fair as the media have been to President Bush. I do not agree with the author's position on the president's call to depose Saddam. Each president, including Bush No. 41 and Bill Clinton believed that Saddam possessed WMD. Every European leader, Saddam's own generals, and Iran all believed that he did. That WMDs were not found speaks volumes about the man but does not in any way suggest that President Bush lied. It is also unfortunate that the author chose Howard Dean to give a rebuttal on the president's invasion decision. He could not have found a more biased individual. The article author also faults the president on the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina. The fact remains that Louisiana Governor Blanco failed to carry out her sworn duty as the chief executive of her state. History and time will show that this president was not the responsible party with regards to the collapse of the U.S. economy, but in fact, Clintonites and certain Democratic senators were primarily responsible. I hope to live long enough to see that.

Robert Reichert, Punta Gorda , Fla.

Regarding President Bush's legacy, obviously, there will be many that will want to rate this man as the worst president in our history. I would disagree! As any somewhat intelligent person would agree, President Bush embodied everything that is good within the human spirit and, until 9/11, had shown ability, desire, and a plan to move this country forward and to do so in many ways! Unfortunately, as with the game of poker wherein we are often dealt a bad hand and forced to play it as best possible—so was President Bush! No president in the history was ever dealt as bad a hand as George Bush, and he played it as best he could, given the circumstances and obstacles thrown in his path!

Tom Letourneau, Cumberland , R.I.

OK, maybe there is reason for hope, but not because he [Obama] is like me or I like him. Hope because we can be different and still come together to forge our way through the latest challenge that confronts us.

Comment by Rese Smith of OR

As much as I would have liked to have seen Brooks [Laitch] get the hat trick, it was a smart play by a smart player [Alex Ovechkin] to ice the game. In fact, if the Caps have demonstrated one failing this year, it is the inability or unwillingness to step on the neck of a team that they have down by a goal or two.

Comment by Tom of VA

Instead of focusing on the number of women who are currently in Congress, we should focus on the additional number of women who are running for Congress each year—and winning ["Barack Obama's Cabinet Appointments: More Women Needed," usnews.com]. If this is consistently increasing and women have a 50-50 chance of winning, then I think we will eventually reach parity. However, if we are arguing that women need to achieve parity not by winning elections but by appointments, how is that progress? Shouldn't the primary goal be for women to raise their own money and win elections by votes? Perhaps the women's groups should stop depending on elected officials to be the great equalizer and implement their own 50-state strategy. Ensure that in every race there is at least one qualified women candidate. I don't agree with voting for women just for the sake of voting for women. Men can be equally capable of representing women's views. Look at the records. Let the people decide on the merits of the case.

Comment by Mia of WI

We need a system in which there is a mandatory percentage of women in top government positions to ensure representation. Women have had the right to vote for less than 100 years. In that time, we have certainly made great strides, but there is much work left to do in terms of equality. The only way to have women in government at percentages that reflect the population is through laws. Other countries have been very successful with instituting laws that require women to be fairly represented. The United States is falling behind in women's equality and has shown itself to be a surprisingly sexist country, but we can and should do better.

Comment by Hannah of GA

Thank you so much, U.S. News , for exposing the lack of care for our children with autism in the military ["Military Parents Battle the System to Help Their Autistic Children,"usnews.com]! Karen Driscoll has been fighting a great battle for all families in the military with autism. Deployments are stressing out the military families, and we don't need the added burden of paying out of pocket for needed services. The divorce rate is 80 percent for families with autism. The divorce rate for military officers has increased because of deployments. We need TRICARE's help during these critical times. Soldiers need to focus on the mission at hand, and they can't do this unless they feel their families are taken care of. I disagree with the TRICARE spokesperson: "There isn't a known treatment for autism." This is a false statement and shows TRICARE does not want to do the right thing for military families. This is an uphill battle for the military families, and many thanks to Karen for all her hard work!

Comment by Ashley Brown of KS

No family should "make do"! If we can obtain federal legislative intervention, support, and policy change, not only will this help the military child with autism, but it would send a strong message to all insurance companies across the nation to offer appropriate medical treatment for this vulnerable population. So in essence, what will help the military children with autism will help all children impacted by autism. If one does not like how insurance companies are denying children medical services, I would highly recommend to become involved at a state legislative level to encourage positive change. Everyone ultimately has the choice to act or be a bystander. Karen Driscoll and many others have taken it upon themselves to make a difference.

Comment by Naomi Love of NC

Another case of a double standard in the media. [Sarah] Palin was clearly not qualified, but, what qualification does [Caroline] Kennedy have? The family tradition? Name recognition?

Comment by Carlos Salazar of TX

I am a 2004 graduate of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va. ["America's Best High Schools," December 15-22], and currently a teacher at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School in Hawaii with Teach for America. I bear witness to the polar opposites of academic achievement: I was one of 173 National Merit Semifinalists at one high school in Northern Virginia and now work in a state with 68 total. I was part of an environment that embraced academic rigor and exploration, and I now strive daily to teach high school students the value in learning how to add integers. My peers have asked me what made T.J. the No. 1 high school [Best High Schools, Gold Medal List] and how we can bring that to our school, ranked second to last in a state ranked 47th in student achievement. The simple answers lead us to conclude that we have nothing to learn from the nation's best high schools. And the simple answers would be wrong. Not enough is said about the teachers and mentors at America's top high schools. These men and women work tirelessly and know that good isn't good enough. Teachers, devoted to their students' achievement, are the answer to our educational dilemma. Teachers who stay long after their paycheck requires, who research extension and enrichment opportunities for their students, who work individually with struggling students, are what make T.J. great. It was the teacher who found that real-life tie-in, who pushed us and held us to high standards, who made us want to learn. And teachers who said "good is good enough" found students skipping their class, acting up, and falling behind their peers. I strive to bring excitement into my classroom. Sometimes I am successful, oftentimes I am not. I now know that being a good teacher is extraordinarily difficult. Admin and policies can make a difference; a student's socioeconomic situation can make one, too. However, the biggest factor, often overlooked, is that of the teacher in the classroom making connections with his or her students.

Lance Murashige, Kapolei , Hawaii

It's disheartening to know that many charities will not receive as many donations during this holiday season as in years past. This is the year for people to donate to charities in place of a gift to a family or friend who insists they do not want or need a personal present. In these times, everything counts.

Comment by Jane S. of NC