•Changes in health care •Mahalos for Peace Days Changes in health care I am encouraged by the discussions in The Garden Island from your readers concerning the proposed changes in our country’s health care system. However, to appropriately evaluate the
•Changes in health care
•Mahalos for Peace Days
Changes in health care
I am encouraged by the discussions in The Garden Island from your readers concerning the proposed changes in our country’s health care system. However, to appropriately evaluate the extent and quality of the suggested changes, it is most helpful to focus the discussions on factual information.
In his Aug. 28 letter, Gordon Oswald stated, “The United States has the finest health care in the world.” While this may be so for Mr. Oswald and others who have appropriate resources and obtain satisfactory care from superb physicians who work in excellent health care facilities, this unfortunately does not translate to the entire U.S. population.
According to the World Health Organization’s rankings of the world’s health care systems, the United States is No. 37, which is the lowest of any major industrialized country in the world and comparable to Costa Rica and Slovenia. We are, however, first in one category — expense/capital. We spend in the U.S. twice as much per person for health care as the next ranking country, which is Switzerland. Thus, as a society we are paying Cadillac prices but receiving second hand Edsels.
It has been argued that this problem can be solved by competition in the free market. However, almost half the states in the U.S. have a single dominant health care insurer who sets prices, determines what type of care is provided and stifles competition.
Hawai‘i is one of these states. The proposal to offer an alternative program, whether it be Medicare-like insurance, a co-op program or some other system, is an attempt to offer competition and let the consumer pick the insurance best suited to their particular situation based on quality and cost.
Such programs already exist in the U.S. For example, all federal employees participate in a highly regarded cost-effective benefits program that offers competition and a wide variety of health care choices, and our U.S. legislators receive their care at federal hospitals such as National Navy Medical Center or the Walter Reed Hospital in D.C. and do not feel the financial pressures and frustration in health care that are experienced by the general population because they have their own workable system.
Health care is now one of the biggest industries in the U.S. and with lucrative incomes for some and profits by many it is understandable that there are those who resist change. The issues to focus on now are how Congress can devise an affordable high-quality health care system for all citizens, and how such a new program will be financed. Stay tuned as our U.S. legislators attempt to address these issues.
Douglas Whitmore, M.D., Kilauea
Mahalos for Peace Days
When I approached people about the two-day Peace Day event, I was met with joy, appreciation and gratitude.
Everyone thought it was a good idea to help bring peace to people’s minds and offer a sampling of classes and services available on this island that can support peace in our hectic lives. We are blessed. I would like to thank the following people on behalf of the Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua‘i for giving up their time and energy to help create more peace for our island home. I trust that the skills learned and peace felt will continue to pulse into the island. Mahalos and blessings to:
Mayor Bernard Carvalho for signing and reading the county proclamation of a day of peace, and his staff for help in getting the proclamation made. Carvalho also came on Peace Day and spoke of his desire for peace on our island, and sang, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
Council members Lani Kawamura and Dickie Chang for sponsoring a Peace Day proclamation from the council recognizing Sept. 21 as a day of peace, and all the council members for signing it. Thanks to Kawamura for reading it at our event.
The Kukui Grove Mall Center for the space, PA systems and help. Special thanks to Jonell Kaohelaulii who was our liaison, and who offered space for a week’s worth of events.
The Garden Island for inspiring articles and coverage of the event; Ron Wiley for being the MC for the event; Ricko Rask of the Humane Society for peaceful pet care; Joshua Atkinson of the YWCA for teaching anger management; Dr. Laurette Schaller, family therapist who taught us where to create calm in a person by touching; Isa Maria, who taught non-violent communications and performed with Love Tribe; Deva Amala Seyon who shared about positive discipline for parents to use; Rose Schershel, Director of the Birthing a new Humanity Center that offers peaceful birthing classes and options; Kapa’a High School Mediation Team for presenting non-violent cool things for kids to do, and offering pinwheels for peace … then they created a peace event at their school on Peace Day; Rev. Catherine Hokulani Shiningstar Kauuwai representing Hospice for peaceful transitions; Mark Jeffers for telling a story about how love can be more powerful than physical strength; Aunty Hanaka’ulani Montgomery and her sister, Kealoha for our beginning pule and oli … they then gave a short talk on aloha and sang; Kimi Sodoyama who recited her poem “The Power of Peace”; Border’s Starbucks for coffee; the Lihue Tongan Choir for their amazing singing; Omashar, talented musician and music director of Unity church; Sharon Gonsalves for leading Sufi Dancing with Vigil Alkana accompanying; Ronda Rice and the Voice Weavers; the many seniors and community members who made cranes … Over 2,000 were made, blessed and given back to attendees to take to the island to be distributed when a person needs peaceful support.
Rev. Annaleah Atkinson, Fellowship of the Inner Light, President, Interfaith, Roundtable of Kaua’i
