YOUR VIEWS
Health rankings
The most recent Bloomberg Health Care Efficiency Report is a sobering must-read for everyone, but especially for those of us here in the United States. We hear on a regular basis that attending to health care benefits for all U.S. citizens is an unnecessary entitlement. So let’s look at the Bloomberg Report. Last year we ranked 50th in the world for health care efficiency. One year later, that ranking has fallen to 54th. Our president has paid admiring compliments to Norway, so let’s compare ourselves to Norway: Last year it ranked 20th in the world and this year that ranking rose to 11. Let me tap into other countries I have visited. Italy last year was sixth; this year it’s improved to fourth. Greece fell to 14th from 13th. France went from 15th to 16th. Turkey last year was 25th, this year it fell to 26th. Mexico fell to 20th from 17th.
We’re told we’re the richest country in the world. Something is wrong with this picture.
Ruth D. Miano, Oklahoma City
Bias is showing
In “Trump leads drive to save Kavanaugh” (Associated Press, Sept. 25), the last paragraph refers to Fox News Channel as “conservative friendly.” Although Fox News has many contributing progressives, I’ll accept the AP’s description. However, why is it that it never refers to CNN or MSNBC as “progressive friendly”?
Aaron Adkins, Oklahoma City
A time to remember
On Sunday, Americans will observe National Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day. The special observance dates from June 23, 1936, when Congress passed a joint resolution designating the last Sunday in September as a day to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter in the line of duty while serving in the United States Armed Forces. At Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, we make it a special point to honor America’s veterans throughout the year. We understand what it means to lose someone dear, and the importance of finding ways to honor the memory of those who have passed and cope with their loss.
We encourage our fellow citizens to join us as we remember the sacrifices of the fallen and offer strength and moral support to their friends and loved ones.
LaBerta Baker, Oklahoma City
Far more important
I am a former football player at OU. I played with Joe Washington. My son is a Marine, served in Iraq and was awarded a Purple Heart for being wounded. When Army was coming to play OU, my son asked if I could get him two tickets to the game. I told Joe of my son’s service in the Marines. Joe said he could and my son could pick the tickets up at the Sooner Club tailgate tent. My son and his wife showed up to get the tickets and Joe’s staff knew his name, treated them like VIPs and the tickets were in the stadium club area for VIPs.
This letter isn’t about what Joe Washington or I did on the football field. We would both say what we did on the field pales in comparison with what my son did and all the men and women who serve our country in any capacity, military, fire, police, etc., do every day. What they did was a million times more important than what all the kneeling pro football prima donnas do every Sunday, times infinity.
Dan Ruster, Edmond
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