Thursday's Letters to the Editor

<p class="bold allcaps">No town halls</p> <p>EDITOR: Your Wednesday editorial, “Town talk,” encourages Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Mike Thompson to conduct face-to-face town hall meetings.</p><p>I think this could be a dangerous thing to do. I am deeply concerned about the news images I see of people wearing guns to political events. At some events, people have chanted slogans and shouted down politicians and others with whom they disagree. This is no way for people to learn about health care proposals.</p><p>Constituents with questions or concerns about health policy and other issues can contact their representative's office directly.</p><p>TERESITA HAAG</p><p>Sebastopol</p><h3>Read the bill</h3> <p>EDITOR: There has been a good deal of conversation about the proposed health care bill that is before Congress. There would be a great deal more conversation if everyone was aware of the contents of the bill.</p><p>Our representatives are very secretive about the provisions, for good reason. Anyone that I know who has read some of these provisions is up in arms about what is being proposed. Elderly people would be affected in a manner that is unbelievable; but then everyone will reach that status sooner or later.</p><p>There has been a great deal of negative reporting covering the actions of some citizens who are protesting the wording and the spirit of the proposed bill. I think that is because of either an ignorance of the contents of the bill, or a vested interest in its passage. There are those, of course, who prefer to remain ignorant.</p><p>If you want to be an informed person, who wants to have a part in your own destiny, find a copy of a synopsis of the proposed bill and read what our government wants to do to us. You may be as distressed as I about what our government is planning.</p><p>BILL GIST</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Smoky fair</h3> <p>EDITOR: The Sonoma County Fair is nothing but a mere memory for another year. The beautiful flower show. The assorted livestock and large variety of arts and crafts. The thrill of the rides, great live shows, and the horse racing. The smell of popcorn, churros and the ever present smell of cigarette smoke. That's right, cigarette smoke.</p><p>They have Kids Day, Seniors Day, etc. How about a Smoke-Free Day? Wouldn't it be great to enjoy all of the sights and sounds of the fair without the smell of someone's obnoxious fumes from their cigarette intruding on your every move.</p><p>Sure, you can step away from the offender, and two steps later, there is someone else to take their place. For anyone with asthma or any other impaired breathing conditions this is more than just an annoyance. Try a Smoke-Free Day at next year's fair, and it's a sure bet that I will be there.</p><p>DEREK WILLHITE</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Try a rake</h3> <p>EDITOR: I just had to write after reading Shelly Fischer's justification for using a leaf blower (“Useful blower,” Letters, Monday). I, too, live on a large rural property in Sebastopol. Unlike some of my neighbors, I have refrained from putting in “10,190 square feet of concrete, redwood decking, lawn, decomposed granite and desert flat stone” and have chosen to live in harmony with my surroundings. It always amazes me when people move to the countryside and pave over the landscape, which would naturally decompose those pesky leaves and eliminate the need for blowers. I say do what the rest of us “non-blowers” do: Get a rake and a broom and some exercise.</p><p>JACQUELINE AGATA</p><p>Sebastopol</p><h3>Doctors protest</h3> <p>EDITOR: We are family medicine resident physicians writing on behalf of the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency.</p><p>The recent announcement that President Obama is backing away from a public option for health care reform is terribly disheartening. As physicians who care for the underserved here in Sonoma County, we see, on a daily basis, the need for change. </p><p>Health care reform without a public option is not real reform. A system based on for-profit insurance companies can never be sustainable, and, therefore, many people will still be left out. Medicare is hugely popular among patients and doctors. Making it possible for younger people to receive health care under a public option, such as Medicare, would be transformative. We want transformation. We want real change.</p><p>We will be demonstrating in support of a public option in Courthouse Square at 5:15 p.m today. We invite you to join us. For those of you who work in health care, wear your uniforms.</p><p>DR. VERONICA JORDAN</p><p>and DR. RACHEL FRIEDMAN</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Legislative raises</h3> <p>EDITOR: I want to thank the Press Democrat for Tuesday's “Big spenders” editorial on the state legislators. I was angered by the fact that our state legislator, Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro, gave raises to his staff at a time that demands sacrifice from everyone in the state and local government.</p><p>What amazes me is the arrogance of Chesbro and the rest of the state legislators, and it confirms that they are completely disconnected from what is happening to their constituents. Maybe we need to develop new forms of social ostracism or embarrassment for them. Maybe we could publicize the menus at their political fund-raisers and official meetings to see how well they eat and drink. They need to wake up.</p><p>TOM MONPERE</p><p>Ukiah</p><h3>Woolsey town hall</h3> <p>EDITOR: For some reason, The Press Democrat continues to print the fiction that Rep. Lynn Woolsey has not held any town meetings when, in fact, she attended a lengthy one on Aug. 14 at The Sea Ranch, which The Press Democrat did not to attend. Woolsey stayed for nearly two hours, answering every single person who lined up to ask a question. Those attending were respectful, polite and well-informed, leading Woolsey to comment that she is “lucky to represent the smartest people in the country.” A full report on the event can be found in the Aug. 21 edition of the Independent Coast Observer.</p><p>LISA WALTERS</p><p>Gualala</p><h3>Hospital bills</h3> <p>EDITOR: Let's look at this scenario and then decide if we need health care reform: One of our employees had a minor injury and drove himself to a Santa Rosa hospital (not Kaiser). He was treated and released. The bill came to $3,100 for a cut finger that required a few stitches. We turned this over to workman's comp insurance, which settled with the hospital for $350. What a racket. Are you still wondering whether reform is a good thing? </p><p>JENNIFER PRICE</p><p>Santa Rosa</p>