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OPINIONS
Voice of the people
City should recognize state's uniqueness
The Jewel City needs to recognize the entire state's jewels if it wants to succeed.
Nearly 10 years ago, when I was an undergrad working as a tutor at MU, two prospects from out of state came through the office I was working in for a tour.
Incredulously, an older colleague and I asked the two why they would want to come to West Virginia, echoing the negative sentiments we'd heard and thought sensible for the entirety of our lives. The two replied they thought the activities nearby were awesome, with rock climbing, mountain biking and whitewater rafting adventures being only a two-hour drive away from campus.
Then, I didn't understand. Now I do.
Fate has declared West Virginia eternally original in the history of the U.S., and Huntington needs to get comfortable with that, pronto.
The scent of cedar and honeysuckle in the spring and summer here compares to no other sensual pleasure on the planet, and none of us wants to aspire to be the next Columbus or Detroit. Rather than trying to be number one, how about we get comfortable with who we are, our uniqueness, and provide a fragrant, historical and academic gateway to the rest of this majestic state?
Happy birthday, West Virginia!
Kelly Broce
Huntington
Health care costs help pay for services
Liberals are now demonizing the health care system and vow to "right the wrongs and level the playing field." The costs for health care are elevated in our country because we provide state of the art health care to people with the most technologically advanced equipment available.
That equipment is not just provided to health care institutions out of the good of their hearts from such companies as General Electric -- it costs millions for equipment such as MRI's, CT scanners and PET scanners that people expect to have available for use in diagnosing their medical conditions or following response to treatment.
While we do spend a great deal on the provision of health care in this country, we must be doing something right; just ask the Canadians who come here for MRI's, CT scans, surgery, etc. because they are either denied such services under their health care plan in Canada (yes, the government does decide who can and cannot receive tests, treatments, etc.) or there is an extremely long waiting period for such services.
I agree that we need to seriously revamp some things about our health care system, but a government-run health care program is not the answer. Health care providers (hospitals, clinics and providers) already have abnormally long waiting periods to receive payment from the Federal government for services rendered; I can just imagine what it would be like if they are calling the shots completely.
Dave Wagnerowski
South Point
Council needs to focus on bigger problems
Why is Huntington City Council wasting time on an unenforceable tethering ordinance when after a heavy downpour, toilet paper and tampons seep out of the manhole covers onto the streets of Huntington?
Kathleen McKay
Huntington
