Published: August 04, 2009 04:06 pm      

In Your View — 08/06/09

Jeff May misses board meeting

Where's Jeff? That’s the question the Lawrence County Board of Education asked at its July meeting,

Once again, Superintendent Jeff May was absent. It was reported that May was “under the weather” but was sending “orders” to the staff in the board office so the district could get’er done.

Isn't it encouraging to know that with only a few days to go until school starts here in Lawrence County, things that needs attention are getting taken care of over the telephone?

So now that the superintendent has started a new way to manage a multi-million dollar school system without even being here, let’s see how this might play out for other employees in the district. If working from home is good enough for the superintendent, I guess it's good enough for all employees. For example, when a teacher is not feeling well, she can just call her teaching orders in to the school secretary and the kids will learn just as if the teacher is in the classroom.

I thought that if teachers were sick, they filled out a card and turned it in when they returned to work. Looks like the rules don't apply to the superintendent since records reportedly show he has only taken two sick days.

At least the board of education isn’t paying to fill-up the superintendent's free ride every day since he’s not driving back and forth to Pikeville.

Our children continue to be the losers. Why doesn’t the board remove him?

Louise Morrow, Louisa



An alternative to health care reform

I expect reasonable, nonpolitical observers can find various ways to truly improve our health care system, short of government takeover.

We know that ambulance chasers make a fantastic living by suing hospitals and doctors, who must therefore practice costly, defensive medicine. A reasonable approach to malpractice is to award justified claims for actual, provable damages, while limiting awards for amorphous “pain and suffering.” Currently there is no limit. Indeed, there is movement in Congress to give trial lawyers a huge tax cut — lawyers repaying lawyers.

Encourage competition between insurance companies. As it is now, each state insurance commission maintains control over every company operating in the state. This forces every insurance company to operate solely according to strictures imposed by each state commissioner. There can be no real competition between national insurance companies within a state, and because of the power they wield, some state officials can be bought.

Pharmaceutical prices can be easily contained. As it is now, U.S. citizens subsidize all other countries. There are no government price controls in the U.S. but all other governments impose limits on what drug companies can charge. We then pay for their discounts. That is why so many Americans attempt to buy medicine from Canada.

Solution: Congress should not control prices, but should pass a law that pharmaceutical companies must sell in the U.S. at the lowest prices charged anywhere else in the world.

Joseph Pasulka, Southport, N.C.



No one will work harder than Ditty

I think everyone dreams of having their name inscribed on an important building, but Dr. Jack Ditty doesn’t concern himself with building names. His name is being indelibly inscribed on the hearts of everyone he comes in contact with. He uniquely touches souls every day through medicine, business, sports, kindness and love.

Elect Jack Ditty and he will take you with him as he confronts your issues. Jack will literally carry the “career politicians” in Frankfort over the finish line if it means helping you! He is not a career politician; he is a producer and his entire life has been a public demonstration of making life better for everyone.

I have witnessed Jack Ditty enabling family, friends and others to reach goals that many never dream. Jack will lead through tireless effort and humble honor. For many, a campaign effort requires great sacrifice. Campaigning for your life is what Jack does every day.

Kentucky needs Jack Ditty. Trust me, and I know first hand that no one will out work Jack Ditty.

He will restore our faith in the political system and will make a difference. Jack will become one of Kentucky’s great state senators and will represent your interests first. All I can say is, “get ready Frankfort, you ain’t seen nothing yet!”

James Fuzy, Native of South Shore, Jackson, Miss.