Doctors too should be held accountable

Editor:

It was a pleasant surprise to read that a federal judge is actually holding a doctor responsible for her actions by sentencing prison time as well as a monetary fine, even though the penalty imposed was much less than would have been imposed had a street junkie been doing essentially the same thing.

Since West Virginia has basically removed from doctors any responsibility for the quality of their work, the state should at least make some effort to impose some accountability at some level. It would be comforting to the general population to know that when doctors negligently or purposely kill their patients, some action would be taken by some state authority.

When accountability for their work is removed from any class of service workers, society suffers.

Has any doctor in West Virginia ever been tried for negligent homicide?

Bill Morefield

Princeton

Republicans aren't who they used to be

Editor:

The Republican Party has changed. Voters need to realize that the Republican Party has changed radically.

Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan would be upset with those who are currently in the House of Representatives.

They are driven by power and influence and have become self-serving and strong-willed, which makes them arrogant.

They no longer function in a manner that helps people but devote their energies to passing legislation that will benefit the rich and those who support them.

West Virginia can no longer support these people because they have forgotten why they were sent to Congress. They are supposed to support legislation that will benefit all of our people and legislation that will enable us to remain a strong and caring nation.

Eddie Eye

Elkview

Consider Romney as if he were black

Editor:

After the first presidential debate, the media unanimously gave the win to Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

Let's look at the demeanor of each candidate, and flip the racial script of their individual performances.

Romney displayed an overaggressive, arrogant, loud, obsessive and pushy demeanor throughout the entire debate. Even to the point of being downright rude, forcing the host audience to listen to "vacant" and "meaningless" rhetoric, instead of making a point. Many viewers considered this to mean he won.

But what if Romney were black? The same audience would have considered him abrasive, disrespectful, overly argumentative and threatening.

Obama, on the other hand was viewed completely out of context. Because he did not sink down to Romney's level, pros who read his demeanor and actions, did so, by judging him in the same racial field as they did his opponent.

In truth, Obama called Romney "stupid" in so many words, over and over again. Was he bobbing his head in agreement? Or was he humming, "Yadda, yadda, yadda" or "same old useless crap" in his head?

If Obama had been white against a black Romney, he would have been described a great orator and statesman, a true presidential candidate.

Seriously, if Romney's performance during the debate changed one undecided voter to finally choose him as their candidate, America's education system is sinking in the same cold and dark waters as did the Titanic.

Donna Willis

Institute

Subsidy for Century covers labor costs

Editor:

I see no reason why either the people of West Virginia or AEP should subsidize Century Aluminum's electricity rates.

The state has already granted some $40 million annually in tax credits and rebates to the company as inducements to reopen the plant in Ravenswood. The published number of permanent jobs that would be restored varies, but 640 seems to be at the high end of the estimates.

Do the math. Forty million dollars to bring back 640 jobs averages out to $62,500 annual wages per job - probably more than the average state worker makes, and perhaps more than the average Century worker would make. A bit much, I think.

So the state has already agreed effectively to pick up the labor costs for Century Aluminum's plant, and now the company wants West Virginia citizens to pay a major part of their electricity costs as well. What will Century bring to the party?

I feel sorry for the city of Ravenswood and its citizens, but putting the whole community on the state welfare rolls is not the answer.

Jean B. Cropley

Scott Depot