More Debate

It is my hope that the debates about health care legislation go on much longer than our leaders in Congress plan.

In fact, I hope they on go long enough that the people in this country can be presented with all the facts, have a fair chance to weigh them and then make a most prudent decision.

Why is it so important for congressional leaders not to have debate drag on? Why is it also important for a few to set all the rules of debate?

I believe members of Congress think they know what is best for us -- the same politicians who think that the proposed health care plans are such a great idea they are exempting themselves from the coverage.

Richard J. Szalecki

Baltimore

Lead Hazards

I am writing in response to your Aug. 8 editorial, "Abating the Lead Problem."

You made very true and important points. However, the editorial de-emphasized the fact that every pre-1978 house or apartment should be evaluated for lead hazards. The problem is pervasive in every socio-economic neighborhood.

It is true that many lead exposures have been eliminated. This, in concert with housing inspections, has drastically reduced levels of lead poisoning.

But who wants their child to be part of the 8.9 percent that are poisoned? Lead poisoning is completely, 100 percent preventable.

A main contributor to lead poisoning remains in older housing stock. While it is true deteriorating lead-based paint is most hazardous, lead paint in any condition in any house can poison a child. This is the very reason all homes should be tested.

An inspection for lead in a house should include analysis of paint, dust, water and soil. By combining the results of a variety of tests, an evaluation of poisoning hazards can be determined.

The simple presence of lead-based paint is not an indication of a problem.

While a small paint chip can hurt a child forever, leaded dust can cause irreversible, and possibly undetected, damage. Leaded dust is continuously produced by most lead painted surfaces.

It can be relatively easy to reduce the lead hazards in a house. Aggressive cleaning, paint stabilization, maintenance and education are sometimes all that is needed.

In fact, scraping or sanding lead-based paint which is in otherwise good condition can be very hazardous.

Paul Graves

Towson

VA Mess

My father was denied admission to the new, state-of-the-art Veterans Administration Hospital on Aug. 8.

An ambulance was summoned, but then they called back and stated they would not accept him because he was "not stable."

They claimed they didn't have emergency service on weekends. This was later confirmed by a doctor speaking from the VA hospital.

My father gave up his left leg during World War II. He spent five years in VA hospitals because it took the doctors that long to figure out what to do with his injury.

Fifty years later nothing has changed with regards to the Veterans Administration. This should not happen in any administration.

P. E. Codd

Columbia

For a Non-Partisan Care Plan

The Aug. 3 article in The Sun about the bus caravan in support of health care reform gave the mistaken impression that the Alzheimer's Association was a major sponsor of the event.

This letter is an attempt to clarify the association's position.

Four million Americans suffer today with Alzheimer's disease; there are 19 million Americans in the families that care for them.

Every person who has Alzheimer's disease eventually needs full-time care. Today, the cost of that care is at least $100 billion -- most of it borne by families, because neither Medicare nor private health insurance pays for the kind of long-term health care a person with Alzheimer's requires.

While we search for effective treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's disease, we must find ways to help families who are struggling to meet the high financial and emotional costs of caring for a loved one.

Consequently, we have been advocating for a long-term care program that would provide help at home and in the community. Our goal is to support, not replace, the critical role of families in providing care.

The National Alzheimer's Association Board has endorsed a set of principles for health care reform, which included support for universal coverage, cost containment, long-term care and a commitment to research.

The association did not endorse the president's health care bill, or any other bill.

The Alzheimer's Association is strictly non-partisan in its approach to health care or any other issue under consideration by Congress. We have worked closely with both Republicans and Democrats on a wide range of issues.

Cass Naugle

Baltimore

The writer is executive director, Alzheimer's Association Baltimore/Central Md. Chapter.

Coverage of NAACP's Work Faulted

As a member of the special contribution fund board of trustees of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, I found your article about Mary E. Stansel being quick to file lawsuits -- as reprinted in the Houston Chronicle -- most interesting for what was not disclosed.

One of the primary responsibilities of the special contribution fund board is to raise money for the NAACP, especially restricted funds for many of the valuable programs that the NAACP provides at the national and local level.

For example, in Houston the restricted funds are used for Back to School, Stay in School program, which provides mentoring support for inner-city children.

Such funds are solely used for those programs and are not the subject of the deficit mentioned in the article.

While it is true that the NAACP is currently in a deficit position, the causes were not accurately described in the article.

My understanding of the facts surrounding the deficit are close to those described in the Aug. 22 issue of Newsweek, where Rev. Benjamin Hooks, the former executive director of the NAACP, explains he left the NAACP with a $600,000 surplus.

With pencil gymnastics one could argue away the $600,000 surplus; however, under no reasonable scenario can the approximately $3 million deficit be attributed to Dr. Hooks' administration.

In any event, the finances of the NAACP need to be more closely scrutinized by its boards.

It is unfortunate that the press has not spent as much time and space on the constructive message and programs of the NAACP as it has on controversial issues.

Even though I understand the newsworthiness of a civil rights organization, founded under the banner of integration, sponsoring an event exclusively for African-Americans could be controversial, it should not be controversial for African-Americans to meet on a routine basis to discuss matters involving their community.

I would hope that African-American leaders could meet on a frequent basis and under a different banner, with the NAACP invited as a participant rather than a host.

No one has found the magic pill to cure the problems of the African-American people.

Hopefully, with continued dialogue, we as African-Americans may be able to find a remedy for many of our ills. Criticizing African-Americans who are trying to seek constructive solutions is mean spirited.

With respect to the allegations of sexual discrimination against Rev. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the primary issue is his judgment in negotiating such an agreement without the approval of the national board.

If he had obtained its full knowledge and support, he could have eliminated the controversy as it currently stands.

The NAACP is a great organization with many wonderful and talented people on its staff and within its membership ranks who are devoted to the advancement of all people. These are the heroes to which the media should direct its attention.

There are many important issues which the NAACP is addressing as part of its current agenda, including the following:

* Making sure the "information super highway" goes through all communities, so that all people are equipped to travel on it.

* Guaranteeing reasonably priced and adequate health care for all Americans.

* Stimulating economic development and job creation in the United States.

* Guaranteeing a political and legal system which is fair and represents all people.

* Developing additional programs, such as Act-So, which identifies and nurtures young African-Americans talented in the sciences, math, arts and the humanities.

* Guaranteeing quality educational opportunities to all Americans.

* Creating safe and crime free communities for all Americans.

The implementation of programs to address many of these agenda items may prove to be controversial to some people.

Yet these agenda items are important to the moral and social fabric of our country and should be supported by all people through their efforts and continued financial contributions to the NAACP.

Herbert W. Powell

Houston, Texas