Workers insurance gets unfair review in flawed article
The article "Despite firm's problems, state may extend managed-care deal" (Nov. 23) regarding Injured Workers Insurance Fund's (IWIF) managed-care program is seriously flawed, unfair to the people involved and does a disservice to the Maryland business community.
It is flawed, from my perspective as a member of the commission appointed by former Gov. William Donald Schaefer to review the operations and recommend changes to improve the efficiency of what was then called the Maryland State Accident Fund.
Every member of that commission agreed that the fund should be allowed to conduct business in the same manner as private insurance companies to provide workers compensation in Maryland. To accomplish this, changes in the law were recommended and enacted to release the fund from the kind of restrictions that The Sun's article suggests have been disregarded.
The article is unfair because few readers know anything about the operations of IWIF and, therefore, would not understand that it is not a typical state agency. As a state-created company to provide workers compensation in a competitive market, IWIF cannot and should not be expected to negotiate service agreements in the same manner as traditional state agencies that use taxpayers' money to provide services.
The article is a disservice because IWIF provides an essential, cost-effective product to Maryland employers. Businesses in industries such as coal mining and port-related activities could not operate without the protection provided by IWIF.
No insurance provider could succeed in Maryland's competitive market, where rates have been declining, if it had to operate like a government agency.
Just reading Walter F. Roche's version of how the managed care service agreement in question was developed, it doesn't appear to be inconsistent with the way other insurers might have approached the same situation.
What's more, no one is denying that the managed-care service is working, providing better medical care and more timely response to the needs of injured workers.
Christopher B. Costello
Baltimore
The writer is business community representative of the Maryland Workers Compensation Oversight Committee.
Police take right approach to speeders on Route 100
I was pleased to read that Howard County police officers take seriously the notion that the opening of a new section of Route 100 will be considered by many to be a speedway ("Road's name, not its speed limit, is 100," Nov. 25).
It was very disheartening, however, to read the reactions of drivers, quoted in the article, who were issued tickets for speeding. One driver expected to be given the "chance to adjust" to the new road, as if 55 mph there is fundamentally different from 55 mph anywhere else she has driven (she was clocked at 72 mph).
But even more frightening was reading the cavalier attitude of the 25-year-old ticketed for driving 79 mph, citing his past success in avoiding points on his driving record by paying double fines. If only risk could be removed in that way.
The drivers mentioned in the article would do well to consider the words of the police officer who explained the reasoning behind the heavy enforcement on the highway's first day open: Without it, "somebody will get killed."
Certainly, the police were hoping to prevent the irate drivers they stopped from being one of those who will inevitably be injured or killed, as well as drivers like me.
Carolyn Slivinski
Ellicott City
I applaud and commend the Howard County police for their efforts on the newly opened stretch of Route 100.
As aggressive drivers plague those of us who are mindful of our driving and the consequences of other's irresponsible behavior, I would say shame on those who feel that excessive speeding is justified for any reason.
Shelley Chait
Randallstown
Report of anti-Semitism among blacks is inaccurate
The article "Anti-Jewish views found more in blacks" (Nov. 24) lacks credibility. Because the story quotes some percentages and uses the name of Louis Farrakhan does not make it legitimate.
Black people do not separate whites from Jews and as a whole have not been privy to that history that causes anyone to hate another race of people so vehemently.
You should retract your false conclusion and apologize to all your readers for such racially driven verbiage.
Vernon Gundy
Towson
Television industry needs Newton Minow to police it
How does the Federal Communications Commission let the networks get away with the trash they are airing? Where is Newton Minow when we really need him?
After 25 years of employment in the program department of a local TV station, I just cannot believe the double entendres and the foul language.
Irene Morganstein
Baltimore
Starr following mandate to investigate wrongdoing
Kenneth Starr is no sex policeman. His responsibility was to investigate and document what has become a long trail of alleged lies, devious responses and immoral actions.
Perjury, abuse of power, witness tampering and obstruction of justice require the impeachment of any president. As to charges of character assassination, President Clinton tends to do a thorough job for himself and his accusers.
Thomas H. Mehnert
Annapolis
Backing Clinton's policies, though not his behavior
I feel compelled to write because of the plethora of letters written in the last 10 months concerning the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. It is time for this to end.
As a student of history, I am hard-pressed to think of another political figure in American history who has been as pilloried and had his character assassinated as publicly as our president.
I feel that the root of this is a feeling on the political right that anyone who disagrees with them is a liberal, left-wing degenerate. I support the president, not for the depths his personal conduct has sunken to, but for the heights to which his public policy initiatives have lifted us to.
What this country needs, and what this country was founded on, is a sense of compromise.
What reactionary Republicans need to realize is this seminal truth: There was no "Republican revolution" in 1994. What occurred was a vote against the status quo, and the vote this past Election Day was a vote against the status quo that has reigned since.
Patrick Young
Abingdon
Strive gives motivation to people without hope
I was very moved with the article in Arts & Society about Theresa Smith and her advancement in life with help from the Strive program ("Maybe this morning, things will change," Nov. 15).
As I read Ms. Smith's story, I was very close to tears as she relayed the many hardships she endured while growing up. I understood how her going through what she had experienced would make her want to give up, as she had for a while.
I would applaud the Strive program for taking on such a responsibility to turn people's lives around. Ms. Smith felt that she had no hope for the future, but workers at Strive turned that attitude around. They worked with her and made her realize and accept things about herself that she had not accepted before. She began to believe in herself and gain new confidence.
People say that our solution to the unfortunate people of our nation is just to put them on welfare, feed them or give them jobs. Those are all good solutions, but if the person isn't motivated, we have done nothing.
Strive has realized the real solution, which is to work from the inside out and bring back hope to people's lives.
I thank The Sun for publishing the article, and I hope that those who need help read it and realize a remarkable group of people out there cares about them.
Ifunanya Maduka
Columbia
Pub Date: 11/29/98