End-of-life counseling a godsend

8/22/2009

My thanks to The Blade for the Aug. 14 editorial "Don't fall for the lies." Sarah Palin and those like her, who insist on lying about the so-called "death panels," do nothing to hasten much needed health-care reform. Her fiendish comments that her parents or baby "will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide whether they are worthy of health care" is the most outlandish accusation ever made by a supposedly rational woman. End-of-life counseling (which is voluntary, not mandatory) can be a godsend for those who are agonizing over their health care decisions.

And now I find that the less-than-reliable columnist Jack Kelly is quoting Mrs. Palin's comments in his column. More lies. Go figure.

I have a living will and expect my family to heed my wishes that I not be kept alive via catheters, feeding tubes, and other devices to sustain life signs for one terminally ill. We all have that right and the lies being broadcast by the media and Facebook oddballs are atrocious. So much for the "deathers."

At age 89, I'm still hoping our wimpish Congress will finally deliver a responsible health-care bill, but from my viewpoint time is running out.

Virginia M. Nichols

Sylvania

Jon Whitman has filed yet another lawsuit challenging the Bedford Township Board of Trustees decision regarding the rezoning of his property and the referendum that overturned that decision.

The referendum vote was to not change the zoning of the Whitman property. For eight years his zoning requests have been denied. The message, loud and clear, is that the citizens of our community do not want that property zoned to allow for a big-box store.

It is time to look at a plan that would allow for responsible growth at Lewis Avenue and Sterns Road, a plan that could be accommodated by the current zoning. But Mr. Whitman has chosen to put the township through another court battle.

During the 2006-07 Whitman lawsuit, the township board tried to settle out of court, but because of a huge public outcry they voted to go to trial. I am asking Supervisor Walt Wilburn and the trustees to allow this lawsuit to go to court too. I hope you will, too.

Judy Frankowski

Temperance

Just as the Harlem Globetrotters are the clown princes of basketball, Ben Konop is the clown prince of Toledo mayoral candidates. He makes Opal Covey look like Margaret Thatcher.

KEVIN KELLY

Oakdale Avenue