http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/A blog to create conversation between the Kalamazoo Gazette and its readers.enTue, 10 Nov 2009 05:36:10 PSTMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noA blog to create conversation between the Kalamazoo Gazette and its readers.readreacthttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/VELgn8synLY/health_care_cost_savings_could.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints22672ViewpointTue, 10 Nov 2009 05:36:10 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3920781 ]]>Most of the focus of the health care reform measures I have heard have been related to financial reform. We need much more than that. We also need delivery system reform so that there is access to primary care and most importantly, preventative care.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/11/health_care_cost_savings_could.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/P9OjD9w-MsA/in_health_care_an_all_debates.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints22672ViewpointTue, 10 Nov 2009 05:23:35 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3920771 ]]>In his letter, "People support reforms but not current proposals," Todd Zimmerman says, "the health care reform that the administration is currently pushing would give the government the right to make life and death choices for its citizens." This is a common misperception that has confused many Americans — that government "death panels" will decide who lives and who dies.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/11/in_health_care_an_all_debates.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/MYL_F8AyFX4/final_comments_from_letter_wri.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints597154Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteMon, 02 Nov 2009 09:17:27 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3863962 ]]>The following letters from Kalamazoo area readers discuss Tuesday's vote on Ordinance 1856.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/11/final_comments_from_letter_wri.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/26eO5NX-bio/new_york_times_encourages_yes.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints10895597154Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteMon, 02 Nov 2009 09:18:19 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3863852 ]]>The New York Times, in an editorial today, encouraged Kalamazoo residents to vote in favor of Ordinance 1856, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of classifications protected from discrimination in employment housing and public accommodation.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/11/new_york_times_encourages_yes.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/L8ipcf84QX8/kalamazoo_portage_citizens_rec.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints96485203578Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteFri, 30 Oct 2009 14:23:36 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3849245 ]]>The following letters from area readers endorse candidates for election to the Kalamazoo City Commission and Portage City Council.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/kalamazoo_portage_citizens_rec.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/21jAeDMsf3k/kalamazoo_city_commission_cand_2.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints45609260402496485Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteFri, 30 Oct 2009 12:15:34 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3848546 ]]>A group has put forward a proposal to build an arena in downtown Kalamazoo. In order to do this it will be necessary for the county to put a measure on the ballot, possibly next spring, to institute a 1 percent tax on all restaurants serving food and beverages, hotel rooms and car rentals in the county to pay for building the facility. In addition, the city of Kalamazoo would need to spend an estimated $4.5 million on infrastructure improvements. Does Kalamazoo need a facility like this? Do you have any ideas for other uses for the property? How would the city pay for the needed infrastructure improvements?http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/kalamazoo_city_commission_cand_2.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/rXXBz4x1SLU/kalamazoo_city_commission_cand_1.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints96485Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteWed, 28 Oct 2009 13:50:13 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3834451 ]]>What do Kalamazoo City Commission candidates expect will be the greatest challenge the city will face during the next two years and what qualifications do they have to help them meet that and other challenges?http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/kalamazoo_city_commission_cand_1.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/AhixhCCgbpI/kalamazoo_city_commission_cand.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints30079596485597154Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteTue, 27 Oct 2009 11:48:10 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3824396 ]]>The Kalamazoo Gazette invited all 17 candidates running for the seven seats on the Kalamazoo City Commission to meet with the editorial board recently. Throughout this week, I'll run the candidates' answers as I transcribed them during the meeting. The following are the notes I took. http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/kalamazoo_city_commission_cand.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/N4Km0fu9B3w/post_3.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints36171ViewpointTue, 20 Oct 2009 12:57:02 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3794972 ]]>By Brooke Rowland. The argument for abortion in America is not whether it harms the mother, emotionally, psychologically and physically — statistics show it does. Rather, the question has focused on whether the fetus is, indeed, a human being. It seems obvious that once this was acknowledged, the murder of another human would become illegal.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/post_3.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/MrVWYxu8a4Q/legislature_must_budget_with_u.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints19883488ViewpointTue, 20 Oct 2009 12:03:20 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3794640 ]]>By George Peterson. Embedded in every crisis are opportunities. We already have addressed our budget problem better than most other states — we are tied for fourth in the nation for the smallest budget gap.We will have to build an education and training infrastructure for the new economy from the ground up.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/legislature_must_budget_with_u.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/Ji0dPYfksqQ/intelligence_beauty_and_skill.htmlRead & ReactViewpointsViewpointTue, 20 Oct 2009 11:33:23 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3794513 ]]>By Paul F. Hosman. What would you call an economic ideology that provided an economic, social and political playing field tilted to provide advantages to particular segments of society? Immoral comes to mind. http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/intelligence_beauty_and_skill.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/Rprtrg95fu8/post_2.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints566030587046457052ViewpointTue, 20 Oct 2009 10:59:03 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3794287 ]]>By Gary Wolfram. An economist once point out how government intervention in any market will lead to unintended consequences that lead to further intervention and more unintended consequences. The Waxman-Markey cap and trade tax is a clear example of this.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/post_2.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/6vjlevicCrM/were_too_fat_stupid_and_apathe.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints22672ViewpointWed, 14 Oct 2009 14:10:42 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3767423 ]]>By Jack Rooseboom. A large group of Americans feel it is time to roar past other countries such as Somalia, the Sudan and Peru, and provide some sort of health care for citizens. There is also a large group of Americans who look at countries such as Canada, Britain and France and shudder to think America could sink to their levels.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/were_too_fat_stupid_and_apathe.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/RliK3DkhuxU/health_care_maze_is_making_it.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints57705322672ViewpointTue, 13 Oct 2009 09:26:44 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3761721 ]]>By Dr. Janice Werbinski. I have been working in health care for 50 years. It used to be much easier to care for a patient in a constructive, helpful and logical manner. It has now become a maze or a game to try to do the right thing, with so many barriers between my concept of correct care and the patient's ability to receive and comply with that care.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/health_care_maze_is_making_it.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/Jwdn2Df5Dyw/good_reading_for_a_quiet_fall.htmlbook reviews199215553920553922553924549537Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteFri, 09 Oct 2009 15:58:46 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3688456 ]]>Each month I review four books for the Kalamazoo Gazette's Generations section. This month's selection includes a provocative graphic memoir by David Small of Mendon, MI. And for book groups, check out "Olive Kitteridge," by Elizabeth Strout.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/good_reading_for_a_quiet_fall.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/SQgMaSVRM64/kalamazoo_battle_creek_grand_r.htmlKalamazoo - Home Page - NewsRead & React569614569616569612Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteThu, 08 Oct 2009 09:24:14 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3737443 ]]>The Daily Beast, my other favorite Web site next to mlive.com/kalamazoo of course, posted a ranking this week of the smartest places to live in the United States. We came in 30th out of 55 cities in the brainpower sweepstakes.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/kalamazoo_battle_creek_grand_r.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/8unxajldfmw/we_are_responsible_for_bringin.htmlViewpoints22672568428568430Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteWed, 07 Oct 2009 04:27:38 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3734111 ]]>By Jim Gunderson. Most of the diseases that kill us and account for about 70 percent of all health care spending — heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and obesity — are preventable through proper diet, exercise, not smoking, minimal alcohol consumption, and other healthy lifestyle choices.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/we_are_responsible_for_bringin.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/DlODND4G6Gw/both_political_parties_are_too.htmlRead & ReactViewpoints568404568406231322Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteWed, 07 Oct 2009 04:14:17 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3734096 ]]>By Derek Getman. The country's debt is unfathomable in its immensity, and yet the Senate will soon vote to approve an increase in the Federal government's debt ceiling from the current $12 trillion figure to $13 trillion.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/both_political_parties_are_too.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/lLg2BKnGSAc/cap-and-trade_will_probably_cr.htmlViewpoints566030174977Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteWed, 07 Oct 2009 04:05:17 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3729134 ]]>By Greg Monk. I have reviewed a handful of analyses of the House cap-and-trade bill and all indicate a tiny impact on energy costs and job losses. Also, if you have been keeping score most states already have a renewable energy mandate and efficiency standards similar to what’s in the bill.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/cap-and-trade_will_probably_cr.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/8s4_poPHwzE/fox_news_has_a_great_quarter_b.htmlRead & React56150252318Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteMon, 05 Oct 2009 12:38:02 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3711229 ]]>The top show on Fox News is "The O'Reilly Factor" which averages 3.3 million viewers, Monday through Friday nights. But 2.25 million or 3.3 million doesn't sound like a lot of viewers out of 300 million people in the United States.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/fox_news_has_a_great_quarter_b.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/readreact/~3/kle2xdM7UQQ/olympics_in_chicago_think_it_m.htmlRead & React338190561117251334Joyce Pines | Kalamazoo GazetteFri, 02 Oct 2009 09:01:50 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/readreact//3427.3710019 ]]>President Obama went to Copenhagen, Denmark, to add a little weight to Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic games. Didn't work though. The five-ringed flag won't be flying over Soldier Field.http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/10/olympics_in_chicago_think_it_m.htmlnonadult