Regarding a recent article concerning Dr. Mark Israel and Dartmouth-Hitchcock (“Ex-Cancer Center Chief Sues D-H,” Oct. 28), we, the board of directors of the Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center, would like to let the community know some of the facts, the first of which is that we are not part of this lawsuit. The mission of the Friends is to raise funds for new research programs and to support patient and family services at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. These funds are to be spent by the cancer center director in consultation with the cancer center Executive Committee and Research Committee.
In 2015, $6 million of philanthropy money was released by D-H instead of by the cancer center director. Of that total, $1.6 million was designated as Prouty dollars. We are pleased to say that D-H has since made $6 million available for use by the cancer center director, $1 million of which has been spent. On Sept. 23, the D-H board of trustees directed that the balance of $5 million be made available to the cancer center director to spend in support of cancer research and patient supportive services. D-H and the college are working together to develop a governance agreement for the cancer center that will, among other things, specify exactly how Friends-raised dollars may be spent so that donor intent will always be met.
Finally, to the thousands of Prouty participants, volunteers and donors, please be assured we remain steadfast in our mission to raise funds in support of the cancer center for the good of the residents of the Upper Valley, the people of Northern New England and for cancer patients around the world. We hope that all of us who are touched by cancer continue to stand together to fulfill this mission.
Shelley Gilbert, chair, board of directors Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer CenterHanover
Recently, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center sent a letter to its Medicare patients promoting a Medicare Advantage plan. DHMC says it will be working with Harvard Pilgrim to offer informational seminars. These seminars must follow rules, provide information and not include a sales pitch. But “a sales person will be present with information and applications.”
Obviously, Harvard Pilgrim hopes that a number of the attendees will become interested in enrolling in their Medicare Advantage plan. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., speaker of the House, wants to completely privatize Medicare. He has not succeeded because too many people know that privatizing Medicare would be a serious mistake. Medicare Advantage plans (private Medicare plans) are a subtle, insidious way to gradually achieve the goal of privatizing Medicare. Private companies claim they can provide health insurance more efficiently than the government can. They are wrong. Several years ago, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, an independent congressional agency, reported that Medicare Advantage plans were providing benefits at a 14 percent higher cost on average than original Medicare. Provisions in the Affordable Care Act are gradually narrowing that margin but it will take time. In my opinion, Dartmouth-Hitchcock should not be doing anything that might encourage its patients to join any Medicare Advantage plan.
Anne Nilsen New London
Send Hassan to Washington
It is time to keep Sen. Kelly Ayotte at home, here in New Hampshire, and to send Maggie Hassan to Washington. If you care about affordable health care, about women’s right to choose, you must vote for Gov. Hassan. If you are concerned about climate change and affordable education, you must vote for Hassan. The same is true if you care about campaign finance reform and maintaining controls over Wall Street. Ayotte has done nothing in support of these issues; in fact, she has done almost nothing in Washington. She has openly vowed to reverse Roe v. Wade. While she admits climate change is a “real issue,” she disagrees with attempts to do anything about it; climate change is real and Hassan will work for solutions.
Ayotte is a Mitch McConnell acolyte who will continue the do-nothing Senate and block Supreme Court nominations coming from a Democratic president. Haven’t we had enough?
Nancy L. Smith Enfield
It seems that the 70,000 radiated, polluted and subservient-to-the-U.S. residents of a former U.S. “Trust” Territory, the Marshallese, cannot have their day in the International Court of Justice. The suit filed Oct. 6 says that the nuclear powers violated the 1968 Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.
The court said, “The country had not proved an actual dispute existed between itself and nuclear-armed states.” Oh yeah! Just ask the Marshallese, who since the first nuclear bomb tests began in 1946 on their lands, for a total of 66, have had radiation illnesses.
Their culture and health have been destroyed by these radiation tests, and overcrowding on Ebeye and other islands, that has led to many social problems, such as suicide by youths, alcohol and drug overuse, and violent crime, all unheard of before the U.S. takeover in 1944.
Ebeye had 500 people in 1952, 3,000 in 1969 and now has 15,000 on 80 acres (0.14 sq. mi); this is equivalent to 66,750 people per square mile. The island is about a mile long and 100 yards wide.
After the nuclear tests, babies were born without brains or bones.
On top of the radiation poisoning, junk food and alcohol, sold by U.S. corporations, has contributed to diminishing the health of the people. The people now have arteriosclerosis, prolapse of the womb, anemia, rheumatic heart disease, thyroid and other cancers, influenza, conjunctivitis and diabetes. Many children and adults are overweight — the result of being forced to exist on an American menu high in trans fats, refined sugar and chemicals.
When I was on Ebeye Island in 1952 as “ship’s cook” at the Coast Guard Loran Station, the 500 or so people had generally good health and magnificent white, strong teeth and few cavities. No need for dentists nor orthodontists then; now they have high dental bills.
In 1946, the Island Trading Company, a monopoly granted by the U.S. government, brought in thousands of cases of Pepsi Cola and a huge barge full of refined sugar that was moored in the lagoon. The rats would eat the sugar only when they were starving — they knew it had no real nutrients.
Well, in a few years these low-lying islands (Ebeye and Kwajalein are only about 3 to 4 feet above high tide) will be under water and, like the Carteret islanders of Papua New Guinea, the residents will have to evacuate their homes.
If the tides created by human-caused climate warming does not scare them off, we can send Donald Trump to scare them off. What then does the word “trust” in Trust Territory mean?
Dick HolbrookSouth Strafford
Due to popular demand, the Hanover Conservancy will be hosting a second showing of the incredible movie The Messenger at the Nugget Theater on Nov. 5 at 11 a.m., sponsored by LindeMac Real Estate. This movie explores the deep human bond that we have with birds. It shares the awe, music, poetry, beauty and the wonder.
It shares the sophistication of our new satellite technology that tracks individual birds over thousands of miles, and data visualizations that elegantly expose glimpses into the otherwise unknown and unseen movements of birds. It connects us with how amazing these creatures are, and reflects upon our complex relationship to the natural world, examining how it is that we humans depend on birds in the work that we do.
Through this movie, viewers will come to understand how the fate of the songbird is inextricably linked to our own. The result is a deeply nuanced film that will make you laugh and cry, and will change you. For more information about the film, go to messengerfilm.com. For more information about this showing, go to hanoverconservancy.org. The cost is $5 for Hanover Conservancy members and $8 for non-members.
Linde McNamaraHanover
Dangers of Clinton Policies
A Hillary Clinton presidency could have serious consequences for us all. Two flash points are tax policy and foreign affairs.
Clinton has promised to raise the corporate income tax rates. The problem is our corporate tax structure already has among the highest rates in the world; pushing them higher will drive even more corporations offshore in an attempt to survive. Instead, we need to lower rates to a more competitive level. As history has shown repeatedly, lower tax rates generate higher revenues.
We should also look into ideas to adjust the tax laws to allow lower costs on repatriating the billions of dollars held overseas to escape confiscatory taxes. That money should come back here, for investment here, but won’t until the tax laws are made fairer.
Secretary Clinton should be challenged to answer this question — Can you name one society in history that taxed itself to prosperity?
Clinton has promised a no-fly zone over Syria. The problem here is that, essentially, there is no Syrian Air Force. Russians are flying almost all the attack flights. This would put us in a volatile situation: direct confrontation with the Russians. While American and Russian combat aircraft are roughly equal, we are ahead in training and ability.
This is how it could unravel: A flight of U.S. Navy F/A-18s intercepts a flight of Russian fighter-bombers attacking opponents of President Assad of Syria, and shoots down several (and loses a couple as well). After several such encounters, President Putin orders a submarine to attack a U.S. naval vessel in retaliation and as a warning to stay out. The Americans respond by destroying the attacker. This situation could quickly spin out of control.
It was exactly this situation Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein had in mind when she admitted that she fears a Clinton-led foreign policy as opposed to Donald Trump in this one area.
We need a president who can think through problems without resorting to preplanned talking points. Donald Trump does not thrill me, but the alternative is a lot worse.
Patrick O’ConnorWeathersfield