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Wednesday, April 18, 2007 · Page 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Out-of-country health insurance a necessity My wife and I traveled to the Orlando area from Jan. 29 to Feb. 27 at an insurance cost of $680. My wife had contracted a stomach "bug" and was about to consult a doctor when she became very ill. I called her insurer to place a 911 call and was authorized without question. In less than five minutes we had an ambulance, two fire and rescue trucks and the local sheriff, seven competent professionals. It was quickly determined that it was necessary for her to go to emergency. An hour later I was in private consultation with her emergency doctor. I called the insurer and told them she had to stay the night, which they approved. The next afternoon, she was back to her old self and was released 22 hours after she was admitted. The verdict was a bacterial infection of he digestive system. She as given an antibiotic precription at a cost of $33.95 S, which the insurer will eimburse. I am writing this letter in he hope that I might save ome people a lot of eartache and money. We eceived a courtesy copy of he hospital bill to the insurnce company. It was for 16,790.10 US plus ambuance, emergency personnel nd doctors. It included uch items as Post ICU 1,806, EEG $3,210.50, CT can $1,844.75, emergency oom $2,117.45, lab/chemstry $4,028.40. I know of various people ho attending sporting vents or go shopping (in he U.S.) without a thought s to the consequences. We eard of a gentleman who ad a minor heart attack and ad to have a triple by-pass 5 days, no insurance, cost 140,000 US). I learned hat a number of corporate ravel insurance policies do ot cover all costs. It's a zoo in the good old .S.A. So be forewarned. Wilson (Will) Gardiner Essex New approach to civility in politics Last May 5-7, the Civitas Society held its annual meeting in Ottawa. This group is an ultra right wing organization, closely allied with the Reform/Alliance factions in the Conservative Party and dedicated to creating a different Canada ­ small government, and a market economy under corporate control, with privatization the order of the day. All at the expense of our social democracy and our universal social programs, at least the ones we have left. There were many "high level" figures present, including Stephen Harper and his chief advisor, Tom Flanagan ­ also many other prominent members of his right wing government, like Baird, Flaherty and other caucus members. The keynote speaker was the infamous U.S. Republican campaign specialist Frank Luntz, an advisor to the likes of George Bush and Preston Manning, and who is known, along with Karl Rove, as the undisputed masters of right wing propaganda. Luntz had a private meeting with Harper, and then spoke to the conservative assemblage on strategies leading up to the next election ­ in effect preaching the tactics of negative imaging, the use of repetitive negative code words, innuendo etc. The negativity didn't have to be true; it just had to infer supposed truths. Many of the Conservative statements and ads that appeared in the ensuing months were almost carbon copies of Republican ads dealing with the same issues. To illustrate, Harper's team actually announced they were going to air attack ads designed to demean Stéphane Dion; they then followed this by saying the ads were working and they were going to step them up in Quebec. They might as well have said, "You people are so gullible, we are going to manipulate your thinking and influence your opinion with a series of negative American style ads." What is spewing forth from Harper's "team" far surpasses the bounds of civility, and in fact is doing great damage to Canada. To accomplish his goals, he is quite prepared to polarize the country, to create divisions and factions, all for shortterm political benefit, in a strategic attempt to achieve his majority. He is surely practising a different kind of politics, at least as far as Canadians are concerned ­ the Politics of Deceit. John Garinger Essex County's endorsement of Bridge Enhancement Plan misinformed The decision makers at County Council have shown themselves for the misinformed dolts they are. What's the excuse this time? Was it gullibility or political naiveté? County Council's lack of knowledge when it comes to the border file, and the P.R. campaign of the Ambassador Bridge Company must have been a dream-cometrue for bridge executives. The result of endorsing the Bridge Enhancement Plan comes with a cost, least of which is the annual billion dollar price tag the county will now fork out in health care costs for allowing this American corporation to pollute unimpeded. There's the destruction of houses and heritage that hang in the balance, and the forced removal of 17,000 people from their Sandwich Towne homes. The Council has shown themselves to be unCanadian as well, in the face of American crony-ism. Was it not revealed that the bridge corporation's intention is to create an independent, corporate nation-state on Canadian soil? It will siphon off some of the $500 billion in trade that flows through the Windsor-Detroit corridor each year. It's called embassy status. Separate. Immune from prosecution. Canadian law will no longer apply. County consumers will have the added bonus of paying higher freight costs and tolls once the steel clamps of this border monopoly are realized. Diverting the tunnel traffic back to the planned, 200-booth plaza under the Ambassador Bridge is insanity in the extreme. County Council got sucked in and stabbed us all in the back. What were you people thinking? You've made the lives of 17,000 people a lot more miserable. My citizenship is not for sale. (Sigh) ... and people wonder why civic trust is at an all time low? An ill-informed public is a public at risk. Terrence Kennedy Windsor Jobs worth fighting for! While some areas of Southwestern Ontario appear to be having an influx of manufacturing jobs, the facts still speak for themselves. According to the Ontario Federation of Labour, the loss of over 250,000 jobs from the manufacturing sector across Canada has devastated many communities, especially here in Ontario where we have suffered over 50 per cent of these casualties. Hospitals, schools, roads and infrastructure, garbage and sewage removal, fresh water supply, all depend on the efficient use of tax dollars. How has, or would the tax base in your community be affected by any loss to the manufacturing sector? By recognizing how dependent Ontario's and therefore Canada's economy has become on a strong and vibrant manufacturing sector, we must call on all levels of politicians, including municipal, to put in place strong policies and agendas to stop the erosion of these good and well paying jobs. Brad Brereton I.A.M., District 184 DBR St. Thomas, Ont. CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF KINGSVILLE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT Request for Proposal The Town of Kingsville will accept proposals to operate the outdoor concession stand located at the Kingsville Recreation Complex for the 2007 summer season. Proposals will be accepted from service clubs, organized groups and the general public, by April 30th at 12:00 noon. Send your request to: Town of Kingsville 2021 Division Rd. North Kingsville, Ontario N9Y 2Y9 Clearly marked: Concession Stand Proposal c/o Dan Wood Quality Service and Value Since 1962 MEAT MARKET LTD. 68 Talbot St. N., Essex, Ontario N8M 1A2 · Phone 776-7541 APRIL 19 - 25 HOURS: Mon., Tues., Wed. 8-6; Thurs., Fri. 8-8; Sat. 8-6; Closed Sun. USDA SELECT CORPORATION OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ACCESSIBILITY PLAN The Corporation of the County of Essex is committed to ensuring that the facilities, services and programs provided by the Corporation are available to all residents including people with disabilities. Essex County Council adopted the 2007 Accessibility Plan for the Corporation of the County of Essex on April 4th, 2007. Copies of the Accessibility Plan are available at the Administration Office, Suite 202, Essex Civic Centre, 360 Fairview Avenue W., Essex between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at any branch of the Essex County Library or on the County of Essex website at www.countyofessex.on.ca. 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