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By Times Staff
Published August 26, 2007

150 Largo jobs going to China Aug. 22

We're losing domestic jobs

More jobs - these paying $14 to $22 an hour - are going to China where their workers will be paid 60 cents an hour. Tell me again who exactly benefits here, other than the greedy owners? Besides, how do Americans benefit by buying products manufactured in China by exploited workers?

Don't give me any nonsense about "global economy" and "free trade." Those glib phrases will do nothing to pay the mortgages of the workers here who lost their jobs. Just tell me what, if anything, our state and federal leaders are going to do about the ongoing loss of jobs to other countries?

Frank Kopczynski, Clearwater

Lawyers to blame for class actions, letter Aug. 19

This reader was misinformed

The reader who commented on class actions is grossly misinformed. The record needs to be straightened out so that many other readers at least understand how a class-action lawsuit works. First, there must be one or more class plaintiffs to bring the suit. The class is strictly limited to other similarly situated people. Once the class has been certified by a judge a substantial number are not, the other similarly situated people are automatically members of that class whether they like it or not. A person must actively "opt out" of the class if he or she wishes to pursue the claims alleged in the class on their own.

The misinformed reader has probably been included in class-actions, has not "opted out" and, therefore, was entitled to collect based upon his class status. If he was stubborn or misinformed enough not to file a claim for any amounts that may have been owed to him, that is his own fault. Do not blame it on the lawyers.

Allan Fedor, lawyer, Seminole

How low can car prices go? Aug. 20

Mini-cars can be economical

America can produce cheaper and safer cars if they can get out of the mold of the past and obtain new, efficient production methods. As I see it, the basic problems involve: understanding investment, lack of innovation, managerial mediocrity, inefficient labor practices, and restructuring and retooling. Deficiencies and nonessentials eliminated can remedy profit margins and satisfy consumer demand for inexpensive, yet trustworthy vehicles. Mini-cars, especially with all the basics, can be engineered economically and provide affordability for the masses.

Robert B. Fleming, St. Petersburg

Separating radio fact from fiction, column Aug. 18

Informercials raise health issues

Thank you so much for calling attention to the horrible false advertising involved in these "nutritional supplement" scams. I have a dear friend who recently passed away rather unexpectedly after using one of these colon cleansing products. I am not sure if it is the same one that you mention in your article, but the man who promotes the item on TV looks like an undertaker (fittingly enough).

While my friend's autopsy results are not yet final, I would like to briefly share his story with you, as I firmly believe that this colon cleansing product was related to his death.

My friend was a wonderful individual who was unfortunately morbidly obese. He ordered these supplements from late night TV with the expectation that they would be a weight-loss aid. After several weeks of using this product, he started to complain of severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including severe pain, diarrhea, vomiting, etc.

Finally, when he could no longer take the pain, he called 911 and was brought into the ER. He was severely dehydrated and having respiratory difficulty. He ended up on a ventilator that same night and was found to be in acute kidney failure.

His systems began shutting down one by one. Treatment for one condition would exacerbate another. For two weeks he endured the torment of his body shutting down. I'm sure he was terrified and in terrible pain. He died on July 23 at the ripe old age of 42.

I am sure there are others out there who have fallen victim to these products and the swindlers who peddle them. However, until you see it happening firsthand, it is difficult to imagine the damage these products can cause. I think the public has a right to know that this can be far more serious than a simple scam or loss of a few bucks.

His death also brought another issue to light which I think people should know about. Because of his weight and size, the hospital had no equipment capable of doing any meaningful diagnostic imaging. He could not have a CT scan or MRI.

The ultrasound was unable to get a decent reading. As more and more Americans pack on the pounds, I think they would be interested to know that most medical facilities in our area do not have the equipment to properly diagnose and treat these patients.

Sarah Jordan, St. Petersburg

Late-night pitches are nothing but 'stool'

I appreciate your article on the radio infomercial.

While surfing cable one night, I came across this guy promoting his bowel cleansing product. He was discussing, among other things, the volume of his daughter's stool. As a retired pharmacist, I quickly recognized his spiel as so much "stool" so I quickly clicked on to something else.

You filled in the blanks for me on who he is. Thanks.

R. Wayne Bowen, St. Petersburg

U.S. faces decline in skilled workers Aug. 23

Pay natural U.S. citizens instead

In my humble opinion, Mr. Shanmugam should be politely asked to leave the United States. Then his salary would go to natural U.S. citizens. Then the taxes paid by more deserving U.S.-born citizens should be used to upgrade U.S. public education.

Jim Swenderman, Seminole

President sitting squarely on health care hypocrisy, column Aug. 2

Let's not forget about the uninsured, too

I will not argue the statistics cited in the column by David Lazarus of the San Francisco Chronicle. Nor will I take issue with what he wrote, except that it did not go far enough. I hope that someone at the St. Pete Times will look a little further on this hot topic and provide more detailed information.

First, Mr. Lazarus seemed to have a problem with the president of the United States taking advantage of his group health insurance plan as many of us do day to day. In addition, I believe that the president is required to have physical exams periodically as I am sure that the executives of his newspaper have their physicals paid for by the readers of his newspaper. It just so happens that these government benefits are paid for with tax dollars rather than corporate dollars earned by selling products. We should not deny our government employees group health insurance. Tax dollars are the only way to pay for them.

One statistic that I feel has been abused is that there are 47-million people in the United States who are uninsured. They are not without health care. They have not purchased health insurance for a variety of reasons. That means that there are over 200-million people that have purchased health insurance (or it was provided by their employer in lieu of salary). That also means that the health care for these 47-million people is paid for by the people that purchase health insurance, tax dollars or charities now. Many of these people are truly in need of help. Many may be taking advantage of the system without paying into it.

Another point that has not be explored completely by Mr. Lazarus in his column is that other countries seem to insure everyone, presumably without cost to the individual. The countries that he mentions do not have a great track record of providing health care that people want and sometimes run out of money for short periods of time and cannot provide health care that many people seem to need. These countries have much higher tax rates and most people that rely on government health care only in these countries wait a long time for health care.

I also have a question about the people in other countries living longer than in the United States. Is the reason simply a matter of government health insurance or are there other factors?

Dave Helphrey, Palm Harbor

Socialized medicine has failed elsewhere

As a concerned taxpayer, I resent that the Democratic Party and some weak conservatives are once again leading the call to fully implement a multimillion dollar universal health care plan. This will put an unprecedented burden upon the hard-working taxpayer. Why are so many taxpayers unaware of the cost and the consequences associated with a universal health care plan? If Congress is successful in implementing this, it will be the surest way to bankrupt small business owners and force them to lay off hundreds of employees. In every country where there is socialized medicine, there is substantial evidence that it is an overall failure.

America's current health care system understandably is not perfect however, it still remains the envy of many. I am amazed at the number of international doctors and nurses who leave their homelands to work in an American hospital. They, like many hard-working American citizens, have no intention of abusing our federal government and the taxpayers.

Joan Atkins, Palm Harbor

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[Last modified August 24, 2007, 20:18:50]