Kids were fortunate to receive loving care
The obituary on Dr. Leila Denmark observed the passing of a true Atlanta legend (“A century loving babies, medicine,” Metro, April 4). Much attention has been focused on her amazing age. More important is the great number of children fortunate enough to be recipients of her loving care. My mother drove a long way so that my sister and I could have the advantage of Dr. Denmark as our pediatrician. She thought it was well worth the trip to have the best. I still remember the doctor’s office. It had a huge Mexican hat hanging on the wall, and the front door was always open (no air conditioning in those days). Mother’s sisters also took their children to this special doctor and all of us have had unusually healthy lives. I also remember Mother’s constant reminder: “Dr. Denmark says ...”
Rest in peace, dear lady — and thank you.
Sue Shaddeau, Decatur
Individual mandate is just common sense
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is just common sense. If the individual mandate is found to be unconstitutional, those of us who buy medical insurance will have no choice but to foot the bill for those who choose not to be insured — through progressively higher costs for medical services and insurance.
If the individual mandate does not stand, I want a law barring medical providers and insurance companies from passing on costs of treating the uninsured to their customers and letting paying customers choose whether or not to subsidize caring for the uninsured.
MICHAELENE GORNEY, JOHNS CREEK
Our own production will have to recover
I agree with Sen. Johnny Isakson and Sen. Saxby Chambliss that to expand the capacity of the Port of Savannah is vital (“Big dig, bigger competition,” News, April 2). While capital equipment and raw materials are moving through the port in both directions, the import of consumer goods is the big item, and will be with us for years. I refer to food, shelter and clothing. Even if government agencies that hinder manufacturing were to reverse their stand, you cannot just create hundreds of different factories and trained work forces overnight.
Lost wages and taxes cost our country every year — but we are stuck with this until our own production recovers. This recession cannot and will not be over until we become self-sufficient again regarding the essentials of life.
Mitchell L. Easter, Cumming
‘Representatives’ only have contempt for us
Considering that political robo-calls are universally reviled, it is obvious that our “representatives” who use them have nothing but contempt for us. And they wonder why we have lost our trust in them.
Sandy Brown, Covington
