Proposition N:

Save jobs, tax dollars

and freedom: Vote No

The editorial "Their smoke, your health" (Oct. 25), in favor of the St. Louis County smoking ban, did not provide all the reasons why people are opposed to Proposition N, which will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. The ban is unfair, isn't needed and could cause a loss of jobs and tax dollars for St. Louis County.

Perhaps the most obvious reason to oppose the smoking ban is that it needlessly would infringe on the freedom of those who want to enjoy a cigarette in places where smoking is allowed. Any person bothered by such establishments has the freedom to not patronize them.

And modern filtration systems have all but eliminated the dangers of secondhand smoke. These high-tech systems are an effective alternative to smoking bans. A local restaurant with such a system can host a cigar club and not disturb diners sensitive to smoke.

A smoking ban also could be a real threat to the livelihood of hundreds of small businesses in St. Louis County. This has been demonstrated by the Illinois smoking ban, which has been a disaster for the state with more than $200 million of tax revenue lost each year. Illinois casinos and sports bars are suffering losses.

The same could happen in St. Louis County if the smoking ban is enacted. Smokers will head to neighboring counties and take their business with them.

Voters should remember that the proposed ban was opposed by the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association when it was before the St. Louis County Council. The groups said it was so flawed that they could not support it. When the council passed it anyway, they urged County Executive Charlie Dooley to veto it.

On Nov. 3, St. Louis County voters can save jobs, save tax dollars, save freedom and help many small businesses stay in business by voting "no" on Proposition N.

Bill Hannegan — St. Louis

Keep St. Louis Free



Missourians are ready

for a smoke-free state

Regarding "Smoking ban is in hands of a few" (Oct. 28): I am quoted briefly about Proposition N on the Nov. 3 ballot in St. Louis County. Without additional information, my quote is open to misinterpretation.

When I said "The state is not ready," I was speculating about the odds that the Legislature would pass such a policy any time soon. Indeed, my point is much like the headline that was used for the story: A smoking ban is in the hands of a few people. In the Missouri Legislature, those few people are key leaders who make decisions about which bills will have hearings and gain floor debate time. House Speaker Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said he does not care if Missouri is last state in the nation to go smoke-free. That creates a formidable barrier to overcome.

If elected officials listened to the majority of Missourians who support smoke-free policies and to the scientific evidence, Missouri would join the many states that have enacted such legislation.

Strong and comprehensive smoke-free policies prevent sickness and death, and Missouri would save millions in state spending on tobacco-related illnesses.

I believe Missouri is ready for a smoke-free policy, but, because key leaders stand in the way, this is a case in which the people will have to take the power into their own hands through local ordinances.

When a critical mass of local ordinances has been reached, a statewide law will become inevitable. I wish the policy being considered for St. Louis County was stronger, but it is a good beginning. People who care about public health should vote yes Proposition N (St. Louis County) and Proposition I (Kirkwood) on Nov. 3 in order to move the state forward.

State Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford — D-St. Louis



Healthy resources,

healthy economy

Perhaps now would be the time to reflect upon this summer's events concerning the detection of E. coli at Lake of the Ozarks. The classic example of the firing of an officer of the state may satisfy some and mean the matter will be forgotten — until the next time.

This event does not signify anything new. That the lake has been polluted in a trend that probably mirrors the growth curve of urbanization in the lake's watershed should come as no surprise to any thinking person.

The main question now is how to clean up our lakes and rivers and prevent future episodes. As one who worked for a politically driven state agency before coming to Missouri, I can tell you that the people's common resources such as water and air are frequently neglected in favor of concern for the outcome of the next election. There are two potential fixes that have worked elsewhere, neither easy to achieve because both disrupt the political status quo.

The first would be to place the state Department of Natural Resources agencies under constitutional protection with a clear mandate to protect, restore and manage these resources for the good of the people and install a commission to oversee progress toward that mandate.

Missourians did that in the late 1930s when they created the Department of Conservation, which became a national model. A similar move removed the control of our highway system from politics.

More that one DNR official in the past has complained that separate commissions for separate resources such as water and soils lead to fragmented actions. Clearer minds could establish a better organization.

The second fix would be for the Legislature to put its shoulder where its mouth is and codify the rarely used public trust doctrine. This legal principal holds that common resources — water, air, etc. — belong to the people and are placed in trust to public officials. Any malfeasance of office leading to the degradation of these resources should be subject to public censure and dismissal.

Any movement to bring about change will be difficult and costly. But natural resources affect the quality of our lives and the lives of generations to come, to say nothing of tourists who partake of these natural amenities and help generate a healthy economy.

Joseph P. Bachant — Holts Summit, Mo.



Congress shouldn't

micromanage care

The Republican radio response last week asked how health care reform will help us. What we've seen so far from this Congress is more bureaucracy and more distance between doctor and patient. No one has yet examined where the true cost containment will come from.

We keep arguing about the cost of insurance without examining the source of that cost. Why is it that our doctor can't get on the Internet with us at his office and find the best price/quality/success rate, etc., for non-emergency items such as tests, treatments and medical devices?

Doctors' staffs spend countless hours pushing paper records and filling out forms. Why aren't our medical records electronic after 20 years of personal computers? Why is it that our employers, or individuals who buy their own coverage, can't get on the Internet and shop nationwide for the best health insurance at the cheapest price?

Why does Congress seem unwilling tie a prohibition on denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and canceling policies to a requirement that all citizens purchase a minimum of catastrophic care coverage?

We treat all people who can't pay but need care, but the cost for that treatment is hidden in the price the rest of us pay. How does that facilitate transparency?

Changing the shape of health care can't come from Congress adding thousands of new rules. Congress should "frame" the system and trust American ingenuity to shape the rest. We need to bring medicine into the real marketplace and force it to account for non-emergency costs as we do with any other competitive industry. That would create the "level playing field" we need to bring down costs while improving quality of care for every American citizen.

Mark Kohring — Ballwin



Better choices at school

Regarding "Children should drink water, milk instead of sugary drinks, soda" (Oct. 22): Obesity is a complex issue, and addressing it is important for all Americans. The Missouri beverage companies, members of MoBEV, understand this and have taken action to be responsible corporate citizens by selfregulation.

In 2006, America's leading beverage companies developed national School Beverage Guidelines as part of a broader effort to teach kids about the importance of a balanced diet and exercise. The guidelines remove full-calorie sodas from all schools and provide more lower-calorie, nutritious and smaller-portion beverages. The result to date has been that beverage calories available in schools has dropped by nearly 60 percent. Nearly 80 percent of schools are in compliance, and the remaining schools are being encouraged to comply as we drive toward 100 percent compliance.

The beverage industry is concerned about childhood obesity. We are delivering results in schools in Missouri and across the country. This voluntary commitment by the beverage industry is well underway and having a meaningful impact for schoolchildren.

John Schaefer — Springfield, Mo.

President, Missouri Beverage Association



Caregivers: Speak out

In the United States, an estimated 50 million people provide some level of caregiving services. These heroes are serving their loved ones in silence. From coworkers to neighbors and close friends, someone you know is caring for an aging loved one. You may be a caregiver yourself.

Today's caregivers are providing 80 percent of all home health care services, with 40 percent also providing some level of nursing support to aging loved ones. The care they provide is valued at more than $375 billion a year.

From providing transportation to doctor appointments and the pharmacy, preparing meals and assisting with bathing and grooming to helping pay bills, administering medications and offering companionship, the duties of today's caregivers are endless. And most caregivers consider their responsibilities to be nothing more than family duties.

As a result, the amazing contributions of caregivers are going unnoticed, their needs are going unmet, and they are feeling increasingly isolated in their caregiving roles.

When the population is aging and an increasing number of seniors want or need to stay in their homes, more and more individuals are being thrust into caregiving roles.

The time has come for the nation's caregivers to break their silence.

The average caregiver spends 10 hours a week tending to loved ones' needs, with one in every 12 caregivers devoting 35 hours or more per week to caregiving duties, often in addition to maintaining full- or part-time jobs and juggling other family responsibilities. The result is a stressful lifestyle that causes caregivers to experience more health-related problems, more emotional stress and higher rates of depression than the rest of the population.

With the nation celebrating National Family Caregivers month this November, there is no better time than now to speak out.

By choosing to speak out, they can engage lawmakers to make them aware of the issues surrounding family caregivers and encourage them to keep those issues top of mind as part of health care policy at the local and national level.

By nature, caregiving is a selfless act. But our nation's caregivers shouldn't feel isolated in their roles. They are part of a group that's more than 50 million strong and growing, and their incredible contributions and personal sacrifices deserve recognition.

Ann Bannes — University City

Vice President, St. Andrew's Senior Solutions