Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Protecting babies

I am a Lane County public health nurse who works with families that have had babies die suddenly and without an apparent cause. These events are tragic beyond compare.

One of the most important and easy ways to reduce the risk of this happening is to place babies to sleep on their backs on a firm and flat surface, with the sleeping area being free of extra items such as toys or bulky blankets or pillows.

This week the comic strip "For Better or For Worse" portrays a young couple in the trials and tribulations of new parenthood. The strip depicts them laying their child lovingly on her tummy on a pillow in a crib and surrounded by toys. This practice reduces the air flow available to the baby, and suffocation can result.

I hope those who read the comic strip will recognize this as a dangerous custom.

PATTI GUTHRIE

Eugene

Kruse best qualified

I was surprised by the Oct. 17 Register-Guard endorsement of Don Nordin over Jeff Kruse. An endorsement should be based on a candidate's positions and record, and by those criteria Kruse should have been the clear choice. I am left to wonder what the real agenda in this selection is.

Nordin has not taken a stand on many of the important issues. He has said that he wants to protect natural resources and raise taxes. That tells me something, but not very much.

Kruse has a very good record of service to Oregon and has sponsored many significant pieces of legislation, including the Oregon Patients' Bill of Rights. During the five special sessions, Kruse stood up and refused to let the governor cut funding to programs such as relief nurseries. He also fought to protect funding for schools and state police. Both his hard work and his willingness to listen have impressed me.

The Register-Guard calls Kruse's opposition to tax increases "partisan bluster" - a term I would use for those who call for a tax increase as a first option. It seems to me that the Democrats have been trying to increase taxes, even when we weren't in a recession. Kruse presented a plan for balancing the budget that would have protected services Oregonians really care about without increasing taxes. It was others in Salem, including the governor, who prevented this real-world solution from having a chance. This also is a matter of record for anyone who would care to look (a hint to The Register-Guard).

The editors need to rethink their decision. In these hard times, District 7 needs a representative with proven leadership and a full knowledge of the issues - someone who is not afraid to take a stand. Too much is at stake to do anything less. Clearly, the best choice in this race is Jeff Kruse.

MARK F. GOTCHER

Cottage Grove 

Try alternative system

Fifteen years ago, my son was born with a tumor in his neck. In two months, the tumor was the size of a cantaloupe and cut off his breathing. He had an eight-hour emergency operation to save his life.

My employer provided insurance coverage, but the insurance company refused to pay the $50,000 surgeon bill, claiming that the doctors, who acted in an emergency situation, were not on their approved list. The insurance company then threatened to triple the insurance premiums of everyone in the company if I were kept on as an employee. I quit my job to help out my employer.

Since then I carried only major medical insurance. I have paid my doctor's bills with out-of-pocket cash. The doctors save money by not having to collect payments from insurance companies, so most have given me a discount. Recently, however, HMOs have made doctors agree that they will not give discounts for cash.

Insurance companies and HMOs are spending millions telling Oregonians that we are threatened by Measure 23. The issues here are complex, and it is easy to get lost trying to predict costs and benefits.

But one simple test of any ballot measure is to look at who supports it and who opposes it. In this case, since insurance companies and HMOs oppose Measure 23, it must be a pretty good idea. I urge you to vote for it.

The insurance companies' own behavior justifies taking the risk of trying an alternative system.

DAVID STARR 

Eugene

Washington warmonger

From the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 2001: "Warmonger, n. a person who advocates, endorses, or tries to precipitate war."

Now, this wouldn't refer to anybody we know in Washington, would it?

HELMUT PLANT

Eugene

LETTERS LOG

Letters received in past week: 256

Letters published: 101

What's on readers' minds: The November general election was overwhelmingly the most popular topic in the past week's Mailbag. We received 116 election-related letters as of midmorning Friday, with 29 of them focusing on Measure 23, the Health Care for All Oregon Initiative (13 letters supported the measure, and 16 opposed it). We also received 12 letters on the governor's race; nine on the U.S. Senate race, and seven each on the 4th District congressional contest, Measure 20-67, the proposal to use city of Eugene property taxes to support programs in the Eugene and Bethel school districts, and state Ballot Measure 27, which would require that all genetically engineered foods sold in or distributed from Oregon be labeled. Six readers also weighed in on state ballot measures 21 and 22, which would change the way Oregonians elect judges.

- The Register-Guard

CAPTION(S):

The Register-Guard welcomes letters on topics of general interest. Our length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Writers are limited to one letter per calendar month. Because of the volume of mail, not all letters can be printed. Letters must be signed with the writer's full name. An address and daytime telephone number are needed for verification purposes; this information will not be published or released. Mail letters to Mailbag, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188 Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]