Trial lawyers to blame for high health care
costs I must respond to Matthew Kennedy’s letter,
“Picket lines should be respected” (Oct. 15). The
supermarket union workers, up to this point in time, have not had
to pay any health insurance premiums, which is actually quite rare
in the private sector. Also, the supermarkets, despite facing
double-digit increases in their health care costs, are not asking
much from their workers: $5 a week ($260 a year) for an individual
plan or $15 ($780 a year) for a family. Further, we have to ask
ourselves, why do we have this health care crisis? I’ll tell
you why: lawyers have been suing doctors for years, which is paid
for with doctors’ malpractice insurance. If these lawsuits
continue for a long enough period of time, it will result in
doctors paying more for premiums, which will result in higher
health care costs, which in turn will result in higher costs for
consumer health insurance. Whether the insurance paid by a
corporation or individual is irrelevant. I urge the union officials
to strike at the cause of Kennedy’s anger ““ the trial
lawyers who are creating so much pain, yet cashing out richer than
ever. Michael Gordon Alumnus, Class of
2003
Useless book updates strap students’
budgets The article “New textbook sales down”
(News, Oct. 14) is a refreshing glimpse reflecting the reaction to
the recent price hikes for textbooks. CALPIRG has been working
diligently to get the word out about the unfair practices of the
textbook companies and what students can do to avoid spending a
fortune on books they may not even be able to sell the next
quarter. Often the required book editions have been changed because
of the addition of a few details that coincidentally are released
one year after another. Also, the addition of a supplementary Web
site or CD has added to the largely unnecessary cost of a textbook.
Especially because of the fee increase, the pricing on books has
become a major issue. In a recent survey, some students said that
they needed that money to go to paying off loans, paying for
housing, food (and beer), clothes and tuition. About 91 percent of
the students surveyed said they searched for another used book
option, but about 50 percent were unsuccessful. Students spend an
average of $800 a year on textbooks. Should not the textbook
companies be aware of student buying power? Should not the students
be aware of their other options?
Michelle Marshalian First-year, pre-business
economics