Johnson beheading is latest wake-up call to Washington

Johnson beheading is latestwake-up call to Washington
EDITOR:
I am so angry! I mean jumping up and down angry. I send to the family of Paul Johnson Jr. my heartfelt sympathy. I don't know him or his family, just like I don't know any person in the service, but I support the troops over in that God-forsaken country of Iraq.
I knew when this war started it was going to be like another Vietnam. This country's leaders must have mush for brains. It's too bad that when a president is elected and doesn't do the job, he couldn't be fired and replaced. We are stuck with him for fours years.
I just don't get it. When is our government going to wake up? They don't want us there. The reason we are there is for the WMDs, and none were found. Our government, Mr. Bush, lied to us. Why aren't we spending billions of dollars for our security in our own country? There was a bomb threat to blow up a Columbus mall! Hello, Washington! Are you all walking around with your heads in the sand?
We need to bring our troops and all the private citizens home so Iraq can do what it wants since it is killing and waiting to do more terrorist work anyway. When they are caught, they are dealt the most severe punishment as they have given our people.
I wasn't incensed over the brutal treatment of Iraqi prisoners because of what they have done to our people.
This is war, and the sooner we toughen up the better.
PAT ZOCCALI
Warren
It's time for viable answers to medical insurance crisis
EDITOR:
Someone once said, "Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it." The same statement may be said about the insurance malpractice crisis threatening a number of doctors and the states where they practice.
Doctors are unable to raise their fees due to the locked-in payments from Medicare ad health insurance companies. When their malpractice premiums double or triple during a short period of time, they have to take a close look at whether they can keep the doors open or move to another state with lower premiums.
Some of these lawsuits are frivolous in nature and should not reach the court system. Doctors in a suit may ultimately be dropped, but in the meantime their claim record with their insurance carrier is tarnished, resulting in higher premiums at renewal time.
I have an answer that may be a solution. Before a malpractice claim is filed against a doctor, or anyone, it is first presented to a review board established by the state Legislature to see if the case has merit. The plaintiff's attorney has a filing fee of $10,000. If desired, the review board can hear limited testimony and even conduct its own investigation. If the case is found to have merit and is allowed to proceed, the filing fee is returned. If the case is disallowed then the filing fee is not returned. The verdict by the board is final and may not be appealed to a higher body.
If a case is allowed to proceed with a subsequent claim being filed against the doctor and insurance company, a second factor enters the picture. If the court verdict is lower than any offer to settle the case before trial, the plaintiff's attorney pays the defendant's entire cost of defense.
The filing fee and review board will help prevent frivolous claims and the second factor will encourage attorneys to settle out of court, thus saving a lot of attorney's fees and court costs.
Obviously, concessions have to be made to get some type of law passed. If not, the next time we call for an appointment, we may get a disconnected number or a voice message saying the doctor's office is closed permanently.
RUSSELL KNOEFEL
Youngstown