Elon Musk, murdered health-care CEO and Blue Cross are connected. Here is how | Opinion
Pondering Musk and murdered health CEO
Three things just happened on the national level: Elon Musk complained about worker’s rights, a giant medical insurance CEO was killed and Blue Cross was forced to walk back a cold-blooded change to its anesthesia coverage.
Not connected, but connected?
First, Musk proclaimed that his stock value and that of his shareholders come before that of his employees. Somehow, his shareholders’ need to thrive is more important than that of the people who actually build his toys.
Then, a CEO is murdered (perhaps by someone upset with his company’s policies). This is a CEO who has overseen record profits for himself and his shareholders while leading the top 10 insurance companies in coverage denials by a whopping 9% over the next company. He, also, engaged in questionable stock trades involving his company and made a lot of money.
Then, there’s Anthem Blue Cross. It tried to limit the amount of time a person could remain under insured anesthesia during surgery. Until word got out. Now, it’s walking that back. Anthem is, also, second in coverage denials.
A paranoid person might say that the killing and the cruel words/actions of oligarchs aren’t unrelated. Don’t make us eat cake.
Joel S. Dyer, Fresno
Jesus did not shame anybody
I have seen too many stories of newborns left to die because the mother is afraid and ashamed that her Christian community will judge her for being unwed.
I ask all Christians: Teach your youngsters that they can come to you for help, love, and support no matter the sin, even if it is the most embarrassing sin: a sexual one.
Tell young women that everybody will still love you. Teach everybody that there should be no embarrassment or shame for being publicly exposed as a sinner.
What of suicide? One doesn’t even have to look it up to know that Christians have harmed themselves because of shame among their Christian peers.
Please do a better job of teaching from Sunday school and up that shame is no reason that you should be afraid to turn to your Christian community. They will still love you.
It is my hope that the Christian community consider guiding its youth away from thinking that they live in a shame-based society. Jesus never shamed anybody.
Ryan Richards, Fresno
Monument status needed for Sierra forest
Marek Warszawski’s argument against the Range of Light National Monument (Oct. 30) boils down to two points: 1) the only change would be new signage, and 2) it would make some folks unhappy.
Honestly, no one pretends RLMN would magically transform 1.4 million used and abused acres of Sierra National Forest into a magical wonderland. But replacing missing or damaged trail signs might be a darn good place to start.
More importantly, signs are also about values and expectations. Warszawski knows this. Remember his piece about renaming of Squaw Valley to Yokuts Valley (Sept. 28, 2022)? Same issues there: new signs vs. public opinion, except there he favored the signs. Why? Maybe because signs can affirm critical values.
Changing the designation to national monument would certainly achieve one thing: sending a strong signal that we expect something better for the preservation and management of our public lands. And what would be a better way to start the movement to secure the financial and institutional resources that Warszawski rightly points out are key to achieving the proponents’ goals of securing this treasure for the benefit of and enjoyment by our grandchildren?
John McDanoiel, Fresno
Trump and his ‘den of thieves’
As the president-elect selects individuals to fill his cabinet, you would hope he would choose individuals who are not only qualified, but also of integrity and character. Unfortunately, many of his selections lack both.
It is also disturbing to know that his choices include those having criminal records, have made racist remarks, been abusive to women or are out-of-touch billionaires. Soon they will be in positions of power and the abuse of this power is almost certain.
The president-elect and cabinet will live by one rule — the end does justify the means. One religious leader, over 2,000 years ago, called such a group, “a den of thieves.”
Val Rios, Fresno
Support Energy Permitting Reform Act
Congress might pass important bipartisan legislation before adjourning. The Energy Permitting Reform Act (S 4753) streamlines review of projects such as power lines and LNG terminals.
Many Republicans like the “all of the above” approach. The act covers both fossil fuel infrastructure and renewable energy. It makes America more energy independent and builds our economy.
Many Democrats see permitting reform as critical in speeding up renewable energy. What good are wind or solar power plants, if power lines take a decade for permit approval?
Some respected environmental groups oppose EPRA because it streamlines review of certain oil and gas drilling leases and LNG terminals. But Citizen’s Climate Lobby found that, on balance, the act would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, so America can meet our net zero goal by 2050. It also encourages other countries to follow our lead.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is amending the bill, with a majority in favor. The bill awaits introduction in the House. Fresno Rep. Jim Costa signed an endorsement from the Blue Dog Coalition of moderate Democrats. The Climate Solutions Caucus, with 30 Democrats and 30 Republicans, including Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, also supports the bill.
Ask your members of Congress to vote yes.
Devin Carroll, Fresno