Quotes of the Day
Cauldron of Terror
Your cover story on the making of terror suspect Ajmal Qasab, a village boy from Faridkot in Pakistan, paints a very grim picture of Pakistan's plight [March 16]. Scarcity of jobs for the youth and the flourishing of radical education facilities there, funded by Islamist elements from other countries, promise instability for the government. With a corrupted military and little consensus among Pakistan's politicians, one can only see a bleak future for its people.
Premdayal Gupta,
Indore, India
A False Crutch
I object to the implications made in the Essay "The People's Game" [March 16]. The author parrots propaganda in claiming that Pakistan "was born as ... a refuge for a persecuted minority fleeing the Hindu dominance of India." Never in about 800 years since the first arrival of Muslims in India till independence did Hindus actually dominate. In all this time much of the region was controlled by Muslim rulers and then by the British. Such misconceptions feed into the false binaries that fundamentalists in Pakistan need to survive.
Vishv Malhotra,
Blackmans Bay, Australia
The unifying gloss that cricket gives to a nation like Pakistan is far too thin. Pakistan's doom is that religion continues to be the primary basis of identity for this artificially created state, to the detriment of everything else. While the state champions a rigid sense of identity, the land reforms and economic, social and legal reforms that are critical to nurturing democracy and development have been totally ignored by feudal lords masquerading as politicians and hell-bent on retaining power. East Pakistan split away to become Bangladesh; given half a chance, Baluchistan or some other restive regions would do just the same.
Sanjay Sarkar,
Mumbai
America the Underinsured
TIME's story was a poignant look at one person's struggle to get the health care he needs [March 16]. Even more tragic, this story is repeated too many times each year in this country. As illustrated in your piece, physicians often provide care without charge when patients are in need, but we need a system that does a much better job of supporting patients and physicians. Your reform points are key. A full 75% of total health-care spending is linked to chronic health problems, many of which are preventable. If we can help Americans live healthier, we can reduce disease and decrease health-care spending. The American Medical Association is committed to reform that covers everyone with a choice of portable insurance, increases the value our nation receives from its health-care spending and enhances prevention and wellness. We need a better system for America's patients and the physicians who care for them.
Nancy H. Nielsen, M.D., President, American Medical Association,
Washington
Ironically, if Patrick Tumulty had decided to retaliate against his insurance company's executives with physical violence, he would now be in our penal system — with full health-care benefits.
Richard Clark III,
Adell, Wis., U.S.
As taxpayers, we fund the health care of our elected officials. Maybe it is time to strip the coverage of those officials who kowtow to lobbies and show no interest in mending this situation.
David Walker,
Dartmouth, Mass., U.S.
Dull and Duller
Re your 10 questions with Bobby Jindal [March 16]: If I hear another Republican politician spout the talking point that health care should be between patient and doctor and not a bureaucrat, I'm going to pull out what little hair I have left. My wife and I are self-employed. Our health-care costs eat up much of our annual income, and neither of us has a chronic illness. I would much rather have a bureaucracy deliver affordable coverage at whatever inconvenience than be squeezed dry by rapacious Republican-loving drug and insurance companies.
Mark Dunn,
Albuquerque, N.M., U.S.
