Fire inept members of Metro Board Re: “Business leaders demand more accountability at Metro,” editorial, Nov. 23
No need to rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic. The problem with Metro’s governance is not in the stars, but in the electorate. All members of the Metro Board should resign or be fired, including:
» Inept past Chairman Jim Graham, who publicly insisted there was nothing he could have done to prevent the Fort Totten crash. Graham voted for the fare increase before voting against it when he could have stopped it with a jurisdictional veto.
» Board fixture Chris Zimmerman, who was re-elected despite his streetcar cheerleading, which led to the defeat of two similar Johnny-one-notes in nearby Alexandria.
» Long-tenured bumbler William Euille, who did not even know that last year Metro planned to partially close the lines serving Alexandria on one of the city’s biggest revenue-raising days. Euille rides Metro so seldomly that he forgot basic subway car boarding safety and ended up in the hospital.
Ironically, the sole vote against rehiring General Manager John Catoe, who stepped down on his own, came from the appointee representing Mayor Adrian Fenty.
Dino Drudi
Alexandria
Let members of Congress feel TSA’s reach
Re: “TSA chief promises ‘minimally invasive’ screening,” Nov. 22
In the spirit of reducing unnecessary spending due to the fact that this nation is on the verge of bankruptcy, it is time to introduce legislation to require the entire Congress and their staffs to start flying coach on airlines to save money.
In the wake of TSA’s Nazi-like violations of the Fourth Amendment, these privileged members will finally have to get in line like the rest of us — and live with the laws they create.
Hans W. Giesholt
Tempe, Ariz.
Medicare cut will directly affect seniors
Re: “Physicians brace for possible big Medicare pay cuts,” Nov. 15
The looming 25 percent Medicare cut to physicians has real-world consequences for seniors and will greatly impact their ability to find a doctor. About one in five physicians have already been forced to limit the number of Medicare patients they treat because of the threat to cut the current low payment rates beginning Dec. 1.
We are asking Congress to stop the cut for at least 13 months to inject some stability into Medicare’s physician foundation. This action is vital for seniors who rely on the program now, and to ensure access to care for baby boomers who begin to reach age 65 this January.
Four out of five people say Congress should act immediately to stop the cut, according to a new American Medical Association poll. Elected officials need to hear from patients and physicians that doing so is critical to preserving seniors’ health care.
Dr. Cecil Wilson
President,
American Medical Association
