The H1N1 infomercial: Health care got you down?

Frustrated with trying to get your H1N1 vaccination? Health-care issues got you down [“Sneezes put health fears in mind, study says,” News, Nov. 4]? Then you’ll be happy to learn there is a way to access free, quality health care. There are even several options to choose from:

Option One: Be elected to serve in the U.S. Congress or serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Option Two: Be a member of the military.

Option Three: Reside in a state or federal prison

Option Four: Reside at Guantánamo Bay [“Despite shortages, detainees at Gitmo to get flu vaccines,” News, Nov. 2].

Please note: Remaining U.S. citizens do not quality for access to affordable health care, and good luck in your quest for the elusive H1N1 vaccine.

— Sandra K. White, Woodinville

Airport security: Recent escape prompts questions

I seem to remember a short time ago a stolen car chase that ended with the suspect running away after entering the Sea-Tac parking garage. Now another wanted individual has escaped all the so-called tight security at Sea-Tac again [“Fugitive eludes police at airport,” NWWednesday, Nov. 4].

This event, coupled with the two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot their destination, and did not respond to calls from the air traffic control tower [“Wayward pilots lose their licenses,” page one, Oct. 28], makes me wonder about the safety of our airports.

Regarding the pilots, I heard nothing about fighters being scrambled for possible interception.

And regarding the man who fled Sea-Tac, how could this possibly happen?

Do airport officials really expect the public to let this go unnoticed? I would call for a complete investigation into how this happened, and how this man was able to escape so easily.

Is it just our airport, or are all airports so easy to run from? I expect answers from Port Police Chief Colleen Wilson.

— Patrick Boatsman, Lake Forest Park

Accolades for Starbucks’ business goals?

I was interested to read that Starbucks was voted “Most Ethical Company” by the European coffee industry [“Tired of Nobel news? Starbucks also wins accolades in Europe,” Seattletimes.com, Business, Nov. 9].

This award seems more of a tip of the hat than actual accomplishment to Starbucks in light of their decision to make all espresso drinks in the UK and Ireland from fair-trade coffee by 2010.

The fact is, that while the company’s claims of being the largest single-purchaser of fair-trade coffee are true, as the largest direct retailer involved in the purchasing end-of-coffee production, Starbucks is not living up to the responsibilities this position implies.

The organization advertises that it buys 10 percent of the world’s fair-trade coffee exports, yet with only 4 percent of coffee on the world market certified as fair trade, this point of pride is really only a drop in the bucket compared with the potential.

So the question must be asked: Is Starbucks’ interest in fair trade based on a desire to improve the lives of impoverished producers in the commodities market, or as a statistic to increase advertising effectiveness in a consumer market growing more aware of living conditions in countries producing our retail goods?

— Alexander Knox, Seattle

Health care and Afghanistan: a nation divided

There seem to be two large segments in America today [“President campaigns in New Jersey,” News, Nov. 2].

Each of them trusts our government in one area, and distrusts it in another. One trusts the government to run our health-care system, but distrusts it to fight wars and occupy other countries. The other trusts the government to fight wars and occupy other nations, but distrusts it to run human services like health care.

It is possible to distrust our government totally, like the survivalists who live off the power grid, don’t register for the draft or pay taxes, and don’t take advantage of medical care unless they can pay with cash.

You could also totally trust the government to run health care and to run military occupations, both without question.

However, most people seem to belong to one of these two former groups.

It is frightening that vast numbers of our fellow Americans want the president to write a blank check for thousands of more boots on the ground in Afghanistan.

We already have 68,000 troops there, plus another 70,000 mercenaries and contractors.

It seems right for Americans to demand congressional debates on the size of the health-care budget, by discussing who is to pay for it and what services will be provided.

But what is wrong when most of these same Americans clamor to have their national debt increased without limit, with no clear knowledge of the mission for where the debt is to be used, how to accomplish it, and who will pay for it?

— Cliff Godwin, Seattle