Medication time
Per usual, Jack Lessenberry has written a great article, "As Michigan sinks," (Metro Times, March 5). The only tenuous part of his argument about Michiganders not being able to sue the drug companies is the connection he implies between Engler and George W. Bush. The comments about the law passed by Engler are followed by "even if Bush's friends in the pharmaceutical industry were anxious to get down to making big money ..." implying some sort of crooked deal. Remember that Clinton was in office when Engler was.
Let's assume the best-case scenario and figure Engler's law was an attempt to control the cost of health care. If someone in my family got sick or died from a drug, I would be absolutely furious. But would I sue for hundreds of millions? Should I be allowed to? The reason we pay $20 for a Tylenol at the hospital is because of countless malpractice suits, some of which are no doubt fraudulent.
With that said, Mr. Lessenberry is right. This law stinks (for lack of a more eloquent word) and should be revisited, if not entirely repealed for the reasons above. Mike Bishop should at least compromise on it, rather than taking no action. His refusal to act is a reflection of his stubbornness as well as of Granholm's inability to lead, to get the two parties together, and to forge any sort of compromise on anything. Shame on them — and on all of us for putting up with this. —Mark Lenkner, Dearborn Heights
Kwame canceled it
OK, I'm all for satire, but let's get the facts right first if you're going to do it ("KK's next gig: Pastor? Rapper?" Metro Times, March 12). The African-American mayors' convention was canceled by Mayor Kilpatrick, as stated on Channel 7. He felt now was not a good time for it so he canceled it. I wish the Detroit media (print and electronic) would get the facts correct before putting it out there. Haven't we heard enough misinformation already?
I was not a supporter of Mayor Kilpatrick in either terms but the media is doing a wonderful job of sending me over the K side of town. Keep up the good work and the whole city will begin to sympathize with his situation. Let's stick to the facts and correct information and stop inserting personal theories and opinion. —Kathy Bentley, Detroit
Power corrupts
In the real world, someone would be holding a boombox blasting Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" to Kwame. The refrain: "Don't you ever get to thinking you're irreplaceable." Kwame's watched Training Day one too many times, and somebody needs to tell him, "You, sir, are not King Kong."
Delusions of grandeur don't override either flagrant abuses of power or who-knows-what-else the mayor and his High School Musical from Hell crew have been up to. Abuse of power is the most despicable crime politicians can willingly lower themselves to. Kwame's not the first or last to do so, but it's no less inexcusable and he's not irreplaceable.
All his whining suggests the joke about the woman emotionally confronting her husband while he's in the middle of screwing her best friend: "Do you mind?" he retorts, "This is an intensely personal time for me!"
The firestorm has never been about the mayor's sex life. It's about the increasingly criminal-looking domino line of actions taken to keep Bruh-mayor on the downlow. It's about thinking we're stupid and he's smart every time he shrieks, "Leave my family alone!" with his thing still stuck in the proverbial hole. He wasn't thinking about them while screwing or green-lighting whatever Prosecutor Worthy is digging into, so don't start now.
Does this city of bombed-out neighborhoods and hell-holed schools really need to wait with mouths open for his money shot? Since he continues to be arrogant, dismissive and dumb (and for any of his supporters, no, those are not presidential qualities), every outlet in the city needs to be in his face and on his heels.
If you'll screw a man's life over and waste huge amounts of time and resources to cater to yourself in a plot straight off BET late-night, just imagine what you'd commit with the big stuff. But accountability and politicians don't fraternize too often in the real world. —Clarence Young, Detroit
Disappointed in Kwame
I do not live in the city of Detroit, but, as a concerned citizen and a person that has lived within a stone's throw of Eight Mile Road for almost 70 years, I feel that I have some say.
Unfortunately, you are spot-on about the mayor. The red Navigator and big parties were quite enough but I had really thought that the mayor had grown up after his initiating term in public office.
Sadly, I was wrong. I am still of the belief that many fine decent people live within the confines of the city limits, people with enough sense of values to see what is going on. How desperate they must feel today, now that Kwame Kilpatrick is making noises like Mayor Coleman Young screaming race.
The mayor seems to have the idea that whatever happens to the employees of the city because of his transgressions in his personal life, it can be made right by slipping them each a check drawn on city funds and sending them off in disgrace.
Whatever the outcome and however unpleasant for them both I am sure that it will not be worth $9 million to those that sorely need it. I would certainly hope that the City Council reviews how they allowed things to go this far and take steps toward change. —William S. Lytle, Birmingham
Kwame loves us
Even if he's not actually involved in a hit, Kilpatrick has assuredly shown enough (already) for any thinking person to comprehend and understand. He's a totally dishonest, completely selfish man. I'd say he's shown himself to be a low life. He uses the race card to hurt everybody in Detroit and in the surrounding area. Not only doesn't he support Detroit cops, he undermines the very people who literally are putting their lives on the line to do a dangerous job. Thanks for that too, Mayor.
The people he hurts the most are the very people he claims he's looking out for, the people he claims he's helping, the people he claims he's leading. Clearly, there are no real rules for him. He plays by his own. This is not what Detroit needs — especially now.
He says he was born to do this job. Well, he was given the chance, again and again and again. And he's failed Detroit (failed all of us) again and again and again.
If he had some decency, if he did care about the city he claims he loves, he'd be a decent man and step down now. What's the chance of that?
Haven't you heard? He loves the city. The very city he's been bleeding dry to satisfy his personal pleasures. And then costing the city millons more dollars to cover up his selfish, immoral lifestyle. Looking out for who?
He loves the city he's tearing apart by insisting to continue to run his game, as others, even our govenor, just watch as his costly charade continues.
Haven't you heard? He was born to do this job. How could he be denied his birthright? —Jim Campbell, West Bloomfield
Rhyme time
With apologies to Dr. Seuss:
I never slept with Chrissy Beatty.
Carlita's my wife, my only sweetie.
I did not try to cover lies,
I never partied with them guys.
She did not hit her with a bat,
She did not hit her with a cat,
I will not, cannot, quit you ever,
'Cause in my mind I am so clever.
The lie I told was not a crime,
Can't say more now, don't have the time.
The truth must not come out till late,
Or my son won't be elected in 2028.
—George Ditzhazy, Detroit
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