News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Letters

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
July 24, 2009

Readers’ forum: July 25, 2009

The right way to count prisoners

Tribune-Star columnist Mark Bennett writes that the Census Bureau’s practice of counting federal prisoners as if they were residents of Terre Haute (”Multiple factors lead to Terre Haute posting ‘pretty impressive’ population growth”, July 18, 2009, Page D1) misses one thing: City council districts are also based on population.

Each decade, by Supreme Court precedent, districts must be redrawn so that each district contains the same number of residents. In this way, each resident gets the same access to government regardless of where she lives. Unfortunately, the Census count is not the same as the number of residents and this problem is about to get worse in Terre Haute.

When the Terre Haute City Council last updated the districts after the last Census, they unintentionally padded the First District with 1,764 prisoners, granting the 7,778 residents of that district as much say over the future of the city as 10,000 residents in each other district. If uncorrected after the 2010 Census, the expanded prison will be 30 percent of the district, creating an even larger vote dilution problem.

Unfortunately, the Census Bureau won’t be changing where it counts prisoners in next year’s Census. But there is an interim solution: ignore the prison populations when drawing council districts. Give every resident the same say over city council regardless of whether their district happens to contain a prison.

In my research, I’ve found more than 100 places like Terre Haute where the local government rejected the Census Bureau’s prison counts and choose instead to base their democracy on their resident population. The Census may count the prisoners as residents of Terre Haute, but the city isn’t bound by that count for its local districts.

— Peter Wagner

Executive Director

Prison Policy Initiative

Easthampton, Mass.



Union’s position is disappointing

I felt it necessary to express my dissatisfaction and disappointment in Union Hospital due to its refusal [at this point] to remain in the Anthem Insurance Network. It is obvious that the almighty dollar is far more important than good patient care.

Could it be that Anthem is not paying as much as Union would like because they do not want to pay for its new facilities, nor do they accept the outrageous fees being billed for services rendered? Could it be that a company is finally saying “enough,” and the hospital, in order to show its power and authority, is making the people who need medical attention suffer?

It is not easy to switch insurance companies, especially for someone like me who has group insurance; but on principle, I think I would stay with Anthem anyway, or at least boycott Union Hospital.

My biggest fear is being involved in an accident or having a serious illness that involves an ambulance transport. I pray that I can remain conscious to tell the driver to take me to Regional Hospital because Union Hospital is not in the network. It’s a shame.

— Kay Bolinger

Terre Haute

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Letters
Latest News
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Join the Conversation
Helium
Front page
AP Video
Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Woman Pleads Guilty in 1987 Newborn Kidnap Case Raw Video: Rough Seas Stop Oil Removal Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs Skaters Still Hold Hope for Dutch Marathon
NDN Video
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter Absolute Lin-sanity Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus Funeral to be held for Powell boys Kobe was 'rooting for Patriots' in Super Bowl Sandusky on having to stay inside and people turning on him Wookie Sensation Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera? Sandusky makes a statement Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera? Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip Toddler forced to run half-naked in snow Halle Wants to Leave the Country Northern Lights shine above earth Plane makes perfect belly landing Kris Jenner New Face of Arousal Oils Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News