PUBLIC VIEWPOINT Most Bella Vistans Don’t Golf

Posted: November 20, 2009 at 3:42 a.m.

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In response to David Whelchel’s letter in the Benton County Daily Record of Oct. 14:

It’s quite obvious Mr. Whelchel is a golfer. He sees nothing wrong with the distribution of funds by the Bella Vista Property Owners Association. He even goes so far as to suggest any “complainers” (he mentions two by name) should move out of Bella Vista.

I have two arguments with his philosophy. The first issue is the unequal distribution of funds and the second issue arising from the “move out or shut up” attitude.

Mr. Whelchel points out that we all knew we would be paying an assessment when we bought our homes in Bella Vista. This is very true; we just did not know that the assessments would not be distributed evenly among theamenities and the interest each amenity generates. Almost half of our assessments go to support 20 percent of the residents. Using 2008 numbers, less than 20 percent of the resident population of Bella Vista uses the golf courses, playing at least one round. Whilethere were 8,053 players, only 4,921 were residents. Yet the POA board has allocated 47 percent of the assessments to golf.

As for the other issue, I would implore Mr. Whelchel to review the history books. Life would be oh so different if our forefathers had “just shut up” when they became unhappy with British rule. They proclaimed that “all men are created equal” and fought for those rights, along with things like the right for women to vote and other freedoms I prefer not to give up. The right to stand up for what you believe in is what this country is based upon, Mr. Whelchel. It amazes me that anyone would subscribe to the philosophy that you wish we would follow.

MARY STEWART

Bella Vista

VIVA LA FRANCE!

What I have learned about the health-care system in France is hard to believe. Here is how it works:

A patient comes in to thedoctor’s office and takes out a credit card called a “Carte Vitale.” The doctor puts it in a reader on his desk and the patient’s entire medical record shows up on the screen. As he talks with the patient, he is typing his diagnosis and what he is going to prescribe to the patient in detail.

Then he hits one key on his computer, and the entire thing, with the bill, goes to his/her insurance company. The doctor will be paid in three to five days, and the patient will be billed by the insurance company. No paper, nothing to file, what a deal! If the patient goes to another doctor, he can put the card in his reader and see the entire record, including what the last doctor prescribed.

Is there a logical reason why we could not use this system?

I realize it would be a whale of a job to switch over to it, but can you imagine the savings in doctors’ time and in money? Is this included in the Health Care Reform Bill? If not, why not?

BILL KELLER

Bella Vista

Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/20/2009

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