Ex-Beaumont CEO didn't earn his severance pay | Letters to the Editor

John Fox received $10.2 million dollars in severance pay and bonuses upon leaving his job as Beaumont's chief executive. ("Former Beaumont CEO John Fox walks away with nearly $10.2 million in bonus, severance," Detroit Free Press, Jan. 19.) How can hospital administrations justify paying anyone that much money, while at the same time hospital patients are struggling to pay off exorbitant bills? Has it ever crossed any of these wealthy hospital executives' minds to donate a large portion of this money to ordinary hardworking people with hospital bills to pay? And surely there is a connection between high hospital costs and high exec pay?

Not singling out John Fox, but what should a person have to accomplish to actually be worth $10 million? These execs did not earn this money ... they were paid this money.

Frances L. Potasnik

Saline

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Progressives: Don't vote for third-party candidates, vote Biden

Progressives, and I consider myself one, need to get off our high horses when it comes to dismissing the Democratic nominee and voting for third-party candidates. I get it. Most progressive positions align more closely with U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders than with Hillary Clinton or President Joe Biden. We should do anything that we can to push the Democrats in power further left, as this will prove incredibly beneficial for everyone.

Anything, that is, except for voting for a third-party candidate. ("Trump vs. Biden? No thanks. As 2024 election ramps up, many wish it were over," USA Today, Jan. 19.)

The recent USA Today column referenced voting rights director and self-proclaimed progressive who said she would never vote for Former President Trump or President Biden. She stated that she is unhappy with what Democrats have delivered, so she will either vote third party or not vote at all.

A voting rights advocate staying home on election day? I understand her frustration, but her solution only makes things worse. Third-party voting for Ralph Nader gave us George Bush in 2000 and Jill Stein gave us Trump in 2016.

She went on to cite various grievances including inflation, student loan debt relief, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights. All these issues are ones that Democrats, including Biden, have fought for tirelessly. Republican lawmakers have enacted some of these horrible policies such as the war against reproductive rights and have made it tougher for Democrats to push their progressive programs such as student debt relief.

I know that we progressives are often exasperated with slow progress, but doing anything that would allow Donald Trump back in the White House would not only halt all progress, it would chip away at progress that has been made. We already saw that during the disastrous four years that he was in office. If our country falls into the trap of thinking that the presidential choices are both equally bad, we may very well see a second Trump term.  Then we will really see what a truly bad choice can do.

Bryan Chase

Huntington Woods

Millennials and Gen Z are vital to our democratic process

Millennials and Gen Z are going to keep growing as a portion of the electorate. In 2024, they're going to make up about half of the voters, and then over the next 10 years or so, it's going to surpass 50%.

They are very passionate about issues like abortion, gun violence and climate, but they do not call themselves Democrats or Republicans.

Biden's age is a concern; however, his extensive experience and mastery of the world situation provides a very strong foundation that must be supported when analyzed.

Patriotic Americans, if you want to save our democracy from autocracy, let's start by holding these dangerous politicians and justices accountable, then encourage your friends and family to vote.

Richard A. French

Pasadena, California

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We didn't have winter because of climate change

USA Today reported that the winter sports industry is facing existential challenges due to climate change. ("Climate change terrifies the ski industry. Here's what could happen in a warming world," USA Today, Jan. 18.) About 57% of weather stations have reported a decline in snowfall since 1930, with an average decrease of 0.19% per year.

It naturally follows that owners of ski resorts, gear brands and skiers and snowboarders are very vocal about the threat climate change poses to their way of life. Snowmaking technology can only get us so far.

According to geography professor Daniel Scott, “as temperatures approach the freezing threshold, snowmaking becomes less and less efficient and eventually not possible because you need air temperatures below freezing to turn water into snow.”

I get it, snow can be infuriating to many people: There are driveways to be shoveled, cars to be brushed off, treacherous roads to be navigated. But I think I speak for many of us when I say that I was disappointed by the lack of a white Christmas this past year. After all, if it’s going to be cold, a snow-covered landscape makes for far better scenery than browned grass. For this reason and many others, I think a green energy agenda is well worth pursuing.

Luke Daniels

Rochester

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Secret money in politics threatens democracy

The problem of big and secret money in political campaigns is identified as a bipartisan issue of importance.

The 2022 federal election cost more than $8.9 billion, blowing past the $5.7 billion spent on the 2018 midterm elections. And outside spending on 2024 federal races is already outpacing all previous election cycles. This out-of-control influx of legal — and increasingly secret — money in politics is a major threat to our democracy and peaceful society.

Politicians spend more time raising money than on legislating. This is unsustainable and is ruining our society. We must act now and pass the Disclose Act. We deserve to know who funds our legislators.

Roberta Duta

Ann Arbor

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Beaumont CEO pay, 2024 election, climate change |Letters to the Editor