The shift from print to digital news has changed society, mostly for the worse | Opinion

The unintended consequences of digital news

Electronics have lots of unintended consequences. While stuffed in a pocket or purse they are out of sight. We miss headlines in newspaper racks, newsstands, papers read and left in public places where a casual reader may see them.

The electronic reader never sees them while “Googling” something else. The chance for public discourse equals zero. The printed word remains. While “discovered” later, what may not be as “timely” remains where it can be, well, discovered! Electronics change stories, daily, hourly, “up to the minute.” The chance to miss something goes up, not down. Public discourse goes down, not up.

We could go to the counter of our local newspaper and do business. The same person is there day in and day out. We have no idea who or what has generated the electric story. Electronics have washed (over) modern society like a tidal wave. What has sunk is our chance to exchange ideas.

We are drowning in a sea of calling names. Lack of public debate over ideas is as rare as a life-raft-bound reader floating the Pacific and spotting an island.

Ron Buckland, Pasco

Making Kadlec great once again

Before Kadlec was taken over by Providence Health & Services, staff were happy, appreciated and appropriately scheduled. They had ample time to do their jobs and were valued employees. The service was wonderful.

Providence appears to value profits over their employees and the community they serve. Providence had instituted a program created by McKinsey & Company to request payments from patients to cover the cost of care left over following Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. It took a lawsuit from the attorney general of Washington for them to stop using debt collections on this most vulnerable population.

I have spoken to multiple staff members — receptionists, imaging technologists and doctors. I have had to email my doctors’ offices because phones are so understaffed. Everyone is overscheduled in the name of profit. No wonder so many are unhappy. Job dissatisfaction leads to job turnover, and quality of service suffers.

Providence Health & Services is listed as a not-for-profit Catholic Health Care system. Replace current management and go back to their core mission of serving the community. Value their staff. Give them sane schedules and let the staff do their jobs. We all win from this strategy.

Amy Small, Richland

Trump is indeed a menace

This responds to a Nov. 26 letter in the Tri-City Herald from Donald Havre. He states, “… Democrats are telling us if Trump is elected, it’s the end of democracy.” Yes, Trump will destroy democracy.

Havre blames Democrats for open borders. The cause is Congress’ failure to pass laws to seal our borders, e.g., laws requiring aliens to obtain work/asylum visas before being allowed across our borders. Trump didn’t fix this, and the Democrats made it ... a two-party problem.

He says Democrats “… send illegal aliens to communities where social and educational services are overwhelmed.” Republican governors in Florida and Texas do this to mitigate illegal alien problems in their states and claim Democrats are hurting them.

He also implies Democrats use our government to prosecute political rivals. These prosecutions are based on facts involving Republicans violating laws. I don’t like Biden or Trump. Both are out of control, too old and too easily influenced by others or ignore sound advice. But I will be forced to vote for Biden or a viable Democrat.

Since 1956, I have voted for every elected Republican and Democrat president. I will continue to vote for Rep. Dan Newhouse. I am neither Democrat nor Republican. I just don’t believe what I read or hear without a lot of research.

Jim Tow, Richland