Just Sayin': Caring for our vets should be a priority

Caring for our vets should be a priority

Along with the the many Veterans Day tributes last week, we were again reminded of how many of our veterans are homeless, how many are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and how many attempt suicide each day ["Veterans should be honored every day," Just Sayin', Nov. 12].

How is it that migrants are given places to live, food to eat, psychological counseling and many other services? While I have no problem with our helping these people, shouldn’t we be taking care of our own first? Somehow, our priorities have gotten strangely mixed up.

Remember, our veterans and active members of our military are our present-day Greatest Generation and it’s time to start treating them as such.

Rich Corso, Oceanside

Election predictions are set by humans

As a longtime computer programmer (since 1963), I need to set straight the idea that a computer makes predictions of winners on Election Night. The computer is and always has been just a tool. What makes it work is the program behind it, instructions created by one or more human programmers. The computer works fast so it can “predict” an election result faster than a person or a group of people, but it will do be following the instructions of the programmer, flawed or not. I have personal experience resulting in both the good and the bad.

Ed Brown, Plainview

Drivers here play game of 'Dare Me'

Unfortunately, I live on a busy street. Almost no one stops at stop signs anymore. It seems as if everyone is in a rush to be somewhere. School buses use my street as a shortcut to the Southern State Parkway every weekday at 3 p.m. Stop signs are on every corner. Yes, drivers slow, but at intersections it becomes a contest of "Dare Me." An intersection near Bethpage State Parkway and Linden Street should be considered a hazardous zone and a traffic light should be installed there. Or assign a police officer with a large ticket book to that post. If not, sooner or later, someone will likely be injured.

Lew Bonagura, Massapequa Park

NUMC unit flying under the radar

I was unaware of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit of the Nassau University Medical Center. The staff was knowledgeable and beyond competent, but here's the issue: Only a few patients were there to be treated. Although the facility can handle 20 patients, I was one of only 5 there recently. We had their undivided attention and care, but it’s a shame that other hospitals in the area aren’t referring patients there. Fortunately, I had immediate orthopedic surgery within hours of my arrival because the Massapequa emergency medical technicians were aware of the trauma center. This underutilized unit needs to get more attention.

Terry Putterman, Massapequa