In Treatment for Leukemia, Glimpses of the Future

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/health/in-gene-sequencing-treatment-for-leukemia-glimpses-of-the-future.html?pagewanted=all

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Sun, Jul 8, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Subject: re: In Treatment for Leukemia, Glimpses of the Future
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

    While whole-genome sequencing may be a routine part of healthcare in the future, we should note that it is not what lead to Dr. Wartman's breakthrough. In 2012, there are approved drugs against only a handful of the gene products (mostly kinases, like Dr. Wartman's Flt3) that are known to drive cancers. Screening cancer patients for mutations in (or over-expression of) these drug targets is still vastly cheaper than whole genome sequencing, and could lead to better, cheaper more effective treatment of cancers today.

Barry Haskell Levine

Time for Bankers to Intervene

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/opinion/time-for-bankers-to-intervene.html

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 8:38 AM
Subject: re: Time for Bankers to Intervene
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

     The U.S. Constitution is careful to restrict the offenses that can constitute "treason". So when "legislative obstructionism is the approach of Republicans who do not want the economy to improve before Election Day", we can know that--although it is economic warfare against our own country--it is not treason. They have sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States, not the interests of one party.   Let's not hang them. But do let's vote them all out of office.

Barry Haskell Levine

Polarized Over Health Care, United on Drama of Ruling

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/us/politics/on-left-and-right-a-frenzy-awaiting-health-care-ruling.html

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Subject: re: Polarized Over Health Care, United on Drama of Ruling
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

   While all of Washington is riveted, the drama over the Supreme Court's healthcare case is playing out in a single household.  Virginia Lamp Thomas--as the head of "Liberty Consulting" stands to make millions if the healthcare mandate is ruled unconstitutional. Her husband sits on our Supreme Court and will rule on this matter.  No one can prove that her monetary interests (they're monetary interests!) will affect his position. But the appearance of a conflict of interest stinks to high heaven.

Barry Haskell Levine

Home Prices in the West Are Rebounding as Inventory Shrinks

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/us/wests-home-prices-rebounding-as-availability-shrinks.html

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Subject: re: Home Prices in the West Are Rebounding as Inventory Shrinks
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

   In a functioning housing market, owners realize gains or losses on value at the time that they sell. That was the way the world worked until the late nineties. Then we had the housing bubble. Owners discovered that they could borrow against the growing paper value of their homes with (eventually) disastrous consequences. Now that game is closed to the many homeowners who find themselves underwater. But it's open season for the banks who now own huge portfolios of foreclosed homes. By keeping those properties off the market they are driving up their paper value. In effect, the banks are creating capital out of their junk holdings by manipulating the prices of homes on the market.

Barry Haskell Levine

what Republicans Think

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/15/opinion/brooks-what-republicans-think.html


Mr. Brooks proposes that American voters should blame Barack Obama for the failure of Germany's Romneyesque austerity program to rescue the economies of Europe. I tremble to consider that our electorate may behave so illogically.

Mr. Dimon on the Hill

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/opinion/jamie-dimon-on-the-hill.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Subject: re: Mr. Dimon on the Hill
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

    Jamie Dimon put in a charming display of contrition, and his sycophants in Congress hastened to assure him of their ongoing love despite his transgressions. This courtly stage-play did nothing to address the people's interest. Moneys that the FDIC insures should have no part in whatever gambles he likes to make with his own money. Glass-Steagel kept our financial system stable throughout the post-war prosperity. It is as important today as it was then.

Barry Haskell Levine

Axelrod Floats Amendment to Stem Campaign Spending / speaking out against 'Super PACs'

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/axelrod-floats-amendment-to-stem-campaign-spending/?ref=todayspaper

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 9:08 AM
Subject: re: Axelrod Floats Amendment to Stem Campaign Spending / speaking out against 'Super PACs'
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

   Win or lose, this is Barack Obama's last campaign; no one has ever won the U.S. presidency after losing the office.  It is therefore significant that David Axelrod proposes to end the pernicious influence of superPACs only if/when Obama has been re-elected.  Such a deathbed conversion would look cynical if it were for the sake of heaven. To do it while soliciting yet more money for the current campaign gives new meaning to "chutzpah".

Barry Haskell Levine