Today's Boston Globe articles

1. Health Care Reform - http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/11/01/us_health_overhaul_could_penalize_mass/

This is very important; after all, state representatives compose Congress. Any federal legislation should not impinge upon states-based initiatives that work and can offer innovative solutions.

2. Justice System - http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/11/01/let_juries_determine_sex_offenders_fate/

I disagree. First, the author assumes - immodestly - that a jury decision will necessarily be more community accepted than a judge's. Second, as the author pointed out, whoever deciding must weigh medical and legal "fine points" while determining future commission of crime; it is unclear and unstated whether a jury would also trump a judge on those grounds as well.

3. Health Care Reform - http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/11/01/hyperbole_in_the_health_debate/

Thanks for pointing out the exaggerations in health insurers' profits. I think the insurers' market is likewise fragmented between those that make much profit, and many others that do not.

4. Social Customs - http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/11/01/in_india_riches_breed_birthday_excess/

I personally think that any type of large birthday celebrations - such as those described herein and Sweet 16 parties - are ostentatious and excessive. Nothing else makes today's kids more self-centered and detracts more from their sense of pursuit in life.

5. Literary Criticism - http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/11/01/the_freakonomics_duo_tackles_climate_change____and_discovers_the_limits_of_cleverness/

Having read only the original Freakonomics, I general applaud the authors but also realize some of the reservations described in this article. For example, I believe that in distilling the material for lay understanding, the authors oversimplify and likely misrepresent many more-complicated economic and scientific theories.

6. Education Reform - http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/11/01/a_way_to_improve_schools_one_instructor_at_a_time/

It should be done - if doctors are ranked by quality, then why should not teachers? Nonetheless, it is important to use any value-based judgments and data wisely and gradually in implementing new school policies. Otherwise, there may be damning consequences for the teaching profession and the educational system.