Doctor Bentivegna is an ophthalmologist living in Connecticut. He has written numerous op-ed pieces for The Hartford Courant and The New York Times regarding health care, tort reform, and the political situation in Haiti.

Joseph Bentivegna, M.D.January 9, 2019

Justice Ginsburg is Probably Quite Ill

January 9, 2019 First of all, I wish Justice Ginsburg well. She is a courageous advocate for women’s rights and a cultural icon. But in one reads between the lines of published reports on her situation, this woman is probably quite ill. According to Kathleen Arberg, public information officer for the Supreme Court: “Two nodules in the lower lobe of her left lung were discovered incidentally during tests performed at George Washington University Hospital to diagnose and treat rib fractures sustained in a fall on November 7. [2018]” According to the surgeon who operated on the justice, Dr. Valerie Rusch, both nodules removed during surgery were found to be malignant. However, "post-surgery, there was no evidence of any remaining disease. Scans performed before surgery indicated no evidence of disease elsewhere in the body. Currently, no further treatment is planned." Thus, from published reports from reputable sources, we know the following: 1. She had non-metastatic colon cancer removed in … [Read more...]

Predictions for 2019

January 1, 2019 Unlike most columnists who make annual predications and hope you forget them, I will review the predictions I made for 2018 before proceeding: 1. The Republicans will hold the House and pick up Senate seats. Half right 2. The stock market will gain at least another 10%. Wrong 3. The mullahs are going down. Wrong for now but will be correct in the foreseeable future. 4. North Korea will be brought under control. Debatable. North Korea has stopped testing ballistic missiles but is ignoring its promise to end its nuclear program. 5. The Steelers will win the Super Bowl. Wrong. But we wuz robbed. Given this lackluster record, I will now proceed to 2019 predictions: 1. The stock market will remain flat. Many stocks are simply overvalued according to traditional metrics, especially the FAANG stocks (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google). These … [Read more...]

Immigration – The Protracted Conflict

December 26, 2018 My grandfather had a scar on his face. It extended across his right cheek, from his ear lobe to his lower jaw. It was thick, ragged and ugly; as it had never been surgically repaired. The coal miners in the Scranton area of Pennsylvania went on strike in the early 1900s. This was at a time when there was no safety net. If you didn’t work, you didn’t eat. The workers at the mine could barely support their families; thus the strike. The mine owners sent recruiters to Sicily and convinced my grandfather; a shepherd who lived in a corrupt society dominated by Mafia thugs and ennobled clergy, that life would be better in America. The next thing Grandpa knew, he was walking into a coal mine while a bunch of angry men on strike were screaming at him in a language he did not understand. Suddenly, a man with a knife slashed his face. My grandfather’s immigration to the United States was legal; unlike those pouring over our borders today, but that is not the point. Immigration in this country … [Read more...]

Comments

Kevin Kolenda says

January 1, 2019 at 2:52 pm

Then I can surmise that you should know this . . . yer father would pull the lever for Donald Trump also . . because he came here legally . . .

Reply