The rebirth of the Dick Lamm duty-to-die controversy

Our own Joe Tone thinks the Newsweek cover headline "The Case for Killing Granny" is evidence that the folks at the mag have lost it, and maybe they have. After all, author Evan Thomas makes a Colorado reference in illustrating the healthcare disparities (according to him, the average cost of...

By Michael Roberts

September 21, 2009

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Our own Joe Tone thinks the Newsweek cover headline "The Case for Killing Granny" is evidence that the folks at the mag have lost it, and maybe they have. After all, author Evan Thomas makes a Colorado reference in illustrating the healthcare disparities (according to him, the average cost of Medicare treatment in Boulder is $9,103, while it's $6,448 in Fort Collins, an hour away) without mentioning former Governor Dick Lamm, whose famous comment about seniors having a "duty to die" -- a remark he's long said was misinterpreted -- has gotten new life of late. Examples: CBS mentioned in not one but two recent reports.

In a September 2 Denver Post interview, Lamm said he felt vindicated by the debate over so-called "end of life" issues -- the latest phrase to anger the elderly. But as the Newsweek banner demonstrates, it's a lot easier to stir ire when it comes to dealing with such topics than it is to discuss them coolly and dispassionately.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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