Toadys Letters: Medicare mailing hardly 'official'

I received a document from U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite promoting meetings that she is conducting in the area to provide updates on Medicare.

The document was sent through the mail as "Official Business," but it promotes Medicare Advantage, which, to me, is a private enterprise that should not receive free postage or the congresswoman's endorsement. I hope you will look into this.

Richard Ritchie, Spring Hill

Mortgage crisis blame with banks

First of all, I am tired of hearing about how many mortgages are in default, and how people have to give up their homes. I blame the banks for giving out mortgages to people that can't afford to own a home.

Back in the 1950s when we bought our first house, the rule of thumb was whatever your take-home pay for a week was, that was what you could afford for a mortgage. For example, if you took home $100 a week, your mortgage payment was to be $100 a month.

Young people should think hard about that rule of thumb. Most will find out that they can't afford their home now. Banks make it too easy for people to get a mortgage today: You pay the interest only for 10 years, then you must pay on the principal the rest of the years.

You are the boss when it comes to what you can afford each month. Don't let the banks talk you into these low-cost mortgages. In the long run, you are the ones who suffer. And the rest of us have to pick up the rest of your debt.

August F. Holderried, Largo

Toy recalls open box of questions

After watching a record-breaking year of toys being recalled, I'm finding it difficult to understand the business industry. Toys are big business, so why aren't children's toys being thoroughly inspected for lead content as well as other possible dangers before reaching the stores, which by that time may be too late?

My guess is that most people never gave the subject much thought until this year. Nevertheless, with all the recent recalls, I can't help but wonder how many toys that were played with over the decades may have had an unusually high lead content or posed other dangers to millions of children but went totally undetected?

Could I have played with toys during my childhood years that by today's standards should have been recalled? Come to think of it - this could be one of those "unknown knowns" or maybe "known unknowns" that former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld once pontificated over.

JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

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[Last modified December 9, 2007, 20:56:09]