Letters to the Editor: September 2008

Retirement pain

I read with interest “Retirement on Hold” [July-August]. I fully planned to work five to seven years more before I retired. However, my company eliminated our entire department in March with only five days’ notice. The department consisted entirely of women ages 55 and older. In this way and other ways, many of us find ourselves involuntarily “retired” through no fault of our own. —Ann Austin, Carrollton, Texas

Cabinet disclosure

A wonderful selection of topics as usual in the [July-August] Bulletin, but the most important to me was the Opinion essay by Lee Iacocca [“Let’s Put a Leader in the White House”], who wants to know who will be on a presidential nominee’s team if he is elected. Why isn’t more attention given to possible Cabinet members? Choosing able advisers is an important part of being a leader. —Eleanor Van Natta, Rancho Dominguez, Calif.

Upfront hospital fees

I was appalled by the story of Dave Williams (“Cash Before Care”), who, after paying $273,000 for his ex-wife’s care, could not get an operation to remove a cancerous mass in his neck unless he paid $20,000 up front. So much of what is happening in the health care industry seems to me deeply shameful. Perhaps we should be shaming the people responsible. Why not picket the homes of health care lobbyists and executives of for-profit health insurance companies? Let the neighbors know what they do. Clearly, some people are not much bothered about how they do business. We should bother them. —Diana Lutz, Madison, Wis.

Gas tax deductions

In “Soaring Prices Hit Meal Programs” you reported that some volunteer drivers are opting out because of high gasoline prices. What you failed to mention is that the IRS has increased to 58.5 cents per mile the amount that can be claimed as a tax deduction for business use of an automobile. The rate for charity driving remains at a paltry 14 cents per mile. Does this make any sense? I am a retired person living on a fixed income; I can give freely of my time, but not of my limited finances. —Charles Berger, Alisa Viejo, Calif.

Editor's Note: For more on how economic conditions have affected meal programs, see "Food Programs Feel the Squeeze," the second article in our five-part series "Going Hungry in America."