Claudio Vazquez

Our October Sound Off asked: What should the president do? More than a thousand of you responded, with 25 percent citing the war in Iraq as top priority. Health care and the economy were next. Here are just a few samples:

Stop the killing. When did it become permissible or even advisable to kill people at will? Killing does one thing very effectively—it brings on more killing. War or killing never solved any problems. Admittedly, I am over 80 and a former U.S. infantry rifleman, and have had my fill of the violence of combat, so I may be prejudiced.—Don McKenney, Lafayette, Colo.

There is no plan that can fix the mistake for invading Iraq. Evil begets evil. The terrorists will continue to destabilize Iraq, but the bombing and killing will be less than it is now. The sooner America leaves, the sooner the United Nations will form a coalition of nations that will help Iraq form a government acceptable by the majority of Iraqis.—James E. Taylor, Fort Washington, Md.

I’m a 56-year-old home health care worker. I am paid $6.25 an hour. In the last 2 1/2 years, I have had one 25-cent raise. The agency I work for is funded through the federal government. My work helps keep many older people out of expensive nursing homes, many paid for by the federal government. It makes sense that restructuring reimbursement for home care would save the government millions.—Paula Fossett, Mount Morris, Ill.

Cost of Evista before drug card: $77.37. Cost after drug card (first time): $73.97. Cost after drug card (second time): $78.56. Fix it!—Marjorie Brown, Brookfield, Mo.

Make sure Medicare covers procedures your doctor deems necessary. I’m 54 and need a sibling mini-transplant. Medicare will not approve it for my disease, multiple myeloma. I feel helpless—I don’t have the $300,000 for the transplant, and 54 is too young to die.—Jeanne Mitchell, Dent, Minn.

Cancel the tax break for the wealthy, then remove the cap on Social Security taxes and curtail immigration.—Lena Hildebran, Hickory, N.C.

I am a widow, 60, who earns less than $15,000 a year. It isn’t that I’m not interested in health care, Social Security or the economy, but the biggest priority to me is the safety of this country and the moral fiber. I want this country to be safe for my children and grandchildren.—Jean Cowden, Buhl, Idaho