Letters, faxes, and e-mail

Use money to rebuild U.S.:

According to some bridge experts, it would cost about $10 billion per year for 20 years to adequately repair or replace our nation's bridge infrastructure ("Fix estimates in billions for `deficient' bridges," The News, Aug. 3).

Although this is a sizable amount, it pales in comparison to the $8 billion per month we are spending in Iraq to - in part - rebuild its infrastructure. This is where the money for these needed repairs should come from, to put our own house in order first.

If only the Bush/Cheney junta would decide to rebuild America (including New Orleans) instead of playing soldier around the world.

Bill Cullen

Southside

Alternatives don't solve the problems:

Today's concern about health care in America raises numerous issues. Two that quickly come to mind have major impact on the ultimate solution to this problem.

First of all, universal health care is not the glorious solution. Most liberals promote this idea for political gain. While everyone needs health care, this alternative does not solve the problem. A brief review of facts and results from almost any country having such a program will reveal the negative consequences associated with socialized medicine. This is not the solution.

Second, almost anyone required to use our current system will likely testify to the unfair and unnecessary costs associated with our monopoly health care. Business is business; but when someone capitalizes as the only supplier of a product at the expense of the general public, it raises a flag of unfairness. This is particularly true when the product is a necessity.

There is a desperate need for change in health care, but socialized medicine and no boundaries on medical costs will not solve the problem. Both of these plans rob the patient, not only of money but, more important, the medical care needed. There has to be some cooperative common ground for solving this problem. I don't believe it has existed in Washington for many, many years, and if liberals control the near future, it won't for a much longer time.

Jim Maughn

Pell City

Robbing Peter to pay for Paul:

Cynthia Tucker's recent column on the State Children's Health Insurance Program was correct in that our nation's children need basic health-care coverage provided for them to have a better chance of growing up healthy ("Expanded health care for kids good investment," The News, July 30). However, it's a shame our Congress sees fit to provide and fund this coverage at the expense and risk of our senior citizens.

The Medicare program Tucker described as being "one of the most popular programs in U.S. government history" is being raided to pay for SCHIP. That's right, Peter (the 68-year-old retiree with chronic lung disease) is being robbed to pay for Paul (the 5-year-old with asthma).

This is only one example of many instances Congress and the White House are using to dismantle the highly popular and effective Medicare program behind the backs of our senior population.

Seniors, take note and write or call your members of Congress today before you end up with little or no health care.

Michael Cobb

Hoover

Veto would prevent tobacco-tax increase:

It's not complicated for me to understand why President Bush has threatened to veto the proposed increases for the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Believe whatever Bush spin you like. But having followed and fought tobacco since 1986, I know the reason for a Bush veto will be to prevent a long-overdue federal tax increase on tobacco.

Never forget: Karl Rove worked with Big Tobacco for years prior to his puppeteer spot in the White House.

Mike Sawyer

Cahaba Heights

Veterans being misdiagnosed:

I am a Vietnam veteran who suffers from posttraumatic stress disorder. I got this illness in DaNang, Vietnam, in 1971, while on duty there. My objective was to secure the ammunition depot every night.

One morning, while coming off duty, I witnessed a fellow GI moving ammunition around the compound. Suddenly, his forklift weighted with ammunition turned over with him in the cab; he was crushed.

It took me 35 years to talk about the nightmares, cold sweats, anger and the guilt I shared every day, along with other traumatic episodes. Two years ago, I finally went to the Birmingham VA Medical Center. I was diagnosed with depression and assigned a counselor to do an evaluation, which determined PTSD. I now attend regular meetings and group study to help understand, live with and deal with PTSD daily.

I filed a claim with Veterans Affairs and was denied. At the compensation and pension exam, which determines a veteran's rating and pension, the doctor told me I was "depressed before I went to Vietnam" and denied my claim.

These are the issues some Vietnam-era veterans go through. A lot of them won't file claims because of the red tape and requirement to produce evidence. What is more evidence than your mental state?

I pray and hope the veterans returning from Iraq do not go through what I have endured.

Davis Chatman

East Lake