Letters to the Editor: October 2010

Banned books …

Thank you for highlighting the American Library Association's Banned Books Week ["Banned!," Power of 50, September]. However, we have received a number of phone calls and e-mails from Bulletin readers concerned that the ALA itself is responsible for banning the books listed in the article. That is not the case.

The ALA receives reports from libraries, schools and the media on attempts to ban books and compiles this information into a list in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The ALA condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information.

Barbara Jones, American Library Association, Chicago

… Reading list

I smiled reading through the banned books list, as I remember suffering through most of them on the required reading list at my high school. How much more exciting they would have seemed had they been banned back then! Maybe I should leave the list in a strategic place for my grandchildren to find.

Susan Ley
Luna, N.M.

Amazing! Were I to come up with a list of "must-read" books, I could think of no better start than the 50 banned books in the September Bulletin.

Harry Mitchell
Edmond, Okla.

ID theft worries

We have been admonished not to carry our Social Security cards in our wallets ["A Wallet Gone AWOL," Scam Alert], and limit our other personal information.

I have followed this advice regarding the Social Security card; however, I need to carry my driver's license, car insurance info, one credit card and health care information (Medicare card, etc.).

As much as we all want to abide by the guidance to protect our identities, we still end up exposing: (1) full name/date of birth/address on our driver's licenses, and (2) Social Security number on our Medicare cards.

Betty Sher
Pittsboro, N.C.

Incomplete care

I am outraged at the article on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan provided under the new health care law ["New Coverage for the Uninsured"]. Only in America, the only civilized country lacking universal health care, could this too-expensive, not-good-enough coverage be taken seriously as even a partial solution.

I live in Florida, where the plan's premium for a 55-year-old is $773 per month for individual coverage. How many people in today's economy will be able to avail themselves of this "solution"?

Oh, it's great for wealthy 50-somethings who've not been able to buy coverage at any price from insurance companies. But for many seniors in the middle or growing disadvantaged class, this is one more "solution" that's out of reach.

America needs universal health care, period.

Robert Goldberg
Casselberry, Fla.

We appreciate hearing from you. Write to: Bulletin Editor, Dept. RF, 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049; or e-mail to: Bulletin@aarp.org. Please include your address and phone number