Correction: The "America's Best Health Plans" [October 10] Honor Roll listed Care Choices in the wrong state. The plan operates in Michigan. [20051010051687]
A Hurricane Plan
While we have a lull between hurricanes I have a suggestion for those in power who organize help for areas affected by catastrophes like hurricanes ["Shattered Lives," October 3]. Many have no concept of what it is like to be poor. When a large hurricane is predicted, the president should immediately call top people in the federal government, Homeland Security, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the governors, senators, and congressional leaders from the affected states. Each should be given two children to care for and $5 but no transportation, no credit cards, and no cellphone. After they experience a hurricane under these conditions, they will have more compassion and understanding--and a better idea of how to craft an evacuation plan.
ANN COBURN
Port St. John, Fla.
My heart goes out to the Hurricane Katrina victims of "Shattered Lives." The loss of homes and belongings must be a terrible ordeal. "I hope they'll find me a trailer" and "We lost everything--again" were dire responses from victims trying to cope with their losses.
DAN KENWELL
Clarkston, Mich.
The response to the recent hurricanes once again proves the generosity and kindness of the American people. Most of us can put aside partisan politics if only our political leadership could follow the same path. The state of Louisiana and Louisiana State University scientists have been warning the federal government about the potential disaster for years.
JEFF STOGSDILL
Haughton, La.
Don't Blame Single Moms
"All in the family" [October 3] misrepresents my findings on the sons of single mothers while ignoring a wealth of evidence that socioeconomic status is by far the greatest predictor of child welfare, not the number or gender of parents. Still, we persist in seeing single mothers as insufficient parents, and we blame them for society's ills. That many struggle to make ends meet says nothing about their parenting skills and a great deal about our country's economic and social policies. That many more have insufficient healthcare and day care says nothing about women's ability to raise healthy children on their own and volumes about America's priorities for our children's welfare. In fact, a growing body of research shows that educated women raising children without a man in the house, when they have enough income and social support, can and do nurture emotionally healthy, independent, caring children.
PEGGY DREXLER, PH.D.
Author of Raising Boys Without Men
New York
While I appreciate the strong disadvantage that growing up without a father instills in boys, there is equal damage for girls. Good fathers instill in daughters healthy self-esteem by showing unconditional love and modeling what healthy male-female relationships should look like.
MARGO PETERSON
Monroe, Wis.
I thought your column regarding the stable, intact family as the best deterrent to crime and poverty rang true. It brought to mind my favorite definition of a gang: A gang is a group of boys who don't know any men.
LORRAINE WINDSOR
Blackfoot, Idaho
Stateside Soldiers
The recent hurricanes illustrate the value of uniformed, organized, and disciplined troops with the equipment to surmount extreme conditions and provide a variety of services ["A Uniform Response?" October 3]. I think, however, that it would be wise to separate the missions of combat troops and the National Guard. The Guard should have domestic responsibilities and not a combat mission. This exclusive mission would necessitate its providing services in national crisis situations: security, evacuation and rescue, medical care, food, shelter, engineering, etc. It would also require extensive, relevant equipment. The result could be highly effective, responsive units without drawing from active-duty military units. Having mixed missions dilutes our resources.
JAMES A. SAVAGE JR.
Holly Springs, N.C.
It seems clear that the response to catastrophes like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita should, at least in part, fall to our state National Guard units. Their ability to respond to such emergencies has been depleted and weakened by the Iraq War.
ROBERT A. BUSCH
Grand Isle, Vt.
" A Uniform Response?" is exactly what the United States needs after every hurricane. Local law enforcement and available National Guard members need more help. The 82nd Airborne might be trained to kill, but they're also Americans who know how to keep order and to rescue. Isn't it time we learn to fix our own house?
JOHN WILSBACH
Middletown, Pa.
New Energy Needed
The recent storms highlight the folly of relying on oil and natural gas resources located in the cross hairs of hurricane alley ["Not Again!" October 3]. By allowing environmentalists to set our energy agenda, we are left open to price spikes and supply disruptions. This winter's predicted explosion in the price of natural gas, which heats half of all U.S. homes, will make $3-a-gallon gasoline pale by comparison. We're in this situation because environmental lobbies have been allowed to put the abundant resources of the western United States and Alaska largely off limits. New clean-energy plant construction has been blocked at the same time, causing us to burn valuable natural gas to make electricity. We're in for hard times, indeed, if we don't stop these obstructions and make reliable energy sources a national priority.
DANIEL H. HOUCK
Albuquerque, N.M.
This story appears in the October 17, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.