Local Harvest
Regarding your cover story about "How to Eat Safely" ["Better Safe Than Sorry," May 28] and eating locally produced foods: While eating safer foods is one strong reason to eat local, there are others. Local food tastes better, supports local farmers and their families, supports the environment, and benefits wildlife. And because local food can sometimes be difficult to find, in my area there is online access for the people of Westchester County, N.Y. (mypersonalfarmers.com).
MARYANNE HEDRICK
Peekskill, N.Y.
Your article took me back to World War II victory gardens, which were encouraged to help stretch the food supply. Today, home gardeners can control many factors important to eating safely—like the condition of the soil and the elimination of unnecessary chemicals. And there are the bonuses of healthy exercise, enjoying nature, and supplementing the costly grocery bill.
ALLEN HOEGERMEYER
Hooper, Neb.
After reading how underfunded the food inspection program is, I think maybe the country needs to rethink spending and hire more food inspectors. If the Food and Drug Administration "has little enforcement capability beyond asking companies for voluntary recalls," how safe can that be?
AUDREY DOREY
Pontiac, Ill.
Fresh Faces to Flaunt
I enjoyed "Straight Talk and Cold Cash" [May 28] about John McCain's fundraising tactics. As one of many who no longer are associated with or support the two traditional parties, I am not surprised by McCain's politics. It would be wonderful to see Republican Fred Thompson and Democrat Bill Richardson running as viable alternatives in 2008 to the same old tired rhetoric of the GOP and Democratic parties.
BENJAMIN J. JONES
Laguna Beach, Calif.
Student Loans
Your coverage of student loans ["Loan Issues Come Due," May 28] is a much-needed look beyond the recent loan scandals. The suggestion from the staff of Sen. Ted Kennedy that student loan interest rates might be halved with costs covered by eliminating subsidies currently given to banks bears support. I tried to call my congressional representatives to support both that and the House "Student Loan Sunshine Act" mentioned in the article. Unfortunately, you did not provide the bill numbers for either piece of legislation.
EILEEN F. VIZCAINO
Matawan, N.J.
Air Traffic Upgrade
The regulatory solution to "Chaos in the Air: Who Pays?" [May 28] would be to guard the Airport and Airway Trust Fund from unrelated expenditures, commit to the air traffic upgrades incrementally, and have all airlines share expenses proportionately.
ROBERT W. GREEN JR.
Fort Myers, Fla.
Clarifications:
In "Water Woes" [June 4], Aqua America was described as a private company to distinguish it from the public or government entities that manage most water utilities in the United States. Aqua America is, however, a publicly traded company.
A chart in "Company Pensions Are as Passé as Gold Watches" [June 11] did not make clear that it showed the largest source of retirement income expected by workers and reported by retirees. While only 2 percent of retirees named employment as their largest income source, 27 percent had earned income, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
This story appears in the June 18, 2007 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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