DIALOGUEletters
Debate goes on
In response to the April Debate,
“Should people get paid to donate
their organs?”
YES. I am a registered organ donor, but I
can’t imagine how wonderful it would be to
be able to donate while I’m alive! And if I get
paid for it, all the better. Organs would be
more readily available if we started paying
people for them, too.
NO. An easier way to increase the availability of
organs would be to go to the “opt-out”
system favored in many other countries. Everyone is considered a donor unless they specifically sign a paper opting out of the system.
Janice Grimes
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
CHRIS A RUSNAK
Colleen Ohler
St. Helens, Oregon
Y ES. If the market were opened up, there
would probably be more available organs.
People who now die would be saved, and the
price of organs would hopefully reach a level
that most of us can afford.
Doug Keller
Tijeras, New Mexico
NO. I’m a kidney transplant recipient. If I
were to someday need another transplant and
was unable to pay for the organ, should I just
be allowed to die? Although our current system is not perfect, at least it is fair to those
waiting for an organ and is based on need of
the individual based on time on the list and
current level of health.
Marie Kent
Portland, Oregon
More debate response
In response to the March Debate,
“Should the United States remove
sanctions on Cuba?”
YES. Having sanctions against the country of
Cuba only hurts its people in the long run. It’s
time for the United States to talk with foreign
governments instead of always pulling out the
sanction card.
Ann Stemwell
Issaquah, Washington
diesel-powered vehicles to run on vegetable
oil. Did you talk with [Craig Reece of
PlantDrive] about what to do with the material filtered out of the restaurants’ used oil? Can
it be safely disposed of in the weekly trash
collection? I’m hearing that this is a problem
and would appreciate more information.
John Pearce
Olympia, Washington
people compost the food scraps that are left after
filtering. Remember, we’re talking about french
fried food bits—so nothing very hazardous.
NO. Cuba has been trading with other countries and the standard of living for the average
Cuban has either stayed the same or gotten
worse. If Cuba traded with the U.S., the
money would end up in the pockets of Cuban
bureaucrats who could use it to oppress the
Cubans more and to aid and foment terrorist
activities against the U.S.
Craig Reece responds: Since restaurants normally
dispose of such material in their solid waste bin
(via the filter cones) and that goes to the landfill,
there is no difference with the material that vegetable oil users might filter out at home. Some
March cover story madness
I enjoyed the March cover story, “Pet
projects.” Being a pet and wildlife artist has
been a wonderful vocation and avocation,
including involvement in many organizations
that strive to help neglected and homeless
animals. I’m always drawn to stories involving
people who feel the same need as well.
Debbie Richmond
Memphis, Tennessee
( www.debbierichmondart.com)
A gift for you this month
Jorge E. Ponce
Burke, Virginia
Odds and ends
Vegetarian automobiles?
Thank you for the interesting article in
your April issue [“Oil change”] on converting
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: From May 11 to 13, Costco
will distribute the new Costco Household Almanac to
members at each U.S. warehouse location on a
first-come, first-served basis. The Almanac contains
232 pages of tips and advice to help members learn
more about the value of the items we carry
and how to get more out of the products they
have purchased.
Have something to say?
Readers are encouraged to submit letters
to our editors on any topic or issue covered
in The Connection. Please include your
full name and phone number or address.
Send all letters to: Dialogue, The Costco
Connection, P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA
98124-1088; fax to (425) 313-6718; or e-mail
to dialogue@costco.com. The editors reserve
the right to edit letters for publication.
Chapters include Sight & Sound; Your Body, Your
Health; Bed, Bath & Laundry; Home Office; Hobbies
& Leisure; In the Kitchen; Design It, Build It, Fix It;
and The Garage. Loaded with practical pointers,
smart ideas and vintage lore, the Almanac is an
invaluable resource for your home.
Supplies are limited, so don’t miss out on your copy—but if you do,
you’ll find an electronic version of the Almanac online. Just go to
costco.com and click on “Costco Connection Magazine.”
