DIALOGUEletters
In response to the April
Debate, “Should we remove
the income tax on unemployment insurance benefits?”
NO. Accountability—being responsible for your situation—is more of
what is needed in our country.
Therefore, every possible incentive to
getting off unemployment insurance
as soon as possible is needed.
Steve Richter
The Villages, Florida
rest of the industry is going the opposite
direction [Buying Smart, April].
Manufacturers are making packages
smaller to meet lower price points. We are
getting less food per package and, as a result,
we pay more per food ounce. And the amount
of packaging going to landfills is increasing.
Consumers should be looking for the
largest containers they can use to minimize
the amount of their budget paying for the
package itself.
Edward Samson
Northbrook, Illinois
YES. Those on unemployment are
struggling to pay bills and need all of
their income.
Sandra Wilson
Las Vegas, Nevada
MEDIA BAKERY/RF
Odds and ends
Pros, cons of Michael J. Fox
I was encouraged to read your featured
article about Michael J. Fox and his family
[“On the bright side of life,” April].
It hit home, especially since I have a family member who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. I see, firsthand, how PD affects a person’s
ability to perform the simple day-to-day
tasks I often take for granted.
When I read the article, I was reminded
that our family needs to remain optimistic
and hopeful because we are her support system. It’s the best thing we can do for her
right now.
The Gates of humanity
[William] Gates Senior has done real service to the present generation with his recent
publication, Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on
the Gifts of a Lifetime, as it will enthuse all to
serve the underdogs of the society.
The article on the Gates family [“Gates
on Gates,” May 2009] I have read with keen
interest, and it’s really inspiring. May the
Gates tribe increase in the large interest of
humanity.
C.P. Chandradas
Arlington, Tennessee
Debate goes on
In response to the May Debate,
“Should government regulate consumer protection for air travel?”
NO. Air travel is already expensive enough
without adding costs.
Paula Sechrest
Denver, Colorado
R. Wong
Daly City, California
YES. Our time is just as important as the airlines’. Long delays cost us clients and income,
and can affect our health.
Robert Schindler
Boca Raton, Florida
NO. I’m concerned about too many government regulations now and I fear we’re turning
into a socialist country.
Randi McKibben
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
While I can admire Michael J. Fox for
his outstanding career and his courage in
the face of a terrible disease, I could not look
at [April’s] Connection without remembering his behavior in the 2004 election.
Fox took a major public stand in favor of
pro-abortion candidates and helped spread
lies and half-truths about what his opponents
were saying regarding the stem cell issue.
Gerard Neumann
El Paso, Texas
Mind still matters
What a pleasant surprise!
My wife and I are new Costco members
and we just received our first copy of The
Costco Connection. And we’re amazed—a
membership magazine with brains.
I was especially impressed with the pro
and con on consumer protection for air travelers [Debate, May 2009]. This is a nice touch.
It recognizes that Costco members are thinking adults with diverse views. No lectures
needed—just the facts.
Herb Berkowitz
Wilmington, North Carolina
Big Island, bigger deal
My husband and I recently took a trip to
Hawaii. I searched for weeks to find the best
deals and found them through Costco Travel.
I liked having the assurance behind the
Costco name should any incident arise.
Not to worry! We were treated like first-class travelers the whole way and had beauti-
YES. The quality of airline service has declined
drastically. Consumer rights provided in other
industries are not given by the airlines.
Brian Sharpe
Denver, Colorado
CORRECTION:
The golf course section in the May issue of The
Costco Connection had the incorrect area code for
the Kapalua Plantation and Bay Course in Maui.
The correct phone number is 1-888-207-9589.—Ed.
Note: For those who found the Michael J.
Fox story offensive, we want to stress that the
thrust of the piece was about a person remaining optimistic and productive in the face of
having a debilitating illness, not about his
political stances. We see an important distinction between any of us who may express an
opinion on a politicized topic and those who
are, indeed, political figures.—Ed.
Singing a happy tuna tune
I was happy to read about Costco
increasing the size of cans of tuna while the
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.
