Just kidding

"Hope or hype?" (Jan. 20) is a good article regarding the seven new pro-life Democrats in Congress. But if they think they will have any influence in the Democratic leadership, they are kidding themselves. They have been used to give the impression of a centrist party so Democrats can become the majority party in Washington. They will have no impact on pro-life issues-they have been used and they will now be cast aside.-Mike Eiseman; McKinney, Texas

If abortion in America were about women's choice, there would be no opposition to groups like Care Net that offer it, nor would pro-abortion groups shield sexual predators and parents who pressure teenage girls into abortions. If it were about women's health, the pro-choice crowd would be the first ones concerned about post-abortion trauma, uterine damage, sub-standard abortion mills, and the possible link with breast cancer. Instead they viciously fight any mention of the above and all pre-abortion counseling.-Allen Brooks; Sheridan, Wyo.

Liberals seem to ignore the double standard surrounding "choice." Why is it that, when a woman chooses to terminate the life of an unborn baby, liberals consider it a health and rights issue, but if the father of that same unborn child walks away, it is a moral issue?-K. Heishman; Lynchburg, Va.

There's no place in the Democratic Party for those who oppose abortion on demand. These freshman members will either realize that and abandon a morally sinking political ship, or they will violate their anti-abortion principles.-Jeff Stiles; Dubuque, Iowa

Positively thriving

I enjoyed your article on conservative Democrats helping to save the innocent ("First test," Jan. 20). Congressmen Donnelly, Ellsworth, Shuler, and Wilson deserve praise from evangelicals for taking a stand on a stem-cell bill unpopular with their party. Likewise, constituents in Carney's and Altmire's districts need to be made aware of their anti-life votes. I guess hypocrisy and deception are alive and well in Congress.-L. Adam Russell; South Charleston, Ohio

Evil offer

Too many pro-lifers are willing to compromise God's command against murder and adopt laws, such as fetal pain bills, that end with, "and then you can kill the baby" ("State skirmishes," Jan. 20). It is proper to tell the aborting mother that the baby feels pain but evil to offer the solution of pain medication. This would ease the conscience of abortionists, mothers, and society and further entrench abortion.-Lolita Hanks; Littleton, Colo.

Unseen intervention

As a primary care physician experiencing the frustration of medicine with many parties involved, I thoroughly enjoyed "Robert's rules" (Jan. 20) about the PATMOS clinic. I am "traditional" but encouraged that you would enlighten readers about the factors in the cost of health care. Few relationships or industries are filled with such unseen intervention as health care. We need full transparency in the cost of doctors, procedures, tests, and drugs. I firmly believe that consumer awareness and competition will alter health care for the good of all.-R. Michael Green; Knoxville, Tenn.

Unfortunately, the discussion about health care has been directed toward finding insurance rather than finding health care. Medical professionals have become like car dealers, who promise everyone financing while obscuring the cost of the car. It used to be the doctors who acted like demi-gods, dispensing treatment that was not supposed to be understood or questioned. Now it's the policy makers and accountants who want to keep us in the dark.-Randy Doss; Hemet, Calif.

I just opened a clinic based on Robert Berry's model and could not be happier. It is time we stop practicing the business of medicine as it is dictated by third-party payers and practice medicine the way it should be practiced.-Dane Lee; Bristol, Va.

Robert Berry is not acting alone. A growing number of physicians see the problems of government involvement in health care and are opting out of Medicare and Medicaid. The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons is dedicated to the restoration of the physician-patient relationship, the elimination of all third-party payers (including insurance companies), and the removal of governmental meddling in the practice of medicine.-James H. Vernier; Fredericksburg, Texas

Alms for the millionaires

Thanks for the best laugh I have had in weeks. I'm speaking of Angelina Jolie's quote that "keeping a big family uses up a lot of money" (Quotables, Jan. 20). My group of friends and I, all with eight or more children, agreed to take up a collection to send to the "poor" multimillionaires, along with some money-saving tips useful in the lean years.-Janice Barchie; Conroe, Texas

Greased

I thoroughly enjoy Grease: You're the One That I Want! ("Hopelessly promoted," Jan. 20). This reality show is an improvement over others I've seen in that the rejections are kind, the judges seem interested in the success of the show as well as the contestants, and the demeanor of all is clean. I watch very little TV, but the music of Grease drew me to try this one out.-Carole Hutchings; Rathdrum, Idaho

Fight precisely

Precision attacks throughout the world where al-Qaeda cells and other terrorists exist is how the "War on Terror" should be fought ("Begin again," Jan. 20). The disaster in Iraq has wasted hundreds of billions of dollars that could be used to fund spying on, infiltrating, seeking, and destroying terrorists wherever they crop up. The Iraq War has nothing to do with the War on Terror and is probably the greatest debacle in U.S. history.-Jonathan V. Hall; Bellingham, Wash.

Good question

It is good to see the money appropriated for mosquito and malaria control in a measurable way ("Malaria milestone," Jan. 13). We have a daughter on her way to Kisumu, Kenya, in the hotbed of malaria and HIV. I'm hoping the efforts will continue and step up as time goes on. One question our family asks: "Why did God make mosquitoes?"-Kristi Gilsdorf; Fort Collins, Colo.

The more you know

Thank you for "Ford and faith" (Jan. 13). It was wonderful to read about how Ford became president and what he did with his presidency. I was born after his campaign and have found that the more I learn about him, the more I begin to understand the loss.-Holly Johnson; Stephens City, Va.

Of all I have read about Gerald Ford, I was most impressed with the high esteem in which he held his family. It is a shame he received such undeserved criticism and rejection for his pardon of Richard Nixon.-Craig Pruitt; Texarkana, Texas

On target

Bravo to Marvin Olasky for resisting the temptation to quisling-like appeasement of Muslims ("A question of linkage," Jan. 13). Conservative Muslims believe it is Allah's will to bring Islamic law to the world, and they don't believe forced religion is counterproductive. If there's going to be change, it will have to be within the Muslim community.-Patrick McIntyre; Mammoth Spring, Ark.

Sometimes preventative

Thank you for your godly and insightful reviews on the world of entertainment. Your articles and reviews are always informative and sometimes preventative, in that I will think twice before seeing a movie if it gets a bad review.-Whitney Tatum, 16; Shippensburg, Pa.

Correction

Juan Williams states in his book Enough that "Too many of today's black leaders have less to do with 'blood of martyrs' than with 'blood money,' the equivalent of the thirty pieces of silver handed to Judas" ("Descent into destruction," Feb. 3, p. 33).