TO THE EDITOR: Healthcare costs are rising because the bottom line is profit under cover of operating costs charged to the ordinary businessman and consumer.

Dedicated hospitals are unable to hire adequate nurses because of the control of health plan directors. Medical care falls under what they dictate and not what the hospital medical staff wants to do to benefit the patient. If our elected representatives want to do something to benefit the consumer, address our health care.

In another area, there appears to be a growing trend in the current administration to lessen the degree of medical care for military veterans who answered their call to protect our country in veterans who answered their call to protect our country in time of need. They are concerned solely with monetary cuts, which will make them look good to the general public, but the veteran suffers.

Ralph Robison, Mount Washington

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Council panders to special interests

If a person punches Councilman John Cranley in the face because he is short and liberal, and then turns and punches Councilman David Crowley in the face because he is old, you would think the punishment should be the same. City Council doesn't think so.

Where is the equality in city council's most recent effort to pander to special-interest groups?

Joe Braun, Hyde Park

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Rich get richer, he says hurrah

The rich are getting richer. It is true. Every source I have found shows a widening gap between the lowest income group and the highest earners. This is good and here is why.

Every president has proposed and every Congress has increased federal spending since I started voting in the early '80s. Party lines don't matter. It seems we have an endless need for new programs. The only way to solve a problem is to spend money on it.

To support this addiction our government needs money. The last several tax bills that have been passed have included provisions that eliminate federal income taxes on lower wage earners. Currently 37 percent of wage earners pay no federal taxes. The president is proposing to increase that percentage to pass his tax cut.

As fewer income earners pay federal income taxes, the percentage the higher income earners pays goes up. Common sense says the money has to come from someone. So, for that top 5 percent I say, "Go, go, go."

Brent Johnston, Sharonville

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Unlike Mussolini, Saddam will resign

Benito Mussolini was a dictator much in the style of Saddam Hussein. He enslaved the Italian people and kept control by using murder, exile and prison camps. When his power waned, the people who supposedly worshipped him, hunted him down and killed him.

It occurs to me the image of Mussolini's body hanging by the heels in front of a garage in Milan has not been lost on Saddam. My guess is just before an invasion is launched, he will graciously abdicate and accept an offer of exile.

I don't believe Saddam would consider hanging by the heels to be an acceptable option.

Irving W. Victor, Amberley Village

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Hamilton nursery talk enlightened visitors

If you need a pick-up from worldwide, local and personal challenges, check out the Hamilton County parks system. Last Saturday Scott Peak, manager of Shaker Trace Seed Nursery, presented an informative program "Getting started with native plants" and led a tour of the facilities for the Cincinnati Chapter of Wild Ones Native Plant Gardeners. Twenty appreciative citizens expanded their knowledge and asked questions about raising native plants from seed.

I'd like to thank Scott and the Hamilton County park district for their good care of our public property and the presentation of high quality programs.

Mary Elizabeth Huey, Finneytown

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Make a decision on Pete Rose

When are the "holier-than-thou" going to get their act together and make a decision on Pete Rose? He isn't applying for sainthood. He is a darn good ball player and made a bunch of Cincinnati fans happy. Now give him credit for that, and make a lot of us happy.

All Major League Baseball is doing now is wasting time and money, proving its leaders don't know how to make a decision. Get this agony over with.

Mary Ann Sidenstick, Mariemont

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A U.S. first strike would be wrong

This country's right-wingers constantly vilify Former President Jimmy Carter, but I am glad he courageously speaks out opposing how President Bush is handling the Iraq situation. Sincere, intelligent dissent is the highest form of patriotism. Bad things often happen when good people fail to speak out, or do nothing.

Bush wants to embark on a venture, which could take the world to the brink of self-destruction. I don't think the Bush administration is prepared to deal with the dreadful consequences a preemptive attack on a nation in the volatile Middle East would engender. A preemptive attack by the United States will be a bad precedent to set for the rest of the world.

Paul L. Whiteley Sr., Louisville, Ky.

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Court time can't conflict with school

My juvenile daughter received her first traffic ticket the other day. I understand the policy of requiring a parent to appear in court with his child to pay the ticket. What I do not understand is that you are required to have your child miss school in order to be in court on time to pay the ticket.

Don't you think it would be better policy to have kids who are still in school come down to the courthouse after school hours?

George Hornback, Bridgetown

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Government must not operate in secrecy

Why did Hamilton County Commissioners hold a closed-door meeting Feb. 5 at Drake Center to review the contract of administrator David Krings? Why was this meeting shrouded in secrecy, just like the original meeting when the controversial contract was consummated between Krings and the commission?

Whatever the merits of the agreement, they are apparently tainted by reason of the covert circumstances. The public was kept in the dark for three weeks and, as a result of the second executive session, more deeply suspicious.

Why? The commissioners will likely answer the question as they always do, by citing the Ohio Open Meetings law, which requires meetings of public bodies to be open, with certain exceptions, e.g. employee matters and legal consultations. Ohio's Open Meetings law invites chicanery, especially by those addicted to secrecy.

Some cities, like Cincinnati, Cleveland, and smaller ones like Oxford have adopted city charter provisions absolutely requiring all council meetings be open to the public. But, Cincinnati and others retained their passion for the occult and regularly ignored the open meetings injunction. In my last two years in city council, I became politically incorrect, by boycotting these executive council meetings. It wasn't after I retired, in the late '90s, that the Enquirer successfully sued Cincinnati and got the Supreme Court order to open all city meetings.

Laws can be evaded from time to time. Enforcement of open meetings laws so necessary to a functioning democracy and preservation of rights will occur only as a result of a vigilant press.

Thomas A. Luken (Former Cincinnati Mayor, Former Congressman), College Hill

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From space, McCool hoped for no war

Did anyone hear the news broadcast of the voice of Columbia pilot and Navy Commander William McCool? From the unique perspective of space, he expressed concern for his fellow soldiers, and also stated that it was his prayer that there would not have to be a war.

Did everyone feel grief upon waking Sunday, the day after the loss of Columbia's crew? Imagine the horror of waking and living with the reality of being at war, and facing far greater losses. There does not have to be a war. Did anyone hear?

Teresa Doyle, Milford