Billboards are

a blemish on

state's scenic roads

Regarding "Billboards benefit Missouri economy, safety" (Oct. 14): Contrary to the opinion of the Outdoor Advertising Association, my friends and I believe billboards are a repulsive blemish on Missouri highways.

What a pleasure it is to drive through states without massive billboards lining the roadways. Who needs a whole series of billboards to find a gasoline stop or a car dealer? Who needs all the unrented billboards that tell us who to call to rent advertising space?

On Interstate 70, the interstate system offers modest, informative signage listing services and attractions. Who needs a billboard to select a college or locate a porn shop?

The association says the billboards aren't in the "truly scenic areas of this state," but rural Missouri is, in fact, scenic. Unfortunately, it has been marred by an ugly tangle of billboards.

Our solution to the billboard mess: We boycott the companies that pay for the big unsightly signs.

Jerry Ingenthron — Chesterfield



Schlock purveyors

The commentary "Billboards benefit Missouri economy, safety" (Oct. 14), written by William H. May, the executive director of the Missouri Outdoor Advertising Association, was a weak justification of the industry. Mr. May claims Missouri is safer and more prosperous thanks to the billboard industry. That claim could be made by any industry, guns and drugs included.

This commentary was pure hucksterism, and the Post-Dispatch should be ashamed to print such pap without the words "paid advertisement" across the page (refer to the Platform's words: "... always oppose privileged classes and public plunderers...."). The billboard industry is selling off a part of everyone's quality of life, including being able to traverse the state without visual assault.

The situation recalls the Problem of the Commons, wherein individuals are motivated to use up a public good before someone else does. Perhaps we also should encourage loudspeakers braying ad spots on each corner?

The digital LED billboards — television-like distractions for harried drivers — are even worse. The worst example of this is in front of the Lumiere Place casino at what is surely one of the most dangerous rising blind curves in Missouri's interstate system. I expect a major tragedy there, brought on by the scantily clad models on the casino's jumbo sign.

Show a little class, Post-Dispatch, and stop giving it away to the schlock purveyors.

Wesley Fordyce — Florissant

Taint of indifference

The real issue in health care reform is whether we, as a so-called Christian nation, want to continue to profit from the misery and suffering of those who are in poor health? Will our national conscience, which professes to "God and country," continue to be deadened by the rapacious greed of those who prey on the ill fortunes of the sick?

Where are those who seek to take up the flag of Christian righteousness and effect change in our government? Are they worshipping at the shrine of love for the poor and sick or are they worshipping at the shrine of money?

Cost recovery for expenses associated with health care is understandable and, indeed, necessary, but how long will we, the people, allow insurance companies to second guess one's doctor, who is most familiar with a patient's history, deny treatments and allow profits to be made on those dying of cancer?

Can we face our maker with such indifference tainting our souls?

Bob Cole — Ferguson



Preventing care

Congress doesn't get it. They're still talking about a public health care option. It should be mandatory.

Kicking private insurance companies out of the health care equation, taking away their government subsidies and obscene profits and using those billions of dollars for provision of cradle-to-grave health care for every single American citizen (native-born or legally naturalized) through a not-for-profit government entity is absolutely necessary to bring the United States' poor health standards up to the level of that of every other industrialized nation.

We spend more money per patient than any of those nations, and yet the quality of our health care is 37th in the world. That's a measure of how many people died needlessly, in spite of our advanced medical knowledge and techniques.

But this will be difficult because the only "victim" of such a plan would be the private health insurance companies that are spending more than $1 million a day lobbying Congress to prevent our ability to deliver good, quality, affordable health care, at the expense of their greedy and indefensible profiteering.

Think of the suffering that could be alleviated with that million-dollar-a-day bonanza going to doctors, hospitals and pharmacists — the real providers of health care — instead of bloating that nonproductive layer of fat called private health insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs and other preventers of health care.

David Kammer — Chesterfield

Pharmacist

Vital to workers

The story "Study of Red Cross blasts labor relations" (Oct. 9), about working conditions at the American Red Cross, underscores the need for workers to have a voice in their employment and the need for labor law reform that would level the playing field.

It's disheartening to know that an organization largely responsible for the stewardship of our nation's blood supply has put safety in question with anti-worker business practices. This case reminds us that when workers are denied a choice in forming a union, workplace protections, employee morale and quality service are all in jeopardy. Union representation and a collective bargaining agreement help minimize the likelihood of these potentially damaging consequences for the benefit of health care workers and blood donors and recipients.

That's why the Employee Free Choice Act is vital to America's workers. It will help workers and employers agree on a fair contract, toughen penalties on the corporations that break the law and allow workers to choose a union without interference. For the well-being of all those who work in the medical services profession, it's important that Missouri's congressional delegation help pass this meaningful policy solution reform this year.

Kimberly Freeman — Washington, D.C.

Acting Executive Director, American Rights at Work



Oddly omitted

The story "D.C. march draws tens of thousands" (Oct. 12), said, "Obama … in a speech to the nation's largest gay rights group Saturday night...." It is odd that the story never names the group.

If the president had addressed the NAACP, no article would have omitted the group's name and merely said that the president addressed "the largest African-American civil rights group."

The organization the president addressed was the Human Rights Campaign. The story should have included our name.

John Mancuso — St. Louis

St. Louis Political Co-Chair, Human Rights Campaign



Holiday hang-up

Could we get clarification on St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay's holiday card contest ("Holiday card contest," Oct. 14)?

For which holiday are the children to design cards? Halloween is coming up. So is Thanksgiving. Maybe it's Veterans Day. Or New Year's Day. Is it one of those holidays?

Maybe Mr. Slay is thinking of honoring Matt Holliday of the Cardinals with the children's cards — a Matt Holliday card.

Wait, he wouldn't be trying to be politically correct and not say "Christmas card" is he? I didn't think so. Wink.

Edward Harlow — St. Louis