Inbox

The Financial Free Fall

MARCH 9 "HOUSE OF CARDS"

The article on foreclosure was heartbreaking. How is it that some people pay more to pamper their dogs than others pay for their mortgage?

BONNIE HUGGINS, CENTENNIAL, COLO.

MARCH 9 "INSIDE THE BREAKDOWN AT THE SEC"

No corporate entity "too big to fail" is too small to regulate. We must do it, and in a way that puts the public interest first.

PHILIP BRIMBLE, LOS ANGELES

APRIL 6 "THAT WAS THEN ... AND THIS IS NOW"

Let's hope that those with an overabundance of "things" will recognize that because of a pervasive sense of entitlement, many have lost all they worked for. Maybe as a nation we will develop a conscience and realize the harm we've done.

MARY JO LISBORG, FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y.

NOV. 9 "WHAT'S STILL WRONG WITH WALL STREET"

Out in the real world, professionals who construct bridges, buildings, even houses must be licensed, to encourage adherence to stringent technical, legal and ethical standards. Ignoring the rules can result in losing one's job. Why? Because if these things are constructed poorly, people will get hurt. Wall Street is in the business of "engineering" markets to make money. Why shouldn't they be licensed and held to similar standards?

MARK REVIS, MORENO VALLEY, CALIF.

Race, Sex and Bias

JAN. 26 "GOD IS BLACK"

Michael Kinsley's column is a prime example of why liberals get such bad press. It's utter nonsense to posit that being black or privy to the African-American experience somehow endows Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones with voice-of-God vocal cords. Their riveting vocal abilities are not racially based.

GEORGE ROGERS, CHICO, CALIF.

FEB. 2 "A NEW DESTINY"

I enjoyed reading Joe Klein's article about the new style, tone and attitude of cooperation that the Obama Administration brings. I only wish that Klein had adopted this new attitude. Instead, the snarky remarks aimed at George W. Bush and other conservatives make him come across as a sore winner--very unlike our new President.

BRIAN HENDRICKS, SPRINGFIELD, ILL.

JUNE 8 "THE LIMITS OF EMPATHY"

Christopher Caldwell's Viewpoint on Judge Sonia Sotomayor and affirmative action reflected a lack of insight. I graduated recently as the only Latina in my medical-school class, and understand, in a way Caldwell will never be able to, that the stories of President Obama, Sotomayor and myself are possible only because of the propping up of affirmative-action laws by empathetic judges.

YADIRA CARAVEO, DENVER

NOV. 16 "HILLARY'S MOMENT"

It is difficult to take Joe Klein seriously when he sprinkles in observations about Hillary Clinton's appearing "freckly without her makeup" and wearing an "electric-blue shift" rather than a jacket and pants. Why don't we read more TIME stories about Defense Secretary Robert Gates' facial appearance and choice of pants?

MIKE HAMILTON, EL PASO, TEXAS

Health ...

AUG. 17 "WHY EXERCISE WON'T MAKE YOU THIN"