Less out-of-wedlock pregnancy, abortion with contraceptives Re: “Pregnancy is not a disease,” From Readers, Aug. 4
Paul Kokoski states that the use of contraceptives has increased out-of-wedlock pregnancies and abortions. Nonsense! If people used contraceptives properly, there would be less of both. Mr. Kokoski also said that people stay married because of children. How sad, although I fear this is often the case.
Contraceptives may, or may not, increase HIV/AIDS and other venereal diseases. However, some forms (such as condoms) might help lower disease rates. Birth control pills, etc. are not designed to fight HIV/AIDS and were never intended to do so.
Mr. Kokoski may have tried to make some valid points, but his one inaccurate sentence destroyed that effort.
Melva M. Koon
Alexandria
Candidate advocates time-saving transportation fixes
Re: “Commuters have clear choice in Virginia Senate race,” June 28
I have lived in Oakton for 1 1/2 years. During this time, I have spent roughly 420 hours commuting to and from work. I deserve good, quality, efficient transportation solutions for my tax dollars. That’s why I’m a “Commuter for Culipher” — and voting for Gerarda Culipher for Virginia state Senate on Nov. 8.
Culipher’s six-point transportation plan has common-sense solutions for cutting my commuting time so I can spend more time with those I love, but more importantly, it does so without raising our taxes.
For example, she intends to fight for a flexible HOV which will react in real time to car accidents and construction near Interstate 495. Additionally, she will advocate for clearer temporary exits and better, more visible signs to relieve congestion.
Culipher lives several blocks from me and has commuted into D.C. for years. She understands how my most precious commodity — my time — diminishes with an increasing commute.
Lauren Hart
Oakton
America’s jobs have been outsourced to China
The president, the politicians and the public are demanding that more jobs be created in the United States, but how are we to do so when a large segment of our manufacturing capability has been transplanted to China and much of our production is outsourced to a country where workers are paid a fraction of what they receive here?
China purposely undervalues its currency and totally disregards intellectual property rights, making their products more competitive. Both are unfair trade practices according to American trade laws, but they are not enforced by our government. The Obama administration is apparently reluctant to challenge the Chinese because they are underwriting a large part of our national debt, and American companies that benefit from their relationship with China have no reason to speak up.
The result is serious unemployment and the undermining of our economic, financial and military strength. If we continue this self-defeating process, our national debt will continue to increase and we will become even more dependent on China, which will take full advantage of the situation.
Ruben Moller
Wheaton
