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What really ought to scare doctors, administrators, insurance executives and the general public is that there are so few nurses to protect them. Everyone points to money as the problem, but most nurses will tell you that it was a general decline in their perceived value as caregivers that began the descent into the system we have today. If you want to have a physician who can take good care of you, you need nurses who will share that duty and keep that doctor informed. JODY NICHOLS, R.N. San Marino, Calif.
While your overview of the foibles of the U.S. health-care system presented plenty of food for thought, you missed one of the main reasons for its decline. American health care is no longer about the well-being of patients. It's about making money, which means that doctors have to reduce the time they spend with each patient. Until we fix our dysfunctional health-care system, which values dollars more than lives, Americans will continue to be mistreated. TRISHA TORREY Syracuse, N.Y.
Bolten's Uphill Battle
TIME reported on new White House chief of staff Josh Bolten's "recovery plan" [May 1]. The trouble is that Bolten's campaign is designed to elevate the President's poll numbers rather than solve the ugly problems the Administration has created for the country. It is hard to imagine any American finding valid reasons to defend George W. Bush's performance. There are new revelations almost every day about questionable conduct among the President's staff and appointees. Let's hope they never again have the guts to lecture us on patriotism, integrity or family values. At a time when the world needs leaders, that crowd has disgraced public service. MARGARET RAY Pearisburg, Va.
Luckily for Bush, he can revamp his Cabinet whenever he pleases. But the American electorate--barring an impeachment--unfortunately has to wait four years to be able to replace the occupant of the Oval Office. STANLEY RICHARD OLIVAR Vista, Calif.
Best or Worst at What?
The story rating the best and worst U.S. Senators [April 24] was little more than a display of the prejudices of your editorial staff. No set, objective criteria were used to compare members of the Senate; the information reported was purely subjective. No attempt was made to analyze the work of the Senate statistically or rank all 100 Senators in any systematic way. The article amounted to a popularity contest with a very short list of judges. Your report was a disservice to your readers and called into question the veracity of your publication. ANGELA DE ROCHA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE OF U.S. SENATOR WAYNE ALLARD Washington
Iraq's Missing Girls
Brian Bennett's "Stolen Away" [May 1] painted a vivid picture of the abduction and sexual abuse of girls in Iraq. Someone has rightly said that war has no winners, only losers. And perhaps the biggest losers in Iraq for the moment are its girls. Sexual exploitation causes not just physical trauma; there is mental anguish as well. When disowned by their families, such girls are in danger of committing suicide or living the life of a prostitute. The Iraqi government should make it a priority to curb the evil of sex trafficking and rehabilitate its victims. SUNIL KUMAR KUMAWAT Sanganer, India