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The solution to the Social Security, Medicare and prescription-drug problems is so incredibly obvious, I am amazed that no one has thought of it before [NATION, Oct. 9]: put everyone in the country on the same plan that federal employees have. Does anyone believe retired Senators or members of Congress are reduced to facing the same painful choices most of us will? I want the same plan Al Gore has. Give me Bill Clinton's plan. If I cannot have their plan, then they should have the same plan as the rest of us. MICHAEL STEINBERG Clarks Summit, Pa.
Species at Risk
Your report on the IUCN red list of species headed for extinction released by the World Conservation Union [ENVIRONMENT, Oct. 9] stressed that the crisis may be even more acute than everybody has feared. But very few experts today are surprised by what is happening. No one should be surprised that in the light of so little action, the crisis is more serious today than it was a decade ago. Those of us who have spent our lives watching international negotiations on environmental problems become bogged down in politics and grandstanding saw this coming at least two decades ago. It was serious then; it is more serious now. ROBERT N. MOWBRAY Reston, Va.
Ballistic Billboards?
There's a solution to NASA's quest for boosting public awareness of its activities [SPACE, Oct. 9]. You asked if the public really wanted "the space agency's imprimatur on burgers or beverages." Perhaps people don't want this approach, but the best way to boost the space agency's popularity and generate a huge financial windfall at the same time would be to emblazon "Drink Coca-Cola" on the side of the space shuttle. COLLEEN FITZPATRICK Fountain Valley, Calif.