LTE: On city's new phone package: Need 'true' deregulation

In his May 20 Outlook article, "The right call for Houston: a new phone system," Houston City] Councilman Mark Goldberg rightly complained about SBC overcharging the city of Houston for millions in unwanted and overpriced services. Goldberg observed that SBC has not offered to refund the money, and that the city of Dallas had a similar experience.

The Texas Legislature is considering making changes to telephone deregulation that would allow SBC to overprice access charges paid by competitive local carriers as a means to reach businesses and consumers. If SBC is allowed to have its way, there will soon be no "alternative" telephone providers for the city of Houston to turn to, and no voice over Internet protocol technology to improve operations.

SBC's frontal assault on deregulation has crippled the entire telecom industry. Now that the politicians are feeling the pain, maybe we'll get some true deregulation.

Pete Smith, general manager,
Cypress Communications, Houston

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Viewpoints-Park-s-bike-trail-eyesore-2113740.php

LTE: Debtors aren't victims

Regarding the Feb. 27 Outlook article, "Credit scoring adds up to unfair for most Texans": Luke Metzger and Bill Stinson would have us believe that credit scoring is intrinsically unfair, and that the simple act of incurring debt can cause your insurance rates to be raised. They also claim there's no correlation between irresponsible borrowing and the risk an insurance company would run in extending a policy to people who engage in this behavior. They're wrong on both points.

Running up your credit cards or incurring other debt beyond your means to pay is a fraud, pure and simple. It's also a good indication of your willingness to defraud your insurance company with phony claims, or the likelihood that you will pay your premiums on time, both things any responsible insurance company would take into account before providing you coverage.

Consumers with out-of-control personal debt are generally viewed as victims. They're not. The vast majority ignored their parents' admonitions to save against a rainy day, so there's rarely anything "unforeseen" about their plight, as Metzger and Stinson would have us believe. And unlesss they are recommending that insurance companies commit financial suicide by ignoring the obvious, credit scoring will remain a legitimate tool in determining rates.

Pete Smith, Cypress

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Viewpoints-A-tally-on-credit-scoring-2125805.php

LTE: Battered women will suffer

The legal team that defended Clara Harris has set a dangerous precedent. They rationalized murder, and in so doing, have damaged the cause of battered women everywhere.

Surely every man who beats, maims or kills an unfaithful wife or girlfriend can now point to the Harris case to mitigate his guilt and lessen his punishment. These people are not only wrong, they are dangerous.

Pete Smith, Cypress

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Viewpoints-Folly-to-go-to-war-Or-appeasement-2098005.php