Bail out insurance plan

When the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program was implemented several years ago, we were told that the premiums would not increase. Now, apparently due to some faulty actuarial assumptions by the company that insures the program, the financial integrity of the program is in jeopardy. Thus, many employees who are enrolled in the program are now required to accept either a 20 percent increase in premiums or a reduction in benefits by accepting a lower inflation factor ["Pay raises lowest in 20 years; some premiums increase," Jan. 11].

Another alternative would have been for the government to subsidize the program to make up for the deficit caused by the faulty actuarial assumptions, thereby avoiding a premium increase or benefit reduction.

Gee, that sounds an awful lot like a "bailout." Oh, I forgot, bailouts are reserved for situations where they can benefit corporate fat cats and their exorbitant salaries and bonuses. Surely nobody would consider a bailout that would aid mere civil servants. That would be un-American and anti-captitalistic.

I am a federal attorney with 29 years' service.

— David L. Hutner, Chevy Chase, Md.

End mentor program

I am deeply saddened to see a former Air Force chief, whom I had the highest respect for, playing a prominent role in an outrageous abuse of taxpayer money ["Military's senior mentors ‘cashing in,'" Jan. 11]. This further degrades the image of the Air Force.

The mentoring program turns the old revolving door between government service and lucrative jobs with the defense industry into a merry-go-round with bags of money replacing the brass ring.

President Eisenhower was correct in his warning about the military industrial complex, and the mentoring program is yet another example of what we should be concerned about.

We have fallen far short of that great American soldier and statesman Gen. George Marshall, who, after a lifetime of service, refused to take payment for speeches in retirement. What a pathetic example these senior officers set for cadets at the service academies who may strive for rank so they can be rewarded financially in retirement.

I acknowledge the talent and hard work of these senior officers, but they have been well rewarded. Their greed stands in stark contrast to those who served under them and gave their lives.

We need legislation to put an end to this shameful practice.

— Retired Air Force Col. Michael R. Gallagher