DIALOGUEletters
Debate goes on
In response to the April Debate,
“Should people get paid to donate
their organs?”

YES. I am a registered organ donor, but I can’t imagine how wonderful it would be to be able to donate while I’m alive! And if I get paid for it, all the better. Organs would be more readily available if we started paying people for them, too.

NO. An easier way to increase the availability of organs would be to go to the “opt-out” system favored in many other countries. Everyone is considered a donor unless they specifically sign a paper opting out of the system. Janice Grimes Rio Rancho, New Mexico

CHRIS A RUSNAK

Colleen Ohler
St. Helens, Oregon

Y ES. If the market were opened up, there would probably be more available organs. People who now die would be saved, and the price of organs would hopefully reach a level that most of us can afford.

Doug Keller
Tijeras, New Mexico

NO. I’m a kidney transplant recipient. If I were to someday need another transplant and was unable to pay for the organ, should I just be allowed to die? Although our current system is not perfect, at least it is fair to those waiting for an organ and is based on need of the individual based on time on the list and current level of health.

Marie Kent
Portland, Oregon

More debate response
In response to the March Debate,
“Should the United States remove
sanctions on Cuba?”

YES. Having sanctions against the country of Cuba only hurts its people in the long run. It’s time for the United States to talk with foreign governments instead of always pulling out the sanction card.

Ann Stemwell
Issaquah, Washington

diesel-powered vehicles to run on vegetable oil. Did you talk with [Craig Reece of PlantDrive] about what to do with the material filtered out of the restaurants’ used oil? Can it be safely disposed of in the weekly trash collection? I’m hearing that this is a problem and would appreciate more information.

John Pearce
Olympia, Washington

people compost the food scraps that are left after filtering. Remember, we’re talking about french fried food bits—so nothing very hazardous.

NO. Cuba has been trading with other countries and the standard of living for the average Cuban has either stayed the same or gotten worse. If Cuba traded with the U.S., the money would end up in the pockets of Cuban bureaucrats who could use it to oppress the Cubans more and to aid and foment terrorist activities against the U.S.

Craig Reece responds: Since restaurants normally dispose of such material in their solid waste bin (via the filter cones) and that goes to the landfill, there is no difference with the material that vegetable oil users might filter out at home. Some

March cover story madness

I enjoyed the March cover story, “Pet projects.” Being a pet and wildlife artist has been a wonderful vocation and avocation, including involvement in many organizations that strive to help neglected and homeless animals. I’m always drawn to stories involving people who feel the same need as well.

Debbie Richmond
Memphis, Tennessee

( www.debbierichmondart.com)

A gift for you this month

Jorge E. Ponce Burke, Virginia

Odds and ends
Vegetarian automobiles?

Thank you for the interesting article in your April issue [“Oil change”] on converting

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: From May 11 to 13, Costco will distribute the new Costco Household Almanac to members at each U.S. warehouse location on a first-come, first-served basis. The Almanac contains 232 pages of tips and advice to help members learn more about the value of the items we carry and how to get more out of the products they have purchased.

Have something to say? Readers are encouraged to submit letters to our editors on any topic or issue covered in The Connection. Please include your full name and phone number or address. Send all letters to: Dialogue, The Costco Connection, P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA 98124-1088; fax to (425) 313-6718; or e-mail to dialogue@costco.com. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for publication.

Chapters include Sight & Sound; Your Body, Your Health; Bed, Bath & Laundry; Home Office; Hobbies & Leisure; In the Kitchen; Design It, Build It, Fix It; and The Garage. Loaded with practical pointers, smart ideas and vintage lore, the Almanac is an invaluable resource for your home.

Supplies are limited, so don’t miss out on your copy—but if you do, you’ll find an electronic version of the Almanac online. Just go to costco.com and click on “Costco Connection Magazine.”

References:

http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/200703/?folio=18

http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/200704/?folio=39

mailto:dialogue@costco.com

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