To the editor:

We recently returned from a trip to Spain and Portugal.

Upon our return, two news stories stood out: 1) SCHIP was rejected as being too expensive (or expansive), and 2) a new coal electric generating plant was denied approval for environmental reasons.

These contrasted with the pride (acceptance) in countries we visited in providing health care for all regardless of social status or ability. Also there was a contrast in seeing many wind generators, which provide over 20 percent of Spain’s electric power. (Also we saw several fields of solar panels.)

Can’t American ingenuity, creativity and ambition do as well or better than the people in the Iberian peninsula?

Don Conrad,

Lawrence