LETTERS: LIRR fares, party politics, colonoscopy

LIRR should look inward for savings

The article about proposed Long Island Rail Road fare hikes has me outraged ["More expensive, and harder to get," News, July 29]. I have been commuting to Manhattan for 25 years. I think it's time for the LIRR to look within its own infrastructure to close its budget gap.

The ridership can only take so many punches and we are teetering now. I really feel that they will have gone too far with another hike at this time. Families have trimmed budgets to get by in this time of economic hardship. My suggestion to them would be to start making employees pay for riding the train.

There are just too many people who ride the train for free, and I'm sure if somebody did the math they would find this to be a substantial amount of revenue that could be collected.

This needs to be addressed by an outside party. They have to be more accountable. When you read about conductors or engineers who are making nearly $200,000 a year, it reeks of scandal. The labor unions have made concessions in these hard times to procure jobs and keep their members working. It's high time the LIRR does the same.

Edward Naab, North Patchogue

Conservative Party endorses carefully

As chairwoman of the Conservative Party in Smithtown, I take offense to remarks made by non-Conservatives about our leadership ["Politics & Power: Tea party, Conservatives clash," News, July 25].

What other party can boast that an executive committee of some 40 individuals representing all towns in Suffolk get together to vote on a candidate before he or she is endorsed? Randy Altschuler was our choice in the 1st District congressional race after much debate and conversation following an extensive screening process.

It is a shame our local representatives cannot see fit to support a fellow Smithtown resident.

Janine A. Barbera, St. James

Alive to give thanks for a colonoscopy

Regarding "Research questions colonoscopy's use" [News, July 28]: In 2002 I had a colonoscopy as part of a regular exam. To the shock of both myself and my doctor, a large cancerous polyp was discovered. I had colon cancer surgery one month later and chemotherapy.

I've had small polyps removed since then - all found during the yearly colonoscopy I've had since the cancer. The researchers in this article are wrong. If I didn't have that first colonoscopy eight years ago, and yearly colonoscopy since then, I do not believe I would be alive today to write this letter.

Morton Strizver, Plainview