Letters: Technology For Amputees And RVing

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NEAL CONAN, HOST:

It's Tuesday and time to read from your comments. We spoke with Amy Palmiero-Winters and Hugh Herr, both amputees, about the growing number of amputees who chose to remove more of the healthy limb in order to use improved prosthetics, which allow them to run or walk. Colby Zupan(ph) in Merced, California, heard our broadcast. I'm the father of a 17-year-old who was born without his left hand, he wrote. We've been to multiple doctors over the years to discuss a prosthetic arm, and my son has decided not to have the prosthetic because we've been told he would have to have part of his arm removed. Not having his hand has never held him back. He was the first kid in his preschool class to learn to tie his shoes. He's now a professional musician who plays trumpet in a jazz band. He also plays guitar, bass and French horn. He never ceases to amaze us.

Our conversation about the Supreme Court's pending decision on the health care law prompted Bill Chapman in Berkeley, California to take issue with guest Carrie Severino, who described the health care mandate as a novel use of government power. In fact, he wrote, the first Congress in 1792 passed a law mandating the purchase of muskets by all white males of fighting age. That law was authored by Congressman James Madison and signed into law by President George Washington. The first Congress also passed a law requiring the owners of merchant ships to purchase medical insurance for their seamen. That act was also signed by President George Washington.

And finally, Darrell also did not give us his last name, heard our conversation with Andy Isaacson about traveling the country in an RV. She wrote, I used to be one of those people who not only would not be caught dead in an RV, but I denounced them for their anti-environmental lifestyle. Yet, 30-plus years later, here I am, riding shotgun as my husband, me and our two cats tour the United States and Canada in our home on wheels every summer to get out of the Arizona heat. We have solar panels on the roof, use our generator as little as possible and are frugal with our water. As we travel, we see a lot and don't mind watching the rest of the world speed by.

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It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. I'm Neal Conan in Washington.

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