Low-Cost Auto Insurance Plan

* Re “Low-Cost Auto Insurance Plan Proposed,” Jan. 14:

Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush is a joke. Instead of endorsing a very simple and workable plan--$300 liability insurance for low-income families--he will propose an insurance-industry-friendly alternative. Insurers will offer to lower rates by “about” 15%, but in doing so they will limit coverage to one person. Doesn’t Quackenbush get it? Has he grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth? Low-income families work many jobs, at odd hours. Cars are shared and driving privileges juggled. They need the same basic coverage as everyone else. His counterproposal will do nothing to reduce the number of uninsured motorists on the road.

When will the insurance industry be realistically challenged? When they complain that rates for everyone else will go up to cover those low-income drivers, they employ the same latent racism and divisive rhetoric that has been used before to fuel the animosity between the haves and have-nots. The reality is that insurance companies worry only about revenue. They do not want to acknowledge the massive savings in legal expenses and claims payout that will be a direct result of having fewer uninsured motorists driving around.

ERIC COOK

Los Angeles

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* My car insurance costs me roughly 10% of my fairly meager income. Do I complain? No. I had an accident (my fault) and State Farm was right there, and they repaired my car and the car of the other driver. Without insurance, both I and the lady I hit could still be deeply in financial soup.

Owning and maintaining a car is expensive. Besides payments, there are smog checks, oil changes, registration, etc. Insurance is part of basic, required upkeep.

I was raised to understand the difference between a privilege and a right; driving is a privilege. If you cannot afford a privilege, you should not expect someone else to pay for it.

MONICA KROENLEIN

Anaheim