Roundup: Hypoallergenic hotel rooms a gimmick

In most cases, higher priced "hypoallergenic" rooms are overkill and just an excuse to impose higher room charges. Cheap alternatives to allergy sensitive bedding in regular priced rooms would usually be all that's needed to fix the problem. For example, many chains consider offering feather down pillows and comforters to be providing luxury and do not offer inexpensive and simple alternatives, such as synthetic pillows and comforters.

Asthma sufferers like my wife face possible severe breathing attacks at such hotels. Even when we request polyester bedding during booking, most hotels rarely pay attention or do not stock such inexpensive alternatives, and we typically face a crisis at check-in.

If down feather pillows and bedding were eliminated, it would be far more useful, and less costly, than having air purifiers, carpet and upholstery scrubbed with special solutions, and other pricey gimmicks.


Commentary writer Lewis Simons misses the boat on Libya in his piece "Obama's America: No bullying" (The Forum, April 27).

Interfering in Libya is a form of bullying. To suggest that "no foreign army can (successfully) hand" freedom or democracy to others ignores the democratic orders we imposed on postwar Germany and Japan, and now Iraq.

If Iraqi democracy fails "the test of time," sectarianism and other ideological factors will likely be the cause, not a missing sense that "victory was theirs." Does Simons truly believe Iraq or Afghanistan has been "remade" in our image?

A superpower cannot expect to be admired or liked by everyone. Granted, the U.S. often lacks finesse and a long-term orientation, but policymakers' primary responsibility is to pursue American interests, not others' good feelings toward us.

The international system is accelerating toward multiple regional power centers and away from U.S. dominance. Irrespective of the merits of a Libyan intervention, pushing European NATO members to take primary responsibility in their own region might be more important longer term than having "absolutely critical cover" vis-a-vis Muslim or Arab perceptions.

Not all the animosity directed toward the U.S. is the result of its actions. Not everyone shares, respects or aspires toward our values or ways of life.

It was instructive for USA TODAY to remind readers that Republicans voted in "unanimous opposition" to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a necessary agency to protect Americans from predatory banks and their nefarious credit card and mortgage practices ("House Republicans prepare to gut new consumer protection bureau," Our view, Financial regulation debate, May 2).

How unsurprising it is that Republicans are now threatening to "defang" this agency. It is difficult to remember in recent history when the GOP placed the interests of ordinary Americans over their corporate pay masters.

Opposing view writerShelley Moore Capito and her ilk should realize that working Americans are not so easily hoodwinked and that 2012 is just around the corner.