Bankruptcy laws need to be fair

To the editor:

I am concerned about this legislation just passed by the U.S. Senate concerning bankruptcy. From what I understand, it will force debtors into a repayment plan. It seems like the next thing we will have will be a return to debtor's prison.

I have no problem with making bankruptcy more difficult. On the other hand, what happens when someone gets stricken with impossible debt for unavoidable expenses, such as medical costs that are not covered by insurance? Do we tell these folks that if they can't afford medical care they need to commit suicide and then restrict them from that option by making sure that suicide is illegal?

What about lenders who offer irrational, unsecured credit lines? Do they share no responsibility for helping someone get into debt over their heads? They can look up my credit instantly, but they extend me more unsecured credit and then cry if I go belly-up.

I will go along with forcing a person into a repayment plan for avoidable debt, but I have a real problem with forcing repayment of medical bills that are unavoidable and way beyond a person's ability to pay.

I think any revision of bankruptcy laws should be evenhanded by forcing debtors into repayment plans if their debt was by choice. Lenders should be required to offer reasonable limits in regard to a person's ability to repay. Unforeseeable debts should fall into a separate category.

STEVE HAY, Cape Girardeau