Citizens need to pay better attention to info

In the Opinion Section on Jan. 31 was a guest column titled “Overdraft protection saves hassle, embarrassment,” which cited that 93.8 percent of Iowans were “glad that their payment was covered” by their financial institutions despite having insufficient funds in their account. Somehow this troubled me and then I realized that it made it sound like 93.8 percent of Iowans had overdrawn their bank accounts. Have only 6.2 percent of us not written bad checks? What must the rest of the country think of us?

If I had heard this on TV, it would have gone right by me and I'd have been left with the impression that Iowa is really in trouble. But I read it in the newspaper and I could reexamine the story and identify what was misleading. I don't know how the survey was worded but I think something should be explained. I'm glad I could see it in print and question it. I think it's important to use our good sense when we hear and read information. Some of it just isn't true but if we don't question it, then we pass it on as truth.

The moral is that we should examine the information we see and hear and keep plenty of money in our checking accounts.

Kate Hawkins

Cedar Rapids