The Oped column by retired low-income program administrator Gary E. Larkin, titled, “Ending bad policy budget gimmicks” (BDN, Dec. 13), cruelly adds more completely unnecessary psychological abuse to the nightmare of such abuse already being visited on financially struggling low-income citizens, especially medically, emotionally, finacially overwhelmed citizens who are elderly, ill and-or handicapped.

Larkin is way off the mark in trying to shame the Bangor Daily News for publishing the reality of ordeals being experienced by hundreds of low-income citizens. He is also grossly in error when he tries to shame legislators for what he calls “caving in to the emotional appeals of the affected people,” which appeals, he claimed were to continue the bad policy gimmick in Maine.

This nation does indeed need to address the matter of trying to achieve a balanced budget, but this is no rational way. Using the most troubled (and all too often the most defenseless) segment of citizens — the poor and the medically, financially overwhelmed citizens as eternal scapegoat expense-cutting targets, so that certain powerful government officials, from Washington, D.C., to Augusta, can protect their boondoggle, pork-barrel turf from the cuts that would have a major impact on balancing the budget.

The real shame which should be addressed is the fact of a political party daring to designate itself as the “religious right,” but which then proceeded in is machinations to violate every precept of compassionate actions, which are the foundations of all soul-inspiring, spirit, life and hope-sustaining religions throughout the history of the world. A reminder is appropriate that kindly compassion is a “family values” requisite. It’s a national values requisite as well. Elizabeth Whitehouse Bangor