“Access to safe credit is an issue of financial freedom.”

A terrific letter to the editor in the Springfield News-Leader (Missouri) today outlines the need for small dollar, short-term loans.

Some of the highlights include:

“The U.N.’s definition of poverty includes lack of access to credit, and this “payday” initiative would discriminate against the poor by blocking access to the small loans they need — while conveniently leaving access to the big loans that only the rich can afford.”

“People with financial struggles — not just “the poor” — sometimes need to take out a loan to steady themselves during a rough patch. Protecting their access to safe credit is an issue of financial freedom.”

You can read the whole article here.