Aug 31 2009
Regarding the letter "Cash for Clunkers: Rewards for Bad Choices" (Aug. 21): The writer claimed that those taking advantage of the Cash for Clunkers program were those who initially made bad decisions at the expense of those who had not.
While I think that he has a valid point about the use of taxpayer money and the spending of the current government, I feel the need to point out this:
Not all those gas-guzzlers that people were getting rid of were unnecessary and expensive SUVs, hot rods, etc. Instead, many were old, outdated cars that consumers would have loved to trade in long ago for a more economical and fuel-efficient car, not to mention more reliable, but were faced with the problem of the price tag on many of these cars.
Sometimes it is not out of choice but the lack of choice that people purchase the "clunkers" in the first place.
RACHEL OBRADOVICH
Seneca, Venango County
Aug 31 2009
In response to the Aug. 26 letter "Tribute for What?" in regard to the upcoming tribute to my brother Billy Mays: I would like to address a few points. The purpose of the memorial and concert is twofold: first, not just to remember a man but to remember the heart of a man who touched many lives in positive ways -- from the kids who loved watching Billy to the people who became millionaires because they trusted Billy to work as hard for them as he would for himself.
Billy spent countless hours signing autographs and encouraging children to dream big and work hard to achieve success. In fact, the vision for the September memorial was born for this reason alone. Cards, many from children, have poured in from all over the nation, in spite of the negative publicity.
Second, Billy traveled the world, but his heart was always in McKees Rocks. For this reason, all the proceeds of the event (all-day family-friendly entertainment ending with a concert) will be donated to the Focus on Renewal, a McKees Rocks-based nonprofit social service agency that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, having made a positive difference in thousands of lives.
The writer of the Aug. 26 letter stated that her jaw dropped at the news of the Sept. 20 event. What is jaw-dropping is the fact that Billy Mays, the most-watched man on television, is continuing to touch lives even in his death. Rest in peace, big brother.
RANDY A. MAYS
Chartiers City
Aug 31 2009
The answer to the health-care crisis is for people to take responsibility for their own health! What a concept.
Instead of doing the most expensive, radical and invasive procedure (Western medicine), let's do the most inexpensive, conservative and noninvasive procedure we can think of. These are things like diet, nutrition, lifestyle, structure, exercise, chiropractic, massage and acupuncture.
Health and healing come from the inside out, not from outside in. There are people today who don't take drugs, don't go to the medical doctor and don't go to hospitals. How do I know? Because I'm like that.
EUGENE M. GOLDBERG
Hampton
Aug 31 2009
Regarding the Aug. 18 editorial on health-care reform and the public option ("Public Betrayal? Obama Could Kill Health Reform With Compromise"): I might suggest that a review of the Rasmussen and Gallup polls, which indicate that more than 50 percent of the population of this country is not in favor of government-run health care, is in order.
One need only look to Great Britain or to Canada to understand why that might be. There is absolutely no logical way that the government can reduce costs and increase coverage without increasing taxes across a broad base or rationing care, plain and simple. Your citation of Medicare as something to which a government plan may aspire is puzzling given that the system is bankrupt, on the hook to the tune of trillions of dollars. Government has no place in personal decisions about health care or "end of life" counseling, and most in this country would prefer to keep it that way.
Extending health insurance coverage to the uninsured could be accomplished quite simply and less expensively by redefining existing plans such as Medicaid. The United States has the best health-care system in the world, and 85 percent of the country is satisfied with their health care. Certainly there are areas that can and should be reformed, but why not address those rather than completely blow up the system for the sake of what is arguably 10 percent of the population?
CATHERINE CAPONI
Jefferson Hills
Aug 31 2009
It is obvious that the negative protesters at recent town hall meetings are the same folks who campaigned against the election of Barack Obama; they are the angry and wrathful witnesses to his momentous election and the simultaneous loss of their conservative political power. They never will accept the fact that a black man is the president, and their efforts are designed to dislodge him from office.
The posters from the presidential campaign that depicted Mr. Obama as a monkey have morphed into swastika-adorned signs propped on baby strollers and pictures of Mr. Obama with a Hitler mustache. Whether tea-baggers, birthers or angry town hall protesters, they are the same group of disgruntled, out-of-touch-with-reality losers who want to see our president fail even at the risk of undermining national and public interests.
The conservative media manufacture the outrage and put the themes and words into the mouths of their devotees, and then recycle for media consumption the ranting, as if universal public opinion. There is no intellectual honesty, which would permit realistic appraisal of the issues confronting us as a nation. The effort is not just to promote a conservative view; it is to have demagogic effect.
The Republicans have proposed nothing in the way of solutions to the problems confronting this country, and yet they are the first to obstruct proposals and/or distort proposals offered by the Democrats. The intent of all of this is to undermine the efforts of this talented, dedicated president -- to pull him and his administration down, in order to recover the ground they lost through their eight-year history of destructive governance. They want us to forget that they were the architects of unregulated miscreancy and exploding deficits.
No, they have no shame!
HARRIETTE CARLISLE
Shadyside
Aug 31 2009
Regarding "The Politics of the Jackboot: Gun-Toting Protesters Make Their Point in an Ugly Way" (Aug. 21): I think syndicated columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. is missing the point of the protesters carrying guns to these public health-care events. They are carrying them because it is their right to carry them, not because they are trying to intimidate people. No doubt there are exceptions, but there are exceptions on the right as well as the left.
I believe the average conservative American does not believe that death panels are going to pull the plug or all the other nonsense. They are concerned with the government stepping in and taking over. And in every instance that has happened in history, Americans have lost freedoms they once had -- like federal income tax, which was supposed to be temporary and is now a permanent fixture with no end in sight.
JOSEPH HAGER
East Liverpool, Ohio
Aug 31 2009
The article "Top U.S. Truck Drivers Showcased in Competition" (Aug. 21) was highly misleading in its representation of the environmental record of our nation's freight railroads.
While the fuel consumption of both trucks and locomotives is around 35 billion gallons a year, railroads consume a very small percentage of that fuel.
In 2007, Class I railroads consumed just over 4 billion gallons of fuel while transporting more than 40 percent of the nation's freight, making freight trains three or more times more fuel-efficient than trucks. By improving their fuel efficiency, freight railroads have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 20 million tons every year since 1980.
Railroads are the most environmentally friendly way to move freight and should be viewed as a solution to some of our nation's most pressing transportation problems.
EDWARD R. HAMBERGER
President and CEO
Association of American Railroads
Washington, D.C.
Aug 30 2009
Pittsburgh was so excited and honored to be selected to have the upcoming G-20 summit in our special city. Most of us thought that finally, the country and even the world were going to see how special our city and our people are. This is not going to happen.
We have to close schools and parking garages, curtail public transportation into the city and close many of our offices and business establishments. Does this make sense?
Pittsburgh is special, not because of its buildings or meeting areas, but because of its people and the many activities that occur every day. The melding of young and old, worker and student, and public transportation and passenger cars that occurs daily will be significantly altered. Are we to hide during these two or so days?
The world will see a Pittsburgh that is not truly Pittsburgh as we all know it. Let the world see us as we hurry off to our jobs and schools and as we shop, dine or make use of the many places that entertain us.
We are proud of ourselves and our city. By limiting our activities, the country and the world will never have the opportunity to truly appreciate how special Pittsburgh and its people are. Please reconsider the limitations that are being planned.
BILL TROZZO
Bethel Park
Aug 30 2009
The local politicians said it is a great honor to have the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh.
Bus and T service will be greatly interrupted; businesses are closing and a lot of employees will not be paid; parking garages and streets will be closed; schools are closing, forcing the children to make up the days at a later date and working parents to have to make other arrangements; larger security forces are needed, and much of the cost comes out of the taxpayers' pockets. I consider this a large burden.
Let's all hope this privilege is given to other towns in future years.
KEN KISTLER
Ross
Aug 30 2009
It was uplifting and encouraging to pick up the Post-Gazette on Thursday and notice the front-page article about people of all faiths being drawn to pray for the G-20 summit ("Message of Faith Will Be Delivered to Delegates," Aug. 27).
Pittsburgh is a city of faith, and we have been given a great opportunity in hosting the G-20 summit. We should not be remiss in thinking that we as common citizens have no impact on this summit. Rather, we have the opportunity through our prayer and expressing our voice to remind our leaders gathering that every human person has dignity and that our faith calls us to seek not only the spiritual good of others but also their temporal welfare.
May God bless the delegates gathering for the G-20 summit and may God bless us all to be instruments of peace.
REV. JONATHAN ST. ANDRE
Lawrenceville
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