Clinton got our nation in good shape, while Bush is ruining us
I have been reading different articles about what a great job President Bush is doing for the American people, rescuing us from the horrible Clinton/Gore years. Well! I would like to put a few things into perspective.
While I will admit that President Clinton did lie and he did cheat on his wife, presidents have done this over and over throughout history and they will continue to do this as long as we allow them to.
When President Clinton left office, he left the American people with quite a legacy. The budget was balanced for the first time in decades, there was a huge surplus, enough to fix Social Security, the economy was strong and he left us with a plan to pay off the national debt in only seven years. The national debt was even running in reverse.
Now George "The Sequel" Bush comes into office under one of the narrowest victories ever, he gives back the surplus instead of spending it on meaningful reform, he allows the economy to fall into the pits and the national debt is climbing at an atrocious rate again. What does he do? He tries to get us into a war with a two-bit, penny-ante megalomaniac in order to take our minds off all of the trouble this country is in.
Instead of getting us into a war with Saddam, why doesn't he try to find out the root cause of all of the hatred that the Islamic nations have against us? Instead of being a warmonger, why not try to find a way that we can all live in peace? Oh yes, he will raise taxes meaningfully before he is done. Read my lips!
JOHN FAGAN
Shaler
We need jitneys
In his Dec. 4 letter, "Let's Not Romanticize the Illegal Business of Jitney Cabs," David Demko made quite an argument as to why jitney cabs are illegal. Now here is the other side of the argument.
Mr. Demko, are you and others aware of why we came to have jitneys? Because black people and black communities were being ignored, passed by and refused service from cab companies.
And where did "illegal taxicabs undermine legitimate public transportation" come from? Many jitney drivers are reputable, dependable, hard-working, upstanding law-abiding men who want to make a little extra money.
If Mr. Demko is concerned about and annoyed by "fights, drug-dealing, foul language" and other illegal activity, call the cops and address it on a case-by-case basis. But do not bad-mouth, defame, criticize and degrade the fine men who are jitney drivers. That is just like me putting all corporate executives in the same category with the Enron lawbreakers or putting all white males in the same category with Timothy McVeigh and Jeffrey Dahmer.
And as for Demko's "accepting racial separation and public discrimination as valid arguments for jitneys condones segregation": Get off your self-righteous high horse. Racial separation, public discrimination and segregation have nothing to do with it. Jitney service is about black people servicing, helping, accommodating and taking care of other black people.
JANET LOUISE MARTIN
East Liberty
Amphitheater concerns
I would like to respond to the Steelers proposed amphitheater ("North Shore Filling Up," Dec. 4).
They should contact officials on the New Jersey Highway Authority, which owns and has operated the Garden State Arts Center.
The first thing they will tell you is that it is too small to be profitable. Being an open- air facility, it can be operated seasonally. The location is also in conflict with both baseball and early football games. Parking is at a premium now. You would think the Rooneys would prefer to encourage patrons to attend Pirates and Steelers games by providing easy and inexpensive parking. They should also ask the residents of Holmdel, N.J., about noise problems with the Garden State Arts Center.
To the city planning board: Do not approve the North Shore development by Continental Real Estate on a case-by-case basis. Make them show you the entire project. They can build it in phases if necessary.
PAUL LINDER
Baden
Kissinger the conniver
This is in reference to your well-written and informative editorial "Kissinger and Credibility" (Dec. 3).
In 1974 Henry Kissinger lied to the president of the United States, he lied to the Congress of the United States, he lied to the United States citizens and he lied to the international world community. Had he not been enjoying the protection of the U.S. government, Kissinger would have been taken to the International Court of Justice as a person who committed crimes against humanity.
Kissinger has a very big problem. He has not met and he has not been introduced to truth yet. He cannot see the truth, he cannot tell it, he cannot recognize it and for all these and other reasons he cannot practice it
E.P. CHRISTULIDES
Edgewood
Maligning pit bulls
I was saddened to read the Dec. 4 letter from Tony Ceoffe, "The Pit Bull Menace." This is an example of an entire breed of dog being demonized because of the actions of a few animals.
While it is certainly a tragedy when any person is maimed by a dangerous dog, that does not justify any attempts to ban an entire breed. Mr. Ceoffe states that these dogs do not belong in an urban setting, yet later states that there are responsible owners who train their pit bull to adjust to city life.
The letter writer seems to miss his own point -- that it is the owners of these animals that are the problem, not the dogs. Any breed of dog can be trained to be vicious. Most pit bulls can be trained to be loyal, obedient, gentle pets. My own pit bull mix is popular with most of the children in my neighborhood precisely because she is a warm, friendly companion.
The solution to the problem is not to attempt to ban a breed, leading only to irresponsible owners simply finding another breed to train to be vicious, but to strictly enforce laws against neglectful or abusive owners, and hold owners responsible for the actions of any dangerous pet. Neighbors should report any dangerous animal to the proper authorities and not wait for a child to be maimed. This would not only spare children or adults the tragedy of being attacked by a vicious dog, but also it may save the life of an animal before it is trained to be dangerous.
TODD KINAVEY
Lincoln Place
Our nation of laws
Congratulations to the Post-Gazette for the very timely and appropriate publication of our venerable federal Constitution in your "history section" of Nov. 27 ("History Brought to Life: A Gallery of the Ways We Embrace the 27 Amendments Every Day"). In his farewell address to the country in the year 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower warned the nation to beware of the future influence of the military-industrial complex upon our form of government.
The Constitution deliberately created a system of checks and balances to equate the authority and powers of the executive branch of government. In the more than 200 years of existence of the nation and the Constitution, this theoretical balance functioned to control the political vicissitudes of our democracy. However, perhaps a fearsome occurrence now exists. Has a right-wing arch-conservatism seized control of all three branches of government to the detriment of our nation?
We are a nation which is basically governed by laws, not by men; the basic law remains the Constitution. But more than ever, a constant vigilance by the citizens of the United States, to preserve our form of democracy, is an absolute necessity. The alternative would allow demagoguery to seize and control our governmental functions to the advantage of special interest groups alone.
HERBERT ROHALL
Steubenville, Ohio
Tell our state leaders to keep children foremost
In this season, one of many we hallow and have made sacred throughout the year, we intentionally remember those most vulnerable and needy in our midst. Pennsylvania continues to have many school districts where the funding structure cannot possibly provide children with a high-quality education.
The "wish list" for improving public education, a gift of opportunity and hope for the future would include:
1) Increased state funding to 50 percent and decrease reliance on local taxes.
2) Providing pre-K and full-day kindergarten, elementary classes with no more than 17 students, tutoring, expanded staff development and access to social services for families.
3) Development of a statewide accountability system that holds schools responsible for improving the skills of all students and helps build the capacity of struggling schools long before a majority of the students are failing state assessments.
This is an opportune time for the citizens of Western Pennsylvania to reflect and take action for the equal education of Pennsylvania's children. I encourage citizens to give a gift and help make these wishes a lasting everyday reality. While writing holiday greetings, please write to Gov.-elect Ed Rendell and your state legislators and demand they make these changes during the special session beginning in January
WANDA GUTHRIE
Convener
Pittsburgh Area Stand for Children
Garfield
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