Voter fraud rumors are not what undermines elections

Your Feb. 26 editorial "Vote and Veto" asserts as "reasonable" amendments in HB 1318 that would require every registered voter in Pennsylvania to present some form of identification before he or she can vote at the polls.

Fifty-seven state advocacy organizations have mounted a campaign in opposition to this legislation because we believe it erects an unnecessary barrier to voting and would disproportionately affect the young, poor, homeless, handicapped and elderly.

Your choice of a "utility bill" as an example of the type of ID that could be used is strange since this is precisely the type of document members of this group of voters are most unlikely to possess. It is odd that you agree with our assessment that there are no documented cases of the type of voter fraud that this legislation purports to prevent but support the proposal as a way to "boost voter confidence in the election process."

The real problem with voter confidence is not unsubstantiated rumors of voter fraud but rather negative campaigning, outrageously expensive campaigns financed largely by special interests, uncompetitive elections, disseminating false information about Election Day procedures, partisan control of the election process and, most recently, lack of transparency and citizen involvement in the process of selecting new voting equipment to meet the requirements of the Help America Vote Act.

We appreciate your expression of respect for the opinions of our respective organizations and urge you to endorse legislation we support that would remove barriers to voting.

BARRY KAUFFMAN
Executive Director
Common Cause/Pennsylvania
ELIZABETH MILNER
President
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg

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The ultimate irony

On Feb. 20, you published an editorial titled "DeLay Resurfaces." You linked Rep. Tom DeLay to other comments referring to "corruption scandals." You do not mention that Tom DeLay has been convicted of nothing and is, therefore, presumed innocent. The attorney who brought the charges in Texas would be worthy of an editorial.

May I suggest that in the interest of fairness and in view of the fact that you mention Rep. DeLay's appointment to a subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department, it would be only fair and balanced if you would write a similar editorial about Sen. Ted Kennedy? After his Chappaquiddick episode and other reprehensible activities, he was appointed to and now serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, ruling on the qualifications of those nominated for service on our various federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

His appointment and service on that committee is the ultimate irony.

To echo comments you made in the editorial, the conduct of your paper is "Just like old times."

DONALD E. ROGERS
Upper St. Clair

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Too late for many

Regarding the Feb. 28 article "Black Board Members Criticize School Reorganization Plan": As a former Pittsburgh resident and homeowner for 20 years, I wish to express my outrage at how my property taxes were obviously misspent on "educating" our young people.

This article contains the results for black fifth-, eighth- and 11th-graders of the 2005 statewide proficiency in reading and math tests. For the 11th-graders, 69 percent and 83 percent missed proficiency in reading and math, respectively.

I'm especially concerned since this was last year's test results, and these students are now high school seniors who will (note that I did not say "be ready to") graduate within the next several months. The school reorganization plan, with its putative benefits, has come far too late for them. And there was not a word from the school board, community leaders, parents and guardians acknowledging their collective responsibility for failing these students.

Do we really believe that these students possess the requisite skills to succeed in technical and vocational schools or college? We no longer have an industrial and manufacturing base to absorb a ready and willing blue-collar labor force.

What will become of these young people once they're turned out of school? Does anyone care? Where is our shame?

ALBERT M. WIEGAND
Bellevue

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Our responsibilities

I am writing in response to the article "A Good Samaritan's Actions Often Risky Though Appreciated" (Feb. 28). I want to congratulate Carnegie Mellon student Ben Saks for coming to the aid of a police officer of his own volition. I have always believed that as a citizen you have certain responsibilities: paying taxes, voting in elections, signing up for Selective Service and in general being a functioning member of society.

Unfortunately it seems that today a lot of people have abdicated these responsibilities. I think that as a responsible citizen you need to do what you can, even if it is only voting in a gubernatorial election or helping a police officer struggling with a criminal or joining the military to protect your country.

Citizens have the right to expect certain things from the government, just as the government has the right to expect certain things from its citizens. I applaud Mr. Saks' initiative and hope we can all follow his example.

ROBERT DRAA
McCandless

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Broken square

I must take issue with any suggestion that Market Square doesn't need fixing, nor do I think any city can have too many parks, parklets or plazas.

Market Square has been broken ever since it was divided into four quadrants, with bus and other vehicular traffic going through the middle of it. Pedestrians must cross this main artery to get to different quadrants of the square, and the existing paving pattern, which makes demarcation between street and pedestrian pathways unclear, creates even more of a hazard.

Mayor Bob O'Connor is right in wanting to upgrade the square. Eliminating the crossroads and rounding the outside corners would not be a major undertaking. Forbes Avenue would be detoured around the circle, but McMasters Way, Graeme Street and the truncated Market Street would remain in place giving vehicular access to the commercial establishments and proposed housing in the area.

The existing buildings and trees could stay. Some lighting fixtures might have to be moved, the street pavers could be recycled and replaced with grass, and a new large fountain (perhaps a design chosen in a local competition) could become the centerpiece of a safer, more attractive, cohesive park.

BETSY BELL MARTIN
Crafton

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Is this progress?

Sometimes I wonder if the people of Iraq were not better off before we "liberated" them. Saddam Hussein was certainly an evil tyrant and responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people as well as the cruelest torture of others. Since we removed him from power and have brought him to trial, it seems to me that the suffering in the country has actually gotten worse.

When I see bombed-out shells of buildings that were homes and businesses, the wailing in the streets over the most recent deaths and people who lived alongside each other now killing one another, I can't see where this project has been successful.

Since the United States attacked this country the streets there seem more unsafe than they were three years ago, and the people generally appear to be more miserable and hopeless than ever. Saddam's rule was despicable and brutal, but the blood keeps spilling and the citizens continue to suffer. What have we wrought upon this country?

DICK MARSHALL
Crafton

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Regarding youths, the police chief's approach is commendable

Pittsburgh Police Chief Dominic Costa must be commended and praised for his refreshingly humane suggestion and intended approach to addressing the problem of youths under 18 and guns ("Chief Wants City Officers to Get to Know Teens," March 4).

Rather than approaching the problem by "ratcheting up" already oppressive and mean-spirited laws that do little more than attempt to throw even more minority youths into ineffective prisons, Chief Costa wants his officers to actually attempt to get to know these youths, and maybe even their families, to perhaps form bonds of trust and understanding.

Far too many law enforcement officials, and others, view these youths as nothing more than "gun-toting thugs" when, with some effort to get to know them, they may come to realize that issues of poverty, parental drug/alcohol abuse, and physical and emotional abuse are what really govern and shape these youths' lives.

So, getting to know these youths as a way to reduce gun violence within the city? Priceless.

RANDOLPH A. MATUSCAK
Penn Hills

Editor's note: The writer is a forensic social worker.

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