Flashy new developments here are merely poaching

How exciting -- there is a new mall/restaurant/store/theater/apartment building (pick one) opening up in town. That's progress, isn't it?

Well, not really. We live in an area of stagnant or receding population. The number of customers and tenants is constant. Ergo: Whenever a new establishment opens up, an old one has to close, possibly dragging the old neighborhood down a bit.

But isn't there something Darwinian about the weak being replaced by the strong? More often than not, the strength is due to newness or popular location rather than better quality; and that's only a temporary advantage until another new area gains popularity. Call it survival of the faddest.

And the old skeletons keep accumulating, adorned by "For Sale" signs. Maybe we have finally discovered a local growth industry here -- sign printers and bankruptcy lawyers. They are bound to boost our economy.

FRITZ OTTENHEIMER
Forest Hills

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Tax-cut sham

I find it appalling that the Republicans are patting each other on the back after extending their tax cuts for the rich for another two years ("Senate Extends Big Tax Cuts on Dividends, Gains," May 12).

Most people don't understand how these tax cuts fail to benefit them. The tax cut bill that Senate and House leaders have generally agreed upon is expected to save Americans at the center of the income distribution an average of $20 each, according to estimates by the Tax Policy Center, a nonprofit research organization in Washington.

The top tenth of 1 percent, whose average income is $5.3 million, would save an average of $82,415. Those in the top group would see their tax bill cut 4.8 percent, while Americans at the center of the income distribution -- the middle fifth of taxpayers, who will earn an average of $36,000 this year -- could expect a 0.4 percent reduction in their tax bill, or about $20.

Those who make less than $75,000 -- which includes about 75 percent of all taxpayers -- would save, at most, $110 each. Those making more than $1 million would save, on average, almost $42,000.

$110? I think I'll go get myself two tanks of gas.

DAVID GRAY
Penn Hills

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Turn the tables

In reference to lawyer David Paul's May 7 Forum piece, "Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Save Lives": His attempt to rationalize a need for medical malpractice lawsuits was constructed around a fallacy.

He states that medical professionals are motivated to "do a better job" with patients today due to "the possibility of full compensation for victims" as a result of lawsuits. This is not only an overstatement, but it is an unsubstantiated opinion stated with the utmost bias towards furthering his own cause.

Medical professionals practice medicine to improve the lives of others, and they use a strict code of ethics as motivation to improve patient outcomes, not simply to avoid a possible lawsuit. David Paul fails to mention that for every legitimate claim made against medical professionals, multitudes more are needless and only act to line the pockets of greedy, opportunistic lawyers (and in turn cause skyrocketing insurance for doctors).

In order to correct this system, lawyers pursuing faulty medical malpractice claims should be held accountable, and subject to counter-lawsuits. It would be interesting to consider if this would provide adequate motivation for lawyers to act ethically.

CHAD KANICK
Mt. Washington

The writer is a graduate student in chemical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and does research in cancer therapy.

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My faith withstands

I'll start off by saying I am a Catholic, was born a Catholic and will die a Catholic -- and will never change to any other religion.

What I have been reading recently, however, upsets me. I am being told what to read, what not to read, what to see and what not to see. I love reading fiction, all types of fiction from Jonathan Kellerman, Patricia Cornwell and Dan Brown. I've read all of the "Left Behind" series, "The Da Vinci Code" and all of the work of Christian novelist Frank Peretti.

The remarks by the priests, bishops and cardinals telling me to boycott "The Da Vinci Code" film or not read the novel becomes exactly what the fiction books are talking about -- the church has something to hide. Even though I do not believe that, they need to put more faith into their people. After reading all the so-called Catholic-bashing books, I have never, ever thought to change my faith or doubt my faith in the church.

If they believe we are so weak in our faith, the priests, bishops and cardinals need to change their approach from the pulpits to the way the people are treated in the church. Sometimes they forget: "We are the church" and we are strong. Treat us as Catholics of faith, and not weak souls floundering.

MICHAEL G. NIKOLICH
Bethel Park

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The best food

The Post-Gazette's recent articles about the Highland Park Farmers Market ("Highland Park Farmers Market Faces Relocation, Uncertainty," May 8 Local News) and the proposed market in the Strip District's Terminal Building ("Starting Fresh," May 4 Food & Flavor) are evidence of the city's strong, broad-based interest in farmers markets as well as the many groups involved in advancing these interests.

I represent one of those groups as executive director of the newly incorporated Farmers Market Alliance of Western Pennsylvania. We are working with East Liberty Development Inc. and others to plan a new market to replace both the Highland Park and East Liberty markets.

With few exceptions, farmers markets are the only place where consumers can purchase truly fresh, truly local foods. Foods from farmers markets taste exceptionally good. Flowers from farmers markets are the prettiest. These foods and flowers are sold by hardworking farmers who make shopping at the market personal, fun and friendly. We have found that farmers markets are perhaps the best place for area farmers to maximize their earnings and increase profits. And we need to make more Western Pennsylvania farms profitable to keep farmers in business and ensure that our farms are growing asparagus, beets, garlic and corn -- instead of houses.

Pittsburgh has the opportunity to improve its existing farmers markets and develop a few new ones. For many reasons, not every market proposal will succeed. The likelihood of success will be improved if there is greater communication among the many parties involved.

RITA POLLOCK
Squirrel Hill

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Hold the cake

Although I did not attend Mt. Lebanon High School as did Post-Gazette columnist Sally Kalson ("Cake-Eaters Gone Vile," April 30), I have lived here for 30 years, and both my sons were raised here and graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School. In the six years that I regularly attended high school football games and numerous other school events, I never heard the "fight song" she remembers. I think Ms. Kalson is very out of touch with the community.

Mt. Lebanon has many attributes, but being the home of only wealthy families is not one of them.

In the U.S. Census results from 2000, Mt. Lebanon had a median household income of $60,783. Upper St. Clair was $87,581 and Peters was $77,442 . For Marshall in the North Hills, it was $102,351. The median value of single-family homes in those communities was also higher than in Mt. Lebanon.

There may be a few residents of Mt. Lebanon who believe that they are superior to others, but they are the exception not the rule.

NORMAJEAN GRAYBILL
Mt. Lebanon

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Young folks here are building a nationally recognized political movement

From reading Post-Gazette Politics Editor James O'Toole's May 7 article, "Older Voters Reign at Polls," it appears yet another critic of youth voting prefers comparing apples and oranges to in-depth electoral analysis.

The article, based on research by Christopher Briem of the University of Pittsburgh, mentions huge differences in the median voting age between the 2004 general election and 2005 primary election, citing a lack of interest in local politics among young people. The article failed to mention that these college students didn't show in the 2005 primary because their semester had ended the week before, so they were home on summer break.

It's no secret that older Americans vote at higher rates than any other group. Yet there is much evidence dispelling the myth that young people aren't engaged in the political process. Between 2000 and 2004, while overall voter turnout rate only grew by four points, voter turnout among voters under age 25 jumped 11 points.

According to a Yale University study, young people in Pennsylvania organized the second-best youth voter program in the country in 2004. Youth turnout increased 29 percent while the rest of the city increased at 14 percent.

It's time to get hip to what people across the country already know -- young Western Pennsylvanians are building a nationally recognized political movement in our backyard. Keep an eye open, some of these young people will be our next leaders.

KHARI MOSLEY
North Side

The writer is the Pittsburgh regional director of the League of Young Voters.