Myron, we can't guilt-trip the Pens into staying

Regarding Myron Cope's Feb. 7 commentary, "Mario, Do the Right Thing," asking Mario Lemieux to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh:

Myron, as usual you called it wrong. Like a typical Pitttsburgher, you think the Big Guy owes us something. He's already paid many times over. If the Penguins move, it will be a tragedy of epic proportion. But give the guy a break and take it out on the bumbling politicians.

We need to have the good grace and generosity to allow Mario to get a fair deal from people who appreciate the value of a young, exciting hockey team. I'll miss them.

JIM KINGSLEY
Jefferson Hills

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Myron's voice is ours

In response to Myron Cope's Feb. 7 commentary: I'm glad someone had the nerve to say it. I'm glad it was someone who is as well known in the Pittsburgh area as Myron himself. He's a voice of compassion for all the hardworking, devoted fans who love and follow the Penguins.

Myron, I salute you. Mario, I hope you take heed. The Penguins are not just a team of hockey players and coaches. They are a Pittsburgh institution, with fans from the rich side of town, the poor side of town and everywhere in between. Myron just gave us all a voice. Thank you, Myron.

WENDY J. MACEYKO
Penn Hills

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Days gone by

I preface this by saying that I'm a Penguins fan, and I do appreciate Myron Cope's noting the facts that: the politicians screwed this up, and partially publicly funded arenas are the norm in the United States.

But Myron Cope's comments on what the Penguins should do should be given no more exposure than any other person's. Even though he was a great sportscaster in his day, Father Time has far passed him by. Plus, he was primarily a "football guy." For Mr. Cope to try to compare what Mario is doing now to what Art Rooney Sr. did 20 or 30 some years ago with the Steelers is completely insane. Good or bad, these are the facts:

1) The NFL and the NHL are on completely different levels when it comes to revenues and profits. And in this city, the priority is the Steelers and then everyone else.

2) The economics of sports has changed substantially from the times of "The Chief" (Art Rooney Sr.).

3) Pittsburgh is no longer the major market that it was. In the 1960s and '70s, Pittsburgh was beginning its decline, but it was still a top 20 market. Now, we'd be lucky to be a top 50 market.

Myron Cope should just keep quiet, enjoy his retirement and let the leaders of today handle the situation. Maybe if the Post-Gazette would stop giving fossils like Mr. Cope a voice and start giving voice to a younger, active generation, your paper would have some meaning.

JOE PICCOLINO
Plum

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The right thing

I respect Myron Cope's opinion for a variety of reasons, but mainly because of what he has meant to Pittsburgh sports and the city in general for his humanitarian efforts. Myron speaks from, sadly, a bygone era of a generation who realized what was truly important. There are few hangers-on, proved by our sad state of affairs on many fronts. That just emphasizes the magnitude of a decision that affects much more than the sporting world. It would be a resounding statement and advertisement for a melting pot of a city that still has a focus of integrity.

Kudos to Myron Cope for encapsulizing all that is "holy," the simplitude of a single decision. Myron's editorial request could be run seven days a week as reminder to us all of those who came before us and some consideration of those who will come after. Do the right thing. It makes a difference.

BILL NESTOR
Ross

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Craven Dems

The Warner-Levin resolution, purportedly a rebuke to President Bush on his war, shows what the Democrats in the Senate are really made of. Instead of a real effort to rein in The Decider, this resolution actually gives tacit approval, couched in mild reproach, for President Bush to continue to defy the will of the American people. Passing this resolution would be actually worse than doing nothing at all.

The cravenness of the Democrats on this issue is astounding. Voted into office with a mandate to change the Bush policy of endless war, they instead continue to cower in the shadows of political expediency as our nation heads inexorably toward a war with Iran.

DAVE DYCUS
Upper St. Clair

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Clinton is credible

I must admit, even as a conservative, Sen. Hillary Clinton sounds like a credible candidate. I appreciate the fact that she actually talks about the issues of border control and the balance of trade policies that have wreaked havoc among both blue- and white-collar workers involved in manufacturing. A little bit of Alexander Hamilton's policy of tariffs and protectionism might be in order.

What makes her candidacy even more appealing is that she has become her own person and has lost support and funding from George Soros and his coterie of radical leftists. Hillary will no longer be beholden to the likes of Acorn, MoveOn.org, the ACLU and the host of 1960s yippies, Hollywood hedonists and liberal elitists that seem to control the agenda of much of the Democratic Party.

She may have had the wisdom to abandon the far left and concentrate on middle America. In the absence of any strong and viable Republican alternative, she may prove to be a presidential contender and world leader after all.

MICHAEL GUY
Coraopolis

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Energy matters

I was very happy to read Tracie Mauriello's Feb. 2 Post-Gazette article on Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed Energy Independence Strategy ("Rendell Pitches 'Pay a Little Now, Save a Lot Later' Energy Program").

I think this could have a very positive effect on both on the state and the region. It's encouraging that our politicians are thinking ahead and working to counteract price increases that are expected in 2010. I know I would be willing to pay the little bit extra now to save more in the future.

When I read further about the proposal, I noticed that they are talking about enacting a Penn Security Fuels Standard. If they are increasing the amount of biofuel available in Pennsylvania, how would this affect the price of fuel at the pump and how would this affect mass transit? I look forward to seeing more about this topic in the future.

KATHLEEN HAAK
Greentree

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Uncounted wealth

In addition to the solid points Jack Pavella made in his Feb. 7 letter regarding income inequality ("Abundance of Help"), The Wall Street Journal recently made the argument that the figures are skewed because they do not include the staggering wealth held in untaxed 401(k) and IRA accounts. Putting this wealth into the equation would dramatically level the playing field.

ALAN WILLE
Penn Hills

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The best cuppa joe is one that's fairly traded

I enjoyed Saturday morning coffee as I compared two articles. The first was Mackenzie Carpenter's surprising front-page Post-Gazette news that Consumer Reports chose McDonald's coffee over Starbucks ("Something to Keep You Warm: An Award-Winning McCoffee," Feb. 3). The second was in the East End Food Co-op newsletter, headlined "Fair Trade: A Living Wage for Farmers." That article described the profit to be made between the time coffeee beans leave farmers' hands and the cash hit coffee-shop counters.

Full disclosure: I think that Eight O'Clock Coffee, widely available in supermarkets, tastes good. But I gave it up when I discovered the relative ease of buying Certified Fair Trade coffee. Certified Fair Trade coffee eliminates much of the middleman profit that separates me from the people who grow the coffee. And it's fine with me to know that the buyers are guaranteeing them a living wage.

You can get fairly traded coffee around town. Pittsburgh boasts a local contact via the nonprofit Building New Hope, which brings us fairly traded Nicaraguan coffee. Try La Prima (which roasts Building New Hope coffee), East End Food Co-op and Bruegger's for starts. When shopping, you can look for the Certified Fair Trade label (shown above) from Transfair.

So, though Mackenzie Carpenter steered us toward the best capitalist coffee, it's up to us to choose the ethically more palatable beans. And in a word, they taste much, much better.

EMILY De FERRARI
Point Breeze