We should all have no confidence in these machines

Thank you for the great editorial "No Confidence: California Acts Against Electronic Voting Machines" (Aug. 13) about California's no-confidence vote on our hackable electronic voting machines.

Some readers might wonder how this voting machine travesty could happen. For historical review the election debacle occurred in November 2000. The alleged cure came in October 2002 from a Republican-sponsored bill called the Help America Vote Act, giving more than $3 billion in taxes to Republican-owned electronic voting machine makers.

And who wrote that legislation? Why the lobbyists for the electronic voting machine makers, that's who. The Republican-sponsored HAVA addresses some voter disability problems but ignores the causes of the 2000 election debacle. So what did we get for our $3 billion? Easily hackable and jammable voting machines that a junior high school hacker can manipulate with ease.

What is the solution? Paper ballots that can be scanned for quick counting while providing a verified paper trail for recounts, if necessary. By the way, these scanning machines are secure, reliable and less expensive to buy and to use. And voters love the idea of voting on a paper ballot, not on some newfangled computer.

Also, there is another bonus with paper ballots. We don't have to be trained. We already know how to read and write.

MARTY B. O'MALLEY
Forest Hills

---

What's with Casey?

When I poked hopefully at the touchscreen of a voting machine late last year, little did I realize that I would be voting for the further erosion of my constitutional rights, but that's exactly what I got.

Sen. Bob Casey has voted "yes" to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and so has granted the worst president in American history even greater powers to spy on American citizens, and has given oversight over those powers to the most incompetent, untruthful attorney general ever to hold the office.

I can't fathom what is going through the minds of Democrats like Bob Casey when they capitulate to every whim of George W. Bush, the most unpopular and dictatorial president since Richard Nixon. I wish Mr. Casey would enlighten us.

DAVE DYCUS
Upper St. Clair

---

Count your blessings

First let me say that my heart goes out to the people of Millvale.

I am glad to be alive after getting home in the Aug. 9 storm. I crossed the Fort Pitt Bridge as debris was flying in the rain. I rode through Schenley Park in a zigzag fashion to avoid the falling tree limbs and the cars in the opposite direction doing the same.

I got home and my lights were out. I tuned into a local station on my battery-operated radio just in time to hear the host and a guy from Duquesne Light having an exchange. People called in, "knocking" Duquesne Light because their lights were not back on. This was one of the worst storms I ever drove through. When my lights came back on at 5:15 a.m., I was pleased. I congratulate Duquesne Light and thank its workers so much for the job they did.

To the many people who only had lights out, I say count your blessings and don't be so critical. Sometimes, stuff happens. Be glad that is all you had to deal with. A lot of communities will deal with problems for months and maybe years. As for me, not having lights for 14 hours is OK with me. I am alive and survived the ride.

JAY M. CHILDS
Squirrel Hill

---

Creature comforts

To all the workers involved, we appreciate the services you did in our Shaler area after last week's storms. We take everything for granted in life. It is so nice to have our electricity back on, our own TV to watch, plus our fans. It's heaven on Earth.

GRACE and BUD KIEFFER
Shaler

---

Land of illegals

Recently U.S. District Judge James Munley struck down the city of Hazleton laws aimed at evicting illegal immigrants. Mayor Louis Barletta is doing what is best for his city. He is doing what the government should've done years ago to send them back where they came from.

Judge Munley granted four illegals the right to sue the city and the right to remain nameless and faceless ("Judge: Hazleton Plaintiffs Unnamed for Safety," July 29). The judge said he had good reason to allow these four immigrants to remain anonymous. What reason does he have in giving them protection? What could happen if more and more illegals got the same protection under the judge's ruling? As usual, the American Civil Liberties Union had to put its two cents in.

Some day America will be known as the land of opportunity for the illegals. Let's put a stop to it now. I wish Mayor Barletta all the luck he can get while fighting for his city.

MARY COZZO
Stowe

---

Steelers' McMascot

Regarding "Say Hello to Steely McBeam: Catching Up With Their Competitors, the Steelers Christen a Mascot" (Aug. 9): If it's McBeam, can McFootball be far behind?

T.S. FRANK
Brighton Heights

---

Thank you, grocers

Last year, the PG ran a story on grocery stores that were providing clearly visible information at their seafood counters on the risks posed by mercury contamination in certain types of fish ("Eating Fish Safely Is the Sign of the Times -- at Some Markets," Dec. 20). At the time, only several specialty grocery chains were providing such information to customers in the Pittsburgh region.

While buying seafood at a Giant Eagle store this week, I noticed a box of brochures informing people about the risks of mercury contamination from eating certain types of fish and shellfish, and which types to avoid or limit. The brochures were prominently displayed on the counter.

At the Learning Disabilities Association of America, one of our primary goals is to reduce the incidence of learning disabilities in future generations by minimizing exposure to environmental factors such as lead, mercury and pesticides that are linked to developmental and neurological problems in infants and children. Eating certain types of fish is the main way that people are exposed to mercury, with pregnant women and young children especially at risk. At the same time, eating some fish is a healthy diet choice.

The LDA thanks and congratulates these grocery stores for their leadership in helping customers make healthy and environmentally sound choices. The decision to provide clear information on which fish to avoid or limit helps to protect public health, especially for the region's children and pregnant women.

SHEILA A. BUCKLEY
Executive Director
Learning Disabilities Association of America
Castle Shannon

---

We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.

---