Our law firm, SPK, has had season tickets for the Pirates for well over 15 years. This year we have decided to cancel our subscription to register a protest against the team's management, which continues to put a product on the field that is mediocre and has no realistic chance of competing for a championship. We know of no other professional sports team that has endured 15 consecutive years of losing seasons.

The Post-Gazette reported that Jason Bay said the Pirates had made no significant acquisitions in the off-season and were hoping that they could maybe reach the .500 mark this season ("Pirates' All-Star Bay Upset, Believes Management Should Make Some Changes," Jan. 26). Management responded to his comments by essentially agreeing with him.

We therefore are registering our displeasure with the Pirates management, which continues to ask for fan support for a below-average product. This is unfair to the tremendous sports fans in Pittsburgh.

ALAN H. PERER
President, SPK
Downtown

---

I've never become as involved in a political movement as I did with John Edwards' campaign for president. For seven years I've watched the current administration essentially ruin our country. I voted for Al Gore in my first election, then watched the Supreme Court decide who should be president. I voted for John Kerry because he was preferable to the alternative.

John Edwards' message spoke to me and made me believe we could recover from all the damage that has been done. I felt I was working hard to elect the person who could save our country, bring back our standing in the world and finally do something about everything that's been overlooked for too long. There are two Americas. John Edwards was fighting to give voice to those whose best interests have been overshadowed by the corporate entrenchment and partisan gridlock in Washington.

I believe those same corporations and the stranglehold they have on every facet of our lives, especially the mainstream media, ultimately eliminated him from the race. Studies prove that Mr. Edwards was virtually ignored by the media. As the media marginalized him for the past year, I became disgusted. In a self-fulfilling prophecy, their lack of coverage in many ways forced him out of the race.

They've infringed on our democracy by turning the election into a horse race, and in doing so, cost us the best candidate we had in what is certainly the most important election of my lifetime. I had real hope for us with John Edwards in the race. Today, faced with choosing the lesser of two evils, again, I have none.

JUDY McAULEY
Avalon

---

What would happen if we incorporated our convoluted presidential election rules to the Super Bowl? The Patriots led the Giants in total offense so one delegate goes to New England. The Giants led in team defense so that delegate goes to New York.

Eli Manning and Tom Brady split delegates with regard to quarterback rating; Manning had a higher overall rating but Brady had a higher completion rating.

The Patriot organization, having won three Super Bowl titles, is considered a super delegate, which results in two "at-large" delegates automatically going to the Patriots. Though New York actually scored more points than New England it does not equate into additional delegates for New York (see 2004 presidential election).

The final tally: Patriots, four delegates; Giants, two delegates. Patriots win.

E.W. ROMANIAS
Upper St. Clair

---

I am not surprised at the strong backlash against Robert Gehrmann's Jan. 21 letter ("Anti-Smoking Zealots Are Free to Move to France"), but I feel that most of the anger is misguided.

I'm a nonsmoker with a small child and not a big fan of secondhand smoke, but I am a huge fan of personal freedoms. Virtually all of the "public places" being discussed (restaurants, bars, etc.) are actually private property. Nobody is forcing you to eat at, or even work at, a restaurant that allows smoking; it's your choice to do so.

Put the decision as to whether an establishment is a smoking or nonsmoking one where it belongs -- in the hands of the business owner. The free market and the businesses' profits, or lack thereof, will ultimately dictate whether an establishment will have a "no smoking" sign in its window.

If our Orwellian county officials still insist on having their say in the matter, perhaps the new 10 percent sin tax on alcohol should be collected only from "smoking" establishments. Smokers would have a place to smoke, nonsmokers would have clean air and also be encouraged not to start smoking, and county officials would get their tax revenue. Everyone would be happy!

BILL MAURIZIO
Monroeville

---

I appreciated being asked to comment on news that a small group of Pittsburgh Episcopal priests are going public with their decision to take a different course to that set by our bishop ("Letter Shows Rift Among Episcopal Conservatives," Jan. 30). However, as published, the article could lead to some confusion about my own stand in the decisions before us. Like the large majority of Pittsburgh clergy and people, I fully support Bishop Robert W. Duncan Jr.

I wouldn't expect everyone to agree with every particular of the best way through this crisis in the wider Episcopal Church at this time. One of the marks of this diocese under Bishop Duncan's leadership, however, has been that there is real freedom for people to follow their consciences without fear of reprisal. The bonds of affection and unity between the vast majority of clergy and people remain very strong.

The real tragedy in all this is that the Episcopal Church nationally and a tiny minority locally (those and their supporters who are suing the bishop), by their actions to date, have taken a very intolerant and coercive approach against those who are seeking to remain faithful to the orthodox teachings of the church.

I believe it is incumbent upon all of us at this time to see how we can come to a compromise solution over the things that ultimately are not of final importance, namely property, so that the things of eternal significance can be focused on, namely the sharing of the good news of God's grace and healing in a hurting world.

REV. JONATHAN N. MILLARD
Rector
Church of the Ascension
Oakland

---

In regard to the Jan. 17 article "Removal Vote Nearing for Episcopal Bishop": I applaud the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, for taking a difficult action toward removing Bishop Robert W. Duncan Jr. But mostly, I am saddened and sickened by the divisive actions that Bishop Duncan and his more conservative followers have pushed upon us over the last few years that have led to this profound action.

It has created a great divide between those of us who view Christianity differently as either a conservative, a moderate or a liberal. While I respect how one views his or her faith or Christianity, I will not choose to accept blindly anyone who looks to faith as something to be used against people, to label one evil because they may differ from others.

Bishop Duncan's ultraconservative thoughts and actions have demeaned what it is to be a Christian. Being Christian is not about whether one is conservative, moderate or liberal in faith. It is about embracing the teachings of Christ and imparting those lessons to ourselves and others in one's daily life experiences and in our actions of compassion and acceptance while enriching the lives of others through mission and giving. It also means accepting every human being as a child of Christ, no matter how different we are in economic background, race, sexual preferences, gender, etc.

Despite my differences with Bishop Duncan and the conservatives in my diocese, I will continue to pray for them to accept all in the name of Christ and to put forth our Episcopal faith in a positive light of acceptance and love rather than one of rejection and hatred.

LESLIE SPIERLING
Shadyside

The writer is a member of Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside.

---

It looks as if we are going to be the recipients of a "stimulus" package from our federal government ("Stimulus Bill Advances," Feb. 5). What good is a few hundred dollars in our front pockets when tens of thousands of dollars are extorted from our back pockets for a war that benefits an arrogant plutocracy and a predatory banking system? This is all abetted by a cowardly and self-serving Congress.

I guess we're supposed to be grateful to the mugger who leaves us bleeding in an alley without a wallet or a purse and flings $5 cab fare at us with the condescending comment, "Oh! Here's some of your own money back."

JOHN M. KLIMCHECK
Finleyville

---

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.