Unbelievable! We are in the midst of a spiraling economy and a probable recession and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is getting millions of dollars ("Steeler Quarterback's 8-Year, $102 Million Deal Puts Him in the CEO Range of Annual Compensation," March 4).

What is wrong with this picture? People are losing homes in record numbers, jobs are being lost and the cost of living is outweighing people's income. But sports figures continue to unabashedly rake in the bucks. Shame on our society for allowing this to happen.

We've become a materialistic, uneducated lot with no motivation to turn ourselves around. I enjoy a good Sunday football game, but I also enjoy feeding my family, working year-round for a living and putting my priorities in order. Others put their lives on the line daily, with little compensation, to protect our communities. But athletes get the fame and fortune.

When are we going to realize that football is fun, but humanity is essential?

CONNIE HORHUT
Baldwin Borough

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Shame on the Post-Gazette for its biased reporting of Dr. Amadeo Marcos' resignation from UPMC ("UPMC Transplant Chief Resigns Under Pressure," March 4). He resigned for personal reasons "period" -- end of story. Was it really necessary to dig up the dirt like the National Enquirer? At least the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has handled the whole matter with dignity and class.

LINDA BOTULA BARRETT
O'Hara

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I wasn't at all surprised to see the Feb. 26 article detailing UPMC's new international expansion plans ("UPMC Goes International Again"). UPMC has said before that it would like to create an international "brand" of health care and it's well on its way. I'm sorry to say that this tax-exempt organization is starting to look a lot more like Wal-Mart than a "nonprofit" medical services provider.

Why hasn't Attorney General Tom Corbett stepped in to question UPMC about its compliance with the nonprofit laws on the books in Pennsylvania? Tax-exempt organizations in this state must provide a community benefit to maintain their 501(c)(3) status. I challenge UPMC to tell us how investing $22 million in Irish hospitals will benefit our community.

Perhaps the money could be better spent on providing health care for the 15 percent of Allegheny County residents -- over 100,000 people -- who currently have no health insurance. UPMC should take care of its own before it takes care of people who are more than 4,000 miles away.

I understand that taxing an entity like UPMC will only drive up its already expensive health-care prices, but let's call a spade a spade. This investment, aside from providing no immediate health-care benefit for local residents, will likely have little economic impact on our region and provide few jobs for the Pennsylvania work force. Maybe our government officials should start taxing UPMC on such investments, so that we Allegheny County residents get the community benefit that was promised us.

NATALIE CERINO
Squirrel Hill

The writer is a health law student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

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I live in McKees Rocks and was on a bus when a police officer pulled the bus driver over and gave him a ticket for "veering over the yellow line," asking for his license and registration and making passengers wait while this nonsense occurred.

Yet, drug activity in McKees Rocks is allowed to run rampant and disgusting drug dealers and users control the area, no matter what the ridiculous signs posted near the Plaza want people to believe: "a drug-free community" -- what a joke! A more truthful sign would read "a drug community."

People in law enforcement and local government need to get their priorities straight, especially when there are drug deals going on day and night, on any street corner or parking lot here, yet it's considered more important to stop a bus and give the driver a traffic ticket.

BARBARA SPICER
McKees Rocks

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I am deeply disturbed by the obvious disparity in punishments doled out to former Pittsburgh Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle ("Judge Sends Ex-Councilwoman to Prison," Feb. 28) and former state Rep. Frank LaGrotta ("LaGrotta Still Eligible for Pension," Feb. 28).

While I think Ms. Carlisle's sentence is fair, it is quite unfair that Mr. LaGrotta will serve no jail time. And, as an extra slap in the face to the taxpayers, he will also get to collect his pension after giving himself a hefty pay raise and stealing from the people he was elected to serve.

The message to me seems clear: If you're a member of the good old boys network, you can do whatever you want and get away with merely a slap on the wrist and a nice pot of money. If you're a woman and a minority, you'll be made into an example and will have the book thrown at you.

It makes me very angry and sad to see how our political and judicial systems continue to work in the 21st century. Inequality is clearly alive and well in Pennsylvania.

KRISTEN GARRETT
New Brighton

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After reading the Feb. 28 paper, I am perplexed at the way our "justice" system is "working" and would really like to have an explanation as to why former city Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle, who stole $43,160, gets two years of jail time and no retirement benefits, while former state Rep. Frank LaGrotta, who stole $27,000, gets six months' house arrest and will receive retirement benefits.

Could it be that it is absolutely unacceptable that a black female politician steals from the public coffers and somewhat acceptable for a white politician to do so?

JOEL LE GALL
Wilkinsburg

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Can anyone tell me why our taxes on homes are going up when the news media say most homes are overvalued? Our taxes should reflect what are true assessments, not what school districts and county government are saying. We are getting priced right out of our homes.

ELMER MALLASEE
Dormont

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