Financial literacy vital

I was pleased to see "High School Seniors' Financial Know-How Goes from Bad to Worse" (April 9). The issue of financial literacy is one that affects not only our high school students and youth, but people at all levels of our society.

Nothing underscores the need for financial literacy education more than statistics that spell out the dangerous financial situation in which many Americans find themselves. The traditional value of "save now, buy later" has been replaced with the modern axiom "buy now, pay later." This has huge implications on the health of the American economy and to individual American lives.

Research indicates that poor financial literacy will affect not only an individual's well-being, but also his/her ability to find and keep a job. Many companies are now conducting credit checks prior to hiring, and some preliminary studies show that an employee's attendance and productivity on the job can be greatly impacted by how well he/she is able to budget and manage money.

Because of the importance of this issue to all segments of the work force, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board has partnered with ALISON to develop an online curriculum to teach the basics of financial literacy to anyone with Internet access. The curriculum is available free at www.alison.com. The development of this curriculum was made possible through The Heinz Endowments. In uncertain economic times, it is critical that we provide individuals with the tools to manage their money effectively.

RONALD D. PAINTER
CEO, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board

It saddens me to see the Post-Gazette continue to embarrass itself with the "PG On Wheels" section.

With so many news-related concerns elsewhere in the newspaper like fuel economy, driving habits, pollution, obesity, economic hardship and the like all impinging on automotive news, it's revolting to see your section's only agenda being to shill for automakers and dealers. If you're going to treat trucks and cars like jewelry or pop culture, at least move this mess to the A&E section of the newspaper.

It's really not that hard -- in Pittsburgh -- to find somebody literate with technical knowledge who could write this material provocatively and competently and help your readers make informed decisions about their automotive expenditures.

WILLIAM McCLOSKEY
Regent Square

Bring your own bags

In "Shopping Bag Choices Moving Beyond Just Paper or Plastic" (April 22), one of the people said, "It does require you to remember to take them. But if it's important to customers, they'll do it."

A truer statement was never spoken. Embarrassingly, twice recently it wasn't until the cashier had begun to place a few items into a disposable bag that I startled both of us by announcing that I didn't need a bag; that I would be using the canvas bag hanging on my shoulder!

It is important as a customer and inhabitant of this good earth to carry my own empty bags into a store (all the while kicking myself with the struggle to remember to use the reusable bags I carried into the store).

Proof that old habits are more than a little hard to break ... but happily, it's happening!

CAMILLA MONTI
Pleasant Hills