Whatever the merits of the lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters alleging that former Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ralph Cappy traded votes in cases in return for a judicial pay raise in private meetings with legislators, the lawsuit at least raises the question, why are such private meetings permitted?

Since the existence of these meetings has been acknowledged, reformers have proposed that Canon 4 of the Pennsylvania Code of Judicial Conduct be amended to prohibit private meetings about public business between judges and government officials. So far, our Supreme Court justices have refused to act.

If such private meetings continue to go on, the judiciary has only itself to blame when the public cynically assumes that the fix is in. If a judge has something legitimate to say to a legislator, let the judge say it on the record.

BRUCE LEDEWITZ
North Side
The writer is a professor of law at Duquesne University.

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I found Rob Rogers' editorial cartoon of May 20 crude and offensive to wounded military veterans. [It showed President Bush talking to an Iraq veteran with amputated limbs, saying, "I know how you feel ... Iraq forced me to give up golf, too."] The pain and suffering of those who have given so much should not be used as comic relief or as a vehicle to promote one's political agenda.

GARY BOYD
Brighton Heights

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Rob Rogers' cartoon about the president giving up golf was on the money. To equate giving up a favorite pastime with the horrific sacrifices suffered on the battlefield shows a complete lack of understanding, if not contemptible ignorance, of what these brave soldiers are going through. For President Bush to lay claim to being a "fighter-pilot" himself only increases the insult.

Anybody who was offended by the cartoon, especially the two letter writers published on the May 21 editorial page, should feel free to step up and volunteer for combat duty, something that this war president never had the guts to do himself.

DENNIS DONEGAN
Greensburg

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People are wondering why a multinational company based in Spain has the funds to take over the Pennsylvania Turnpike, while no American company can, or wants to do so.

I don't know the full answer, but I can point out one thing -- multinationals based in Europe have a big advantage over American corporations. They don't have to pay health insurance benefits, and in many cases retirement benefits, for their European workers. European governments do that. In effect, they get a government subsidy when compared to American corporations.

It's ironic that the free-market Commonwealth Foundation urges us to support this state of affairs as supposedly being a triumph of private enterprise.

SARAH FLANDERS
Squirrel Hill

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Whatever happened to the value of a life? Apparently a child's life is only worth approximately six months of jail time ("Mothers Sentenced In Deaths of 5 Children In Larimer Fire," May 22). What lesson are we teaching here? If you cry enough tears, then you won't be held accountable and you'll receive a very lenient sentence. Maybe we should slap them on the wrist and send them on their way.

These women, Furaha Love and Shakita Mangham, willfully left their young children home alone. Anyone with a conscience and minimal common sense would have known better. If they did not see the problem in leaving these children unsupervised, then they should have no problem spending the rest of their lives in prison. They forfeited their rights when those children died.

The truth is, I don't care about these women. To be that thoughtless and selfish is unbelievable. I'll save my sympathy and mercy for those more deserving.

I do care that innocent lives were lost at the expense of a few drinks at a bar. The justice system should have defended the wrongful deaths of the children; instead, they were blatantly dismissed. The sentencing was the second unbelievable act in this unfortunate, and absolutely preventable, tragedy. Actions are meant to have consequences. Clearly that did not hold true in this case.

JENNIFER STEIN
Munhall

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We are wondering how many months the Post-Gazette is going to make the West Virginia University story of the governor's daughter front page news. Evidently you can't come up with any other news. Seems like a personal vendetta. I am sure there is another story out there somewhere which could make the front page if your reporters would get off their duffs. Enough already!

PHIL LOCKHART
Penn Hills

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A recent article stated that a "Christian" organization is attempting to raise money to have Bibles home-delivered with the Post-Gazette ("Plan To Hand Out 250,000 Bibles," May 11). We find this arrogant, offensive and unacceptable. A shampoo sample is one thing. A Bible is something else, and a newspaper should understand the difference. If we want a Bible, we'll purchase one. If one arrives with our newspaper, we will cancel our subscription.

REGIS R. BURDELSKY and PATRICIA A. O'MALLEY
Brentwood

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What I find troublesome is the failure of some people to fully understand the positive effect that distributing Bibles via your newspaper would have. So what if it angers some or annoys others. The most important concern should be the "lost" and not who might be offended by this or how the money is being spent. The cost of even one saved soul is priceless.

CHARLES UTTS
Harrison City

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In response to Jerry Jones' May 11 letter "People Vs. Wildlife": His opinion [to drill more oil in Alaska] is just another quick fix for the oil situation that would affect future generations.

Let's face it, we have become spoiled with our modern-day conveniences that use more power -- vehicles and appliances. Every family member of age has a car. Very few people walk and even fewer use public transportation.

The attitude of people today is to take care of themselves, with no thought of tomorrow. There are many changes that we can make in our homes and lifestyles to improve conservation. We need to teach our youth by example and to respect all living things. When we learn to respect nature, maybe we will learn to respect one another.

ERMA G. BLAIR
Greentree

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This letter is in response to Jay Lynch's letter to the editor ("Has She Forgotten the Katrina Debacle?" May 22). Mr. Lynch wrongly accuses the federal government of failing to meet the needs of the residents of New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina.

My wife Kathia, my son Joseph and I made 10 trips to the Gulf Coast as part of the effort to assist in the aid, cleanup and recovery there. My wife's entire family was impacted by Katrina, with sisters and cousins losing their jobs and all of their belongings. We witnessed firsthand the devastation and questioned everyone we met -- from New Orleans, La., to Pascagoula, Miss. -- to understand the efforts of the various governments involved during the first critical days after the storm.

There is no disputing the evidence: The federal government released billions of dollars immediately to Louisiana and Mississippi. One must understand, however, the issues regarding states' rights and the roles of the governors' offices and the local governments. Mississippi's reaction to the disaster contrasted dramatically to Louisiana's inaction.

Thousands in New Orleans refused to evacuate and thousands more could not. The inaction of Mayor Ray Nagin resulted in hundreds of deaths, and the slow reaction of Gov. Kathleen Blanco delayed the mission of the Red Cross. Rogue New Orleans police officers went on crime sprees. After two years, Louisiana had processed less than 10 percent of the federal grant applications for Katrina victims. And finally, Democratic U.S. Rep. William J. Jefferson, indicted last year on 16 counts of bribery, is alleged to have diverted a rescue helicopter in order to recover valuables at his home.

Mr. Lynch, your passion is appreciated but your impression is wrong and your angst is misdirected. Mississippi was hit by a hurricane. New Orleans was hit by politicians.

DAVID MARKS
Duquesne

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