Be informed about statewide and legislative races

Pennsylvania would have nearly 700,000 more jobs today if the economy had grown at the national average since 1990. As a result, the commonwealth ranks 44th in job growth over that span. On Election Day, we have the opportunity to reverse this trend and restore Pennsylvania as a competitor in today's global economy.

Voting for Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama will not help to make those changes. It will take leadership and commitment from the candidates for statewide offices and the state Legislature who are on the ballot next Tuesday to put Pennsylvania back on the road to prosperity.

Over the next several years, it will be these state officials who will make the decisions that will have a lasting impact on our economy. Now more than ever, their stances on much-needed business tax reforms, real economic development and job creation will shape our future.

Take the opportunity now to learn where the candidates stand on these issues so you can hold your elected officials accountable to their promises once they take office.

To learn more about the candidates' positions, visit the Pennsylvania Prosperity Project's Web site at www.pennsylvaniaprosperity.org or visit CompetePA's Web site to learn more about the statewide coalition for business tax reform at www.competepa.org.

BARBARA McNEES
President
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Downtown

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PG and 'Picking'

Which disease do you prefer, AIDS or cancer? Should your grandchildren live in poverty or as POWs? Should government eliminate Amendments 1 and 2 or Amendments 1 and 4?

If you think these questions unacceptable, look at the one in the PG's "Picking Sides."

The PG and other media have abandoned challenging political discourse for the comfort, ease, accessibility and profitability of approved rhetoric. Other opinions, such as mine supporting Libertarian Bob Barr because he wants limited constitutional government, don't fit any approved templates.

Consider renaming the series, "Approved Picks."

MARK CROWLEY
Plum

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The true maverick

I believe the endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama by Colin Powell is one of the hardest hits to the McCain-Palin ticket in the past weeks.

After the somewhat exciting, but inconsequential presidential and vice-presidential debates, Colin Powell has been one of the first to stand up and tell the American people not only that he endorses Sen. Obama, but also his reasons for not endorsing Sen. John McCain. These reasons, which include the inexperience of Gov. Sarah Palin to be president and Mr. McCain's inability to inspire confidence in his plans for the financial markets, show that in his willingness to cross party lines, Colin Powell is the first this election has seen of a true "maverick."

MICHAEL SINKO
Mars

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The future is theirs

Sammi gets my vote in this election! Who is Sammi? Well, she isn't "Joe the Plumber." Sammi is an intelligent, articulate and politically savvy junior at Duquesne University who is majoring in secondary English education.

Why does she deserve to determine my vote? I take some responsibility for the last eight years; my action or inaction has allowed the present grammatically challenged occupier (ironic, isn't it?) of the White House to drive this great country into a war with all its human misery and no end in sight, staggering debt, financial chaos, job loss and economic stress, not to mention our failing position as a world leader. Without a doubt, Sammi's generation and those to follow will have all they can handle to re-establish the firm foundation on which this country was founded, something that only true change can offer. The least I can do is vote with Sammi and hope our vote makes a difference.

Samantha Fischer is my 20-year-old granddaughter who is making the necessary sacrifices to be the best teacher and citizen she can be.

DAN SZARMACH
Plum

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Poised for greatness

As an independent, I believe that our nation is poised for greatness with the McCain/Palin ticket. Sen. John McCain can restore to the American people a sense of patriotism and pride. I also believe the economic recovery they promise will become a reality.

Sen. McCain has already set a shining light for women via Gov. Palin, who tells us about an America that is a land of untapped natural and human resources and urges us to turn loose the great genius of free enterprise and the generosity of our own communities to solve our own problems.

We know that Sen. McCain wants to trim the size of government, lessen the voters' tax burden and further position the United States as the leader of the free world in technology and production. Voters, do what is right for America on Nov. 4. May God continue to bless America.

PATRICE BENJAMIN
Highland Park

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Fact: Both at fault

If letter writer John Hinderliter had done the "tiniest bit of digging" for his facts instead of altering the facts to reflect his own biases ("GOP on the Hook," Oct. 20 letters) maybe he could have stated the truth.

The Glass-Steagall Act was repealed in 1999, but not quite the way he stated. The original Gramm-Leach Act was presented and voted upon on party lines (Nov. 4, 1999 -- 54 to 44 Senate votes and 343 to 86 House votes) (note: a 54-vote majority is not veto-proof). After bipartisan reworking of the bill, it was placed for vote again on Nov. 12, 1999, as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. It was passed 90-8 in the Senate and 362-57 in the House of Representatives as a veto-proof bill.

He also failed to mention that the Glass-Steagall Act was partially repealed by the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 (bipartisan) as well as the Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 (bipartisan).

Find the facts, Mr. Hinderliter, and try to look at them without bias. Both parties have allowed the current financial mess to occur. They have been warned over and over of the upcoming results and yet sat by and said that all is well. The Community Reinvestment Act has been the problem and has only resulted in community activist groups reaping in the money while having little to no regard as to what was happening to the people in the lower-income communities.

A special prosecutor should be assigned now, before the elections, and heads should roll over this. But there will be no prosecutor and both parties will have fun making everyone believe it is the other guy's fault.

PAUL LIPINSKI
Sheraden

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Picking Sides: Barack Obama

We have become a greedy, selfish and lazy nation. Have we forgotten the character of our forefathers? It was courage, sacrifice and hard work that made this country great. I want a leader who shows courage and poise to the challenges ahead of him, a man who can look into the eyes of his foes and make a stand and respect his opponents' views. Someone willing to talk and negotiate with his enemies to avoid conflict. A leader who recognizes that it's the average worker and soldiers who make this country run, not the lords of corporations. Whom do I support to be our next president? "That One"!

EUGENE HORHUT
Baldwin Borough

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Picking Sides: John McCain

In crisis, we need a president with experience, not one who will experiment with our economy and foreign affairs. We need someone who will appoint the best person for a job regardless of party, who reaches across the aisle drawing everyone into finding solutions, whose response is motivated by what is best for the country, not by re-election, who will reform Washington, who knows the evil of war and defends life, who has the wisdom and humility to know he can't solve all the problems, nor right every wrong but will do his best. McCain is The One.

BERNICE DUMITRU
Brookline

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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.