Will the addiction to greed change?

Regarding "Obama Calls for a Swift Stimulus" (Jan. 9) and this remark from President-elect Barack Obama's speech that, "Government at every level will have to tighten its belt, but we'll help struggling states avoid harmful budget cuts, as long as they take responsibility and use the money to maintain services like police, fire, education and health care": It was just last March that senators voted 71-29 against a measure that would have imposed a one-year moratorium on earmarks.

Washington, state legislators, Wall Street, AIG and many other companies and individuals are addicted to greed. Those who are responsible for this economic crisis have talked the talk for years. It is difficult to believe that what needs to be done will be. Billions more will be added to the U.S. debt held by Japan, China and the United Kingdom.

President-elect Obama's campaign slogan changed from, "Change we can believe in" to "Change we need." Another area of wasteful spending Mr. Obama recently addressed is farm subsidy abuse and plans to stop this waste. This program was supposed to be temporary relief for small farmers during the Depression, but now large farms and agri-businesses that make millions benefit from this corporate welfare program.

Profits before people has been the slogan of many corporations and government-subsidized programs. A stimulus was already tried. It seems, the more things change the more they stay the same.

JANICE WHITE
DuBois

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Financial laundry

Economy 101: You put your clothes in the washer and turn the washer on. The washer will eventually move to the spin cycle. The washer hums along and spins out much of the water.

The economy is exactly like the clothes in the washer during the spin cycle. If too many wet clothes congeal in one place inside the washer, the machine will wobble just a little, but as the spin cycle continues, the wobble will become more and more pronounced unless proper spacing is restored.

At this very moment many sharp minds around the financial world are watching a wobble and attempting to correct it without turning off the machine.

We are fascinated by their actions because this load of laundry may contain some or all of our own garments.

C.J. STEVENSON
Mt. Lebanon

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On the right side

This is in response to Anthony Capobianco's Dec. 31 letter ("Complicit in Attacks") in which he decries the siege aimed at the Gaza Strip, the recent air strikes and now the ground invasion by Israel against Hamas. Mr. Capobianco also criticized the United States for supplying military hardware to Israel.

First, Hamas, while democratically elected, is a terrorist organization whose stated goal is the destruction of Israel. While Israel would like to destroy Hamas, its intent is not to demolish the Palestinian people. Israel has made efforts to coexist with the Palestinians, while Hamas has done all it can to make that impossible. While Israel is imperfect, the villain in this situation is Hamas.

Hamas directly targets innocent Israeli civilians, launching Qassam rockets and mortars into Israel. The siege waged by the Israelis has been an attempt to destabilize Hamas, not to punish the Palestinian people. Unfortunately, innocent Palestinians do suffer. There is a great moral distinction between the two.

The current Israeli attacks are in response to the rocket strikes by Hamas. Israel is simply defending herself, which is the right and duty of any nation.

The United States has provided money and military support to Israel, because she is our ally. While we might not approve of everything Israel does, it is our duty to stand by her side, especially when she's under attack.

Israel is on the right side of this issue. I think a fair, objective look at the situation makes that clear.

DAN FROST
Moon

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Hamas not learning

I read with shocking amazement each day from letter writers (and the editorial board, for that matter) who are blaming Israel for the current action taking place in Gaza. I need one of them to explain how Hamas/Muslim terrorists are the victims here.

These supporters always call for more "negotiations" and say that a "diplomatic solution" is needed. Please advise how you negotiate with Hamas, whose leaders believe "Israel is an impossibility. It is an offense against God."

This quote was taken from late Hamas leader Nizzar Rayyan, who was killed two weeks ago. As you can see, there is no negotiating here. Simply, until Hamas and the Arab world come to the realization and learn that Israel is here to stay, this never-ending cycle will continue. Unfortunately for Hamas, it has decided to learn the hard way.

DAVID C. KUTSCHBACH
Mt. Lebanon

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Choosing violence

Since this current round of Israel vs. Hamas started more than two weeks ago, I have fought my way through the rhetoric from both sides and concluded that Hamas is the provocateur of this round. Hamas fires missiles into Israel, stockpiling weapons and munitions in schools and other crowded civilian areas. Then, when the Israelis fire back hitting civilians, Hamas cries "foul."

I can't answer this question, so I ask it here, looking for an answer: Why can't, or won't, the Palestinians overthrow the Hamas leadership?

It appears the leadership of Hamas doesn't understand the successful nonviolent campaigns of Gandhi and Martin Luther King. If I remember my history, both Gandhi and King led lengthy but successful campaigns for freedom for their people. Or, Hamas chooses the violent approach for self-serving and macho reasons.

THOMAS DOUGHERTY
Ambridge

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Ruining transit

I read the Jan. 9 letter from our county executive ("Here's My Record on Spending and Property Taxes"). OK, Mr. Onorato, that's nice to hear, but how about this: You appointed the members of this Port Authority board who have no clue how to run a transit system. Then, they go and hire the current CEO of the Port Authority, Steve Bland, who, like the board, has no idea how to run a transit system. The board and CEO of the Port Authority have cut routes and jobs.

Mr. Onorato, you want to be governor? Ruining the transit system with these people will be a bruise to your reputation. Also, you irritated the labor unions in this town with your lies and games. So no matter how much you cut property taxes, it's not going to help!

Fix it, Mr. Onorato, or you won't be governor -- because labor and industry and the transit riders won't forget.

RALPH WILLIAMS
McKees Rocks

The writer is a Port Authority employee.

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A bad rap

As a union member and a president of a United Steelworkers local, I feel that the unwarranted nonsupport for the American automobile manufacturers and the United Auto Workers has not been fair.

The true story of this fight is not being told to the American people. The employees of the Big Three (all the employees) are being shown as greedy, nonproductive workers. This might be the first time the media have lumped both sides (union and management) as being the bad guy -- usually it's just the union that is shown in this light.

The people of this country should know that the governments of the foreign automakers should not be dictating to our government what our wages and benefits should be -- and this is being done. I would suggest that your paper tell both sides of this fight to save good-paying American jobs.

TIMOTHY M. CHAMBON
Harrison

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Top this quality

This letter is in response to Eric Riesen's Jan. 10 letter ("Unreliable Products") in which he attacked the American auto industry for making substandard, unreliable and poorly manufactured autos.

Since 1953, I have driven a Buick (mostly LaSabre models). Each one was purchased new and kept from eight to 10 years. With all these Buicks, I never had any major repair work done.

Other than new tires, an occasional tune-up and maybe a battery replacement, my cars kept running well. My present Buick LaSabre is 10 years old, running well, has close to 100,000 miles on the odometer and gets 20 mpg on local driving and 30 or more miles on trips.

Can any foreign car of equal value do better than this? Let's stand up for our American-made products!

ROSE McGUIRK
Plum

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