Today's conservatives could use some class

The utter disrespect and contempt shown for President Barack Obama by self-proclaimed "conservatives" and "patriots," even to the point of forbidding children to listen to him encouraging good study habits and staying in school, is shockingly disgraceful. In my 61 years, I have never witnessed anything like it. Although these same folks thoroughly loathed President Bill Clinton, even accusing him of murder, they at least did not stoop to stalking him at public appearances with loaded guns, as some of them have done to President Obama.

Therefore, I can only conclude that the much vaunted "rage" of the tea-bag crowd toward the president has little to do with "socialism," "death panels" or birth certificates, and almost everything to do with the color of his skin, and that the aforementioned absurdities have been concocted by these bigots to conceal this ugly truth, perhaps even from themselves. Is it merely coincidence that many of these malcontents are calling for secession from the United States, just like their slave-holding Confederate forebears?

In the election of 1960, the iconic film actor John Wayne, a lifelong conservative Republican, strongly supported the candidacy of Richard Nixon over that of John F. Kennedy. After Mr. Kennedy's victory, Mr. Wayne was asked by the press what he thought about it, and this is what he said: "I did not vote for the man, but he is my president now, and I hope he does a good job."

There is much that today's "conservatives" can learn from John Wayne, both about what it means to have class as well as what it means to be a patriot.

MICHAEL PASTORKOVICH
Oakland

Clean contribution

Thank you for publishing last Sunday Thomas L. Friedman's column on the great American company that manufactures solar panel-making machines for the world -- Applied Materials ("Not a Sunny Picture: The U.S. Is Getting Creamed When It Comes to Developing Solar Energy," Sept. 20). It's encouraging to know that we're helping to heal the climate changing planet Earth, despite the lack of leadership from most previous federal public officials.

Let's hope with the new attitude in Washington, the United States will soon contribute much more to the availability and use of renewable, clean energy through exportation of its products. Germany and China may have the big lead, but they don't have exclusive rights to this burgeoning industry of huge necessity.

JAMES KOKOROS
Ross

For a takeover?

The Post-Gazette article on U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire's role in health-care reform legislation ("Background Aids Altmire in Health Care Debate," Sept. 13) raised more questions about the congressman's position than it answered. The article touted Mr. Altmire's background as a congressional staffer and health-care lobbyist and stated that he "felt committee leaders gave more weight to his input than they might have to another second-term congressman."

Well, if Mr. Altmire had any input that would reflect the interests of his "centrist" district in the development of HR 3200, it's hard to see it. As long as the bill is, as Mr. Altmire describes it, "deficit neutral," it appears he is prepared to vote for a statist takeover of our nation's health-care system.

HR 3200 calls for the creation of more than 50 new bureaucracies and programs, including a health benefits advisory committee that will have the authority to recommend to the secretary of health and human services the required procedures each insurance plan in the country, public or private, would have to have, including abortion.

I suggest our district would be better served with reforms that permit the marketing of plans across state lines, letting individuals deduct the cost of their insurance the way big business can and incentivizing states to adopt tort reform. All that can be done without spending a penny of the taxpayers' money.

JAMES BALET
Ben Avon

Care realities

I read the PG articles on health care featuring U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire and heard his statement on National Public Radio that "we have the best health care in all the world." Then why do the statistics on the condition of our health tell a different story?

I am a registered dietitian and diabetes educator with 30 years' experience. I, like many health-care providers, depend on health insurance to cover my services so that individuals can receive the education they need to manage their health issues. Over the years, it has been increasingly difficult to receive reimbursement for my services from health insurance companies.

The stories I hear from my patients, who are increasingly paying more for health services, are frightening. Individuals with diabetes are making decisions on which medications they can afford each month, and recently two of my patients decided not to buy their insulin. This resulted in dangerously high blood sugars and one patient was admitted to the hospital.

I believe the debate over health care has made people fearful of losing an important right, that is, to receive medical care when ill. The United States does have the best and latest medical technology for diagnosing and treating many diseases. However, the delivery of routine and preventive medical care in our current for-profit environment is broken. Many excellent doctors and health educators have left the medical field because they could no longer practice quality care in the current system.

Diseases are at epidemic levels in our country. Our children will be the first generation who will not live as long as their parents because they are developing chronic illnesses in their teens and young adulthood at an alarming rate. According to The World Health Organization, the United States is ranked 37th for health systems. If we have the best health care, shouldn't we be ranked first?

TERRI SPIRK
McCandless

Death of a district

After reading Jason Kottler's idea of a "car-less" Downtown ("A Car-Free Zone," Sept 23 letters), I must ask if he ever heard of the same type of plan that killed the East Liberty business area in the late '70s and early '80s.

Forget it! Parking and walking is a pipe dream for shoppers.

JERRY MORRIS
Lawrenceville

A soft-drink tax isn't the answer to health concerns or fiscal woes

This letter is in response to the Sept. 20 editorial on soft drink taxes ("Fat From Fizz: It's Time to Consider a Tax on Sugary Drinks"). The Post-Gazette and those who support a new federal tax on soft drinks think this idea will solve America's fiscal and health crises. They're wrong.

Most reasonable people agree that new taxes on any product are counterproductive. New taxes are regressive and tend to impact those who can least afford to pay more for products and services they need or enjoy. New taxes stifle economic growth, which is especially unhelpful as our state and nation continue to recover from the economic crisis. And there's no evidence that new taxes will help reduce obesity: The two states that have imposed excise taxes on soft drinks have some of the highest obesity rates in the nation.

One thing is certain, however: Educating parents and their children about the importance of healthy lifestyles and making healthy choices is key to solving the health challenges we confront. The soft drink industry is doing its part by providing consumers with a wide variety of products from which to choose. In fact, consumers of all ages are drinking more no- and low-calorie beverages; the beverage industry has reduced calories produced per ounce by over 24 percent from 1998 to 2008.

We're balancing our efforts by working with communities and school districts to better educate children and adults on the importance of a balanced diet and increased physical activity. Our national School Beverage Guidelines promote healthy lifestyles for children by increasing healthy options and promoting physical activity.

Better education, not more taxes on consumers, will help solve the challenges we confront.

TONY CRISCI
Legislative Counsel
Pennsylvania Beverage Association
Harrisburg

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