Congress, it's time to use your moral compass

Why is it that whenever members of Congress consider a program their primary consideration is economic? So with universal health care. Not is it good or bad, but essentially is it worth the cost? Apparently incapable of putting themselves in the position of those without it -- their helplessness, anguish, suffering and heartache -- all they can think of is dollars and cents. Why are they so unmoved?

Where is their moral compass?

Another feature of their tragi-comedy is the persistence on the predominance of a failed private system tailed to the belief that private privilege results in the public good. What is ignored or overlooked is that no group of individuals can survive without purposes they share in common or without the institutions to support their realization. That's what states do, and the provision of health care, then, is a public responsibility.

However it may come about, we should be able to empathize with others, to see that their basic needs are our needs and that despite our differences and life circumstances we share the same ultimate fate. Surely, then, it makes sense that we pool our resources, each according to his ability, so that not one of us suffers for lack of those needs. That would indeed demonstrate that we are what being truly human is supposed to mean for then we acknowledge that each of us shares responsibility for the world's human community.

Unfortunately the structure of our institutions will have to change in order to induce human behavior to conform to our so far mythical conception of it. And that will require a rational and ethical capacity in human relations not yet in evidence. Just possibly our potential capacity for innovative change may secure our future. But I wouldn't bet on it.

LEWIS DIANA
Mt. Lebanon

Self-centered bodies

This is what I'd like to say to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate: As a U.S. taxpayer and ultimately your boss (if you believe the government works for the people), I have to inform you that I can no longer bear the cost of providing for your health-insurance coverage. If you can actually get together and agree to provide a plan that will cover every American with the same health benefits you formerly enjoyed, I will be more than happy to reinstate your health coverage.

Until that time, you're on your own, and have fun trying to get coverage from the same insurance companies that are currently stuffing your pockets with campaign contributions.

Then again instead of passing a universal health-care law you'll just pass a law that allows the insurance industry to provide you with free health insurance as their campaign donation -- and as always I know this will have no bearing on how you vote on any future health-care legislation.

RON LOWREY
Carrick

Sorry values

Letter writer Bruno Del Signore points out in his Dec. 10 letter ("Let's Be Truthful") that the Institute of Medicine has estimated the annual number of deaths in the United States due to a lack of health insurance at 45,000 people. That's a pretty substantial number and a real tragedy. Even the most conservative estimate that I have seen puts that figure at over 10,000, and that is still a big number.

Would you not agree that anyone involved in the health-care debate -- whether they be legislators working to kill health-care reform legislation (like John Boehner and Jason Altmire), insurance industry lobbyists and executives (like Ron Williams), social commentators trying to rile up their rabid fan base (like Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh), or merely average citizens who want to maintain their own current comfortable situation -- is very much aware of this fact?

So if they are indeed all aware of this fact, and they are still working against major changes to the current inequitable system that is responsible for this untenable situation, then isn't it fair to say that they have made a value judgment, whether consciously or unconsciously, that killing at least 10,000 people each year is acceptable to them? What does this tell us about their ethics and values? I'd really be curious to know how they rationalize this to themselves and how they are able to sleep at night. Of course, I guess if you value money and power over human lives, it's no problem.

W.S. (BILL) KASZYCKI
West Elizabeth

People going broke

I watched my parents go broke trying to pay their Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap policy) and property taxes. I watch my net paycheck going down due to higher premiums and no raises, while my employer cites rising employer premiums. I fear trying to afford insurance if you force me to continue being a slave to the for-profit insurance criminals.

I see the fear and frustration in the eyes of my clients: the uninsured with mental and physical disabilities and conditions, those with substance abuse problems, those who are unemployed, poor and financially and emotionally stressed. I listen to the stories of those who were denied care by the insurance company death panels, who can make more money "for their shareholders" and their own bloated bonuses only if they deny more care.

I want Medicare for All: single-payer health care! And to any politician who accepts one dime of insurance and pharma lobby money and to any who keep their federal insurance plan but do not vote for Medicare for All: I will do all I can to help you get voted out of office. How much good will your pay-to-play lobbyists' payola do you if you do not get the votes?

K. BONNIE ROSE
Friendship

The writer is a mental health, substance abuse and disability counselor.

Quite the opposite

On Nov. 28 the Post-Gazette published three letters concerning the vote of Rep. Jason Altmire on the health-reform bill that passed the House despite his negative vote. I have no comment on these letters because they disagreed with the representative without personal attacks.

However, I strongly object to the TV ads that ran earlier in November. These ads called Rep. Altmire a "coward" for voting against his party.

I have been re-reading Sen. John F. Kennedy's book "Profiles in Courage." Sen. Kennedy profiled American citizens who made the choice to make decisions that they knew would end their careers. One of these men has always interested me -- Edmund G. Ross, senator from Kansas. After President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House he was tried in the Senate. Sen. Ross, despite threats against his person and his political career, voted against his Republican Party and found President Johnson "not guilty." Sen. Kennedy considered this an act of great courage.

Whether we agree with Rep. Altmire's reasons for voting as he did, it was stupid to call him a "coward." Standing up to the president, the speaker of the House and to most of his party was not easy, and it may cause the end of his career. His action took courage.

By the way, those TV ads have disappeared. Perhaps his party realized how much they hurt the Democratic Party.

EDWARD P. CAREY
Scott

Malaria is not a desirable destination

As someone who has worked on drugs and vaccines for malaria for the past 40 years, lived in the developing world and personally experienced malaria infection, I take exception to the admonition to college youth in the subheadline of Nicholas D. Kristof's column to "come with me, catch malaria and see how most of the world has lived for most of history" ("A Five-Star Trip to No-Star Locations," Dec 15 column). While technically accurate and no doubt said tongue-in-cheek, catching the falciparum variety of malaria prevalent in Southeast Asia and Africa offers a trip to the hospital or quite possibly a cemetery -- certainly a "no-star location."

I applaud Mr. Kristof's challenge to American college youth to get outside their comfort zone and see how the real world lives among poverty and disease. But the experience of seeing firsthand the developing world would be best served with the youthful traveler adhering to drug prophylaxis and other countermeasures for malaria or other tropical diseases. To take such a trip with an experienced traveler is one thing; to subscribe on one's own to the romantic dare of catching malaria -- like chugging beer -- is not the best way to understand malaria or the effects of alcohol.

Best, take the trip as a savvy traveler or better as a volunteer aid worker close but not too close to the "heart of darkness." Then there is the proven -- and risky -- journey of academic commitment that leads to a lifetime of study and productivity directed at defeating diseases such as malaria.

KYLE WEBSTER, Ph.D.
Point Breeze

The argument against merit pay for teachers

In response to the Dec. 13 article "Can City Teachers Be Sold on Merit Pay Plan?": Merit pay for teachers based on student achievement is a ridiculous idea unless teachers can be guaranteed that all of the students in the city district are heterogeneously grouped and randomly assigned to classrooms.

If this doesn't happen, then teachers and schools that are already meeting achievement goals based on an economic distribution model (property taxes) will receive all the "merit" pay. The schools that have the most to lose will eventually lose more and continue to be seen as failing.

Moral question: Why do we continue to punish teachers and students that operate at the fringes of society? Giving more to those who already have more is morally wrong - merit pay is morally wrong.

TIMOTHY D. SLEKAR, Ph.D.
Head of the Division of Education, Human Development and Social Sciences
Penn State Altoona
Altoona, Pa.

Conveniently forgetting 9/11

I am really tired of Bush defenders saying the Bush administration kept us safe for eight years.

They conveniently forget 9/11; can they explain this? President George W. Bush apparently didn't read or remember the Presidential Daily Briefing of Aug. 6, 2001, which stated "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." Vice President Dick Cheney, then National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Mr. Bush missed this because apparently they thought the presidency was a vacation, and their defense is "Who knew?"

Well, they were elected to that position of being able to know, so if they didn't know, they didn't read the supplied intelligence information and obviously weren't doing their jobs, elected or appointed.

And, for starting a war on lies in Iraq, how can Mr. Bush defend killing 4,000 of our kids in an unnecessary, totally fictitious war, probably to pay back Saddam for taking a pot shot at his father? As thanks, the Iraqis gave China an oil contract.

Letter writer M. Zilko ("Bush Kept Us Safe," Dec. 10) can't say Mr. Bush kept us safe, and not remember to count 9/11.

LARRY OSWALD
Sewickley

Faculty are fearful

As an alumnus of St. Vincent College (1967), I am both embarrassed and outraged at the treatment of Father Mark Gruber by the archabbot and the college ("St. Vincent Bars Priest, Professor," Dec. 4). President James Towey and his administration have managed to turn a fine liberal arts college into a place where faculty are afraid to use their computers and telephones for fear of being spied on.

Criticism of the heavy-handed tactics of Mr. Towey has been seen as tantamount to treason and ruthlessly suppressed, as Father Gruber's awful treatment testifies. Mr. Towey has resigned. The archabbot should too.

MICHAEL D. YATES
Boulder, Colo.

Why write this story?

It is unfortunate that the Post-Gazette chose to run a story on Father Mark Gruber's dispute with St. Vincent College in a pre-emptive fashion ("St. Vincent Bars Priest, Professor," Dec. 4). The PG should know that the facts rarely come out early in an investigation, and sometimes never at all.

Father Gruber has done an enormous amount of good for the people of Pittsburgh. The mere fact of reporting his current difficulties will mar his reputation unjustly for life.

Religious reporting is more than simply accounting for politics, controversy and headlines. As Pope Benedict's recent encyclical teaches, truth and love are central to authentic human relations and activities. In fueling the slanderous mentality in today's culture, the Post-Gazette overlooked this. No matter how well written the article was, it contributed to the marring of a positive reputation justly deserved. Were the headlines and attention worth it?

KARL SCHULTZ
Ross

Let's dig ourselves out of environmental debt

I'm sure many people would agree with me when I say I have never really given much thought about topics such as the Earth's sustainability or ecological footprints. I'm a 20-year-old college student at Penn State University with eight classes, practices and meetings to attend every day. I didn't have time to think and worry about these ideas, until I took a class on geography and my ungrateful eyes were opened.

I always thought I was living a relatively "clean" life so I didn't need to go out of my way doing "green" tasks. I was very wrong. I learned that we are currently in ecological debt. The United States has enough land to support a 12-acre footprint per capita, but we are currently using 23.3 acres per capita, nearly exceeding our limit by 100 percent.

We need to start taking action and realize that just because it's not directly affecting us now doesn't mean we shouldn't start helping out. This is why I, with the help of my peers, am raising awareness as part of a class project to promote recycling. Recycling is one of the easiest things you can do to help our environment. We need to start young and teach that recycling is the only way to go. Encourage recycling programs in your communities and help make a start. If we don't start somewhere, we will continue to go into debt. So spread the word!

AMANDA METZ
State College, Pa.

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