This court decision is devastating for democracy

The decision by the Supreme Court that allows corporate contributions to the candidates' political campaigns based on "free speech" is devastating to the principle of democracy ("Court Lets More Corporate Cash in Politics," Jan. 22). Corporations are not citizens; they are defined in the contemplation of the law to serve the people in doing business.

Now with the new ruling by the Supreme Court, corporations with their big dollars can actively take part in the intricate process of policy formation by placing their people into government who will support and benefit their business objectives. This does not represent me and therefore violates my individual rights.

Each of us has the knowledge to render a political decision in choosing our representatives, maybe not too wisely at times. Now with this judicial opinion in place, some people lacking mental acumen will probably follow the lead of corporate decisions, especially the shareholders of giant corporations. Our basic form of government is government by the people, not by corporations.

At this time, we do not know how this new judicial opinion will work in our political process; however, I feel that this opinion might in the far, far future become very harmful and dangerous to our country in which the merging of governmental affairs and corporate business might generate a philosophy of extreme right!

VICTOR J. RUISI
McKeesport

Not working for us

This is in response to the recent election in Massachusetts ("Mass. Sends Republican to Senate," Jan. 20). As we saw again, voters swing from the Republicans to the Democrats and back again. Voters are always looking for meaningful change, but never getting it. Frustrated, they blame the politician and never the system. Is the system broken?

In the end, who really feels represented in our so-called representative democracy? Liberals don't. Conservatives don't. Centrists don't.

Perhaps it's money's fault. (And we're about to see a whole lot more money -- especially corporate money -- influencing votes.) Maybe we should blame the filibuster or the undemocratic Senate, in which small states gain widely disproportionate influence and the people of the District of Columbia have no vote.

For solutions, maybe it's time to amend the Constitution to strip corporations of their free-speech rights ("Court Lets More Corporate Cash in Politics," Jan. 22) or more democratically apportion representation in the Senate. Maybe it's time to break up a too-big Union. I'm serious -- do we really believe that the politicians we elect will ever restore the spirit of democracy? I've never met anyone who believes our federal government is of, by and for the people. Yet we keep acting, and voting, as if it were.

DAN MALAKOFF
Edgewood

No fear of prison

Regarding the Jan. 22 editorial "Youth and Guns: A Chilling Look Into a Pittsburgh Child's World": Once again the Post-Gazette sensationalizes gun violence with an admittedly "unscientific" survey, one that was limited to urban youth in a socio-economic group that has been long since left behind. Of course, "sensible gun laws" are again touted as the panacea to suddenly and permanently repair five generations of poverty, substandard housing, discrimination, excessive unemployment and other factors such as the drug trade that put these children in peril.

Where is the mayor's gang task force? Why are gun charges routinely dropped in our courts? Why are those who violate the 120 pages or so of Pennsylvania gun laws not incarcerated for the full ride? You do a horrible disservice to law-abiding firearms owners, and your journalistic principles are lacking. You must know that the one factor that encourages the criminal element is no fear of prison. The lawless are not prosecuted, and good men die.

I'd love to see a balanced investigative journalistic piece on prosecutorial malfeasance, or perhaps even misconduct, in Allegheny County. Revolving-door justice is killing urban youth. Report on it. Tell your readers. Perhaps looking up stats from the FBI and Pennsylvania courts is too much work?

JOHN DeLALLO
Bethel Park

The writer is a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant and a National Rifle Association certified instructor.

So many to thank

As the time is near for the closure of what so many knew and remember as Braddock Hospital (along with the nuns and sisters), Braddock Medical Center and finally UPMC Braddock, it's also time to acknowledge and say thanks to a few of those who were such a pivotal part of this community hospital.

They include the Cot Club ladies, who ran the gift shop for more than 60 years and gave so much to so many in the lives of the community, not only financially but also spiritually, and Jim Spindler, who was the community relations representative for the hospital, who went beyond the call of duty. His heart and compassion and untiring efforts will always be remembered and appreciated. And there are many others -- doctors, nurses, supportive staff, etc. -- who have touched our lives.

It is the hope of this community at large that we will be blessed with another medical presence.

EVELYN BENZO
Braddock

Disgusting Edwards

As a new parent, I am completely disgusted by John Edwards' actions over the past three years, including his recent statement regarding the paternity of his 2-year old daughter ("Edwards Says Child Is His," Jan. 22). The sad truth is that the former senator still doesn't realize the extent of the damage that he has done to his family.

A public cry for privacy is laughable (ask Tiger Woods), and the self-admitted egocentric and narcissist still thinks he can save what is left of his public image by issuing yet another "come clean" statement. It is offensive to think that the country he wished to lead would spare him any criticism, especially if his recent admission occurs two weeks before his former aide's tell-all book details the scandal.

In his statement, Mr. Edwards states that "hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me." For Quinn's sake, I hope that she will never fully understand how selfish her father is. In the beginning years of her life, Mr. Edwards cowardly denied fatherhood in an attempt to rescue his failing political career.

I find it ironic that Mr. Edwards wants to reassure the American people that he has "been providing financial support for Quinn" while he is under federal investigation for his campaign finances. Like most men of his pedigree, he is only "truly sorry" once he is caught.

JEFFREY D. SHELLENBERGER
Brentwood

As we remember Holocaust victims, let's hope the U.N. truly stands for all

On this designated Day of Remembrance at the United Nations, we survivors of the Holocaust from Pittsburgh commend the United Nations on the establishment of this day after many years of delay. It is 65 years since World War II ended, along with one of the greatest stains on humankind -- the Holocaust. We returned from this horror and rebuilt our lives, hoping for a world in peace, watching with joy and pain the establishment of the state of Israel in our ancestral homeland, where many survivors settled and fought for independence.

So why is it that in the first decade of the 21st century we feel as if we are reliving the 1930s in Europe with the burning of synagogues, attacks on Jewish institutions and the desecration of Jewish cemeteries? Need we remind you that hate unleashed has no borders, no restraints.

Israel is a democratic state where minorities are represented in government, where more than 1 million refugees and immigrants from around the world have been absorbed, where universities, technical institutions, high-tech industries and hospitals have been built which employ and serve these minorities and immigrants. Yet, we hear the calls to eliminate Israel from membership in the United Nations and are frustrated by and fearful of the relentless verbal attacks on Israel within its chambers, including those from heads of state who deny the Holocaust ever happened.

The following words of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the report of the Program of Outreach on the "Holocaust and the United Nations" should be an inspiration to us all:

"We must apply the lessons of the Holocaust to today's world. And we must do our utmost so that all peoples must enjoy the protections and rights for which the United Nations stands." -- Jan. 27, 2007

We hope and pray that the secretary-general and all the U.N. members will have the courage and strength to make the above quoted words the banner and goal of the United Nations.

MOSHE BARAN
President
The Holocaust Survivors Organization of Pittsburgh
Squirrel Hill

Can't wait to respond to our letter writers? Go to community.post-gazette.com/blogs.

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.

Town Talk, a discussion forum on issues of the day, is featured exclusively in the Opinion section on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.