Student loan bill increases government meddling

Regarding the Feb. 21 editorial "More College: Senators Must Cut Out the Student Loan Middleman":

The PG editorial board suggests that its readers "cut out the student loan middleman" by supporting H.R. 3221. In a time of unprecedented deficits, this bill would further expand the role of government in an industry once reserved to the private sector. I believe the issue is better framed if the metaphor "middleman" is replaced by "free market."

In this case, the free market is composed of middle-class taxpayers who already pay their own college expenses. They won't qualify for benefits under the bill but will be required to indirectly support, yet again, the expenses of others. Moreover, they will find their college costs inflated by an artificially stimulated demand for college education. Add this to the myriad of other unintended consequences resulting from government "stimulus."

Since the PG recommends the federal government save $87 billion over 10 years while increasing benefits, it's understandable that the PG also applauds government intervention in health care and homeownership.

No matter how laudable the goal, when the government imposes its values on a free society, there are unintended consequences.

PETER METZLER
O'Hara

Uncaring fools

Regarding the health care summit: Consider Abraham Lincoln's classic quote, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

Obviously many senators and members of Congress do not heed that advice, as evidenced by their remarks during the health care meeting. Some of them are pitiful, not only in their foolish remarks, but also in their uncaring statements regarding the possible recipients of health care relief.

The lack of compassion especially among the younger members was both disheartening and disgusting.

HOWARD KISSEL
Stowe

Thinking skills

I am moved to comment on your story "Certain Majors Face the Ax at State Universities" (Feb. 21).

Philosophy is historically the center of a liberal education, a curriculum referring, of course, not to liberalism but to the education appropriate to a free (liber) person. To suggest that the offering of philosophy is unnecessary (an advocacy I do not attribute to your newspaper) is to further the trend that sees education (better in this case called training) as mere job preparation, rather than the development of the thinking skills that are absolutely necessary to the citizens of a democracy, whether broadly or narrowly defined. If people cannot rationally evaluate ideas, above all ethical ideas, they will be reduced to the melancholy options of blind acquiescence or spasmodic and unreasoning rebellion.

The reference to whether Indiana University of Pennsylvania "can still afford" to offer a bachelor's degree in philosophy is ludicrous: in terms of investment of resources, philosophy (along perhaps with English) must be among the cheapest subjects to teach: little audio-visual equipment is used and none required; no lab equipment is employed, only books that the students purchase from the school.

Finally, at the risk of appearing to descend to the petty, I must note that a philosophical education might have prevented your writer from referring to "the works of Socrates." There are no works of Socrates: He wrote nothing; we know him from the works of others.

JOHN HARVEY
Millvale

The writer teaches philosophy at a local college.

Not so great

The late U.S. Rep. John Murtha is being touted as "one of the good ones." If this is correct, it shows what a bad situation we have with regard to the politicians who represent us.

JOHN W. NEWHOUSE
Shaler

Essay hit home

Thank you for publishing the excellent piece by Karen Mesko regarding the "don't ask, don't tell" policy ("To Be a Soldier ... or a Human Being," Feb. 21 Forum).

I was discharged under "don't ask, don't tell" in February 2003. Like Ms. Mesko, I was an outstanding performer and was selected as the Fort Sill Soldier of the Year in 2001. Her essay captured what it was like to serve under "don't ask, don't tell" and the additional sacrifice gay, lesbian and bisexual soldiers are forced to make: the freedom to love and build a family.

I'd like to repeat one sentence she wrote, because I cannot say it any better myself: "The person you build a life with is not a hobby or a 'lifestyle' you can just as easily keep private as not. 'Don't ask, don't tell' is not about discretion, but the dehumanization of gay service members simply because of who they love."

Thank you, again, for publishing such an excellent piece.

PEPE N. JOHNSON
Clarksburg, W.Va.

Worthy investment

I was delighted to read the Post-Gazette article "The Stimulus: One Year Later" (Feb. 21). The Post-Gazette should be applauded for bucking the herd mentality of the media's cynicism over the stimulus measures.

One flaw in the article, though, is that it buys into the idea that the stimulus should be judged mainly as a job-creation measure. Fiscal stimulus has two other uses: preventing human misery and growing the economy. On these counts, the stimulus has done a great job.

Millions of people, through no fault of their own, are now jobless, but measures like extended unemployment benefits, COBRA subsidies, food assistance and closing the states' Medicaid budget gaps have kept these Americans from falling into the pits of hunger, sickness, poverty and homelessness. And while employment growth is lagging -- just as it has in all modern, less severe recessions -- the GDP is growing quickly.

That's why supporting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is something no American citizen or political leader should have to be embarrassed about.

LEWIS LEHE
Oakland

Essential delivery

During this weather crisis we have been experiencing, there is one special person who has helped me make it through. My carrier, Lori, has never missed a delivery, no matter what. She is truly a dedicated young person.

I am a retired person and my newspaper is so important to me. Computers are nice, but nothing takes the place of the daily newspaper. Our schools were closed Friday, but my paper was there as usual, thanks to Lori.

BETTY J. ARSCOTT
Cranberry

Vulnerable people need real friendships

Earlier this month, a killing was reported by the Pittsburgh news media that was so grisly, so dastardly, that the venerable Dr. Cyril Wecht said it was an act of "barbarism." Police in Greensburg had found the remains of Jennifer Daugherty, a 30-year-old woman with intellectual disabilities, stuffed in a trash container. Jennifer thought the suspects in this case were her friends ("6 Charged in Woman's Brutal Killing," Feb. 13).

This incident, however, brings up another issue, perhaps even more profound. How can we stop people from doing such a dastardly thing? How can we assure that people like Jennifer are safe?

The answer to this question is not easy, but there are clearly things we know about society and relationships that might offer some direction. The most prominent way people keep safe in our society is through their real relationships -- friends and family -- who watch out for their basic safety and security. Which brings me to the second key element in this situation -- the limited friendship of many people who have disabilities. As a professional in the disability system for the past 40 years, the one clear thing I have come to see over and over again is that people with disabilities similar to Jennifer's have fewer friendships than most people typically have in our society.

So, along with our protests and outrage of the tragic story of Jennifer Daugherty, let's do something more -- something with more profound impact on our society. Let's reach out and find that which makes us similar to vulnerable people and create true friendships. Your step in creating a friendship might be the deciding factor in someone's real safety. When this happens, maybe we will not see a story again that is postscripted with "and she thought they were her friends."

AL CONDELUCI
Chief Executive Officer
United Cerebal Palsy
Oakland

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