Say 'no more' to treating taxpayers like livestock

So the "masters of the universe" have gotten themselves in a bind, and it's up to the taxpayers to bail them out, to the tune of about 10 percent of the total federal debt so far? And the terms they want are "give us the money, go away and don't bother us." Right.

For years, I have maintained that the point of view of The Powers That Be is roughly that of a farmer with livestock: It is up to the "animals" to contribute to the farmer's well-being, and if a steer is invited to dinner, he's going to be on the table, not at it.

But the Constitution was written to protect "the people" from the depredations of government, and the failings of financial houses over which we have had no control aren't supposed to be underwritten by us. For someone who has, for years, advocated "no regulation," John McCain is sure quick to get on the gravy train of "bail them out; they're too big to let fail."

OK, here's the way it ought to be: All fiduciary organizations will be tightly controlled as a result of this mess. Every penny of any bailout will be overseen by a suspicious and tight-fisted agency of auditors. There will be no "ship money to Iraq, and if a few billion get lost, so what?" attitude. And, no golden parachutes for the miscreants.

If we little taxpayers are going to pay for the stupidity of our "betters" (or should that be "bettors"?) we get to hold the reins on the carriage. We decide the destination, we steer, we determine the pace. We get consulted, in advance, not after the fact.

CAROLE McINTYRE
Waynesburg

---

Deserves debate

Before we taxpayers pony up hundreds of billions of dollars for yet another Bush administration boondoggle, perhaps it is not too much to ask that there be some public debate about which sorts of investment will most benefit the U.S. economy. After all, there are many economically beneficial ways to spend hundreds of billions: repairing broken infrastructure, energy innovation and health care, for example.

While there may be good reasons to use such sums to subsidize financial institutions that made reckless bets on bad loans, this conclusion is not self-evident and should be subjected to cost/benefit comparisons with alternative proposals.

DANIEL LIEBERFELD
Point Breeze

The writer is a professor in the Center for Social and Public Policy, Duquesne University.

---

Impoverishing us

The headline in Saturday's paper read "Bailout Could Top $1 Trillion" (Sept. 20). How many trillion do the Republicans figure we have? It is estimated that the United States will spend $3 trillion on the so-called war that nobody wanted that consequently has gone nowhere. The only business that is growing (besides oil) is the homeless shelters. If we get George Bush the Third as president we will be a Third World country. Then maybe some nice country will give us a bunch of free aid. Fat chance!

Oh well, I guess the first Depression wasn't that bad. Think of all the great stories our children will tell about bread lines and ration cards.

MICHAEL PUDUP
Westwood

---

Outrageous bailout

Seven years ago, a president came to Congress in an atmosphere of panic and urgency and asked it to pass legislation that his administration claimed was necessary to the security of the American people. The result was the first "Authorization for Use of Military Force," which the president later attempted to use to justify Guantanamo detentions and domestic wiretapping. After Congress' breathless support of that bill, the president returned a month later with the USA Patriot Act, a sweeping abridgement of civil rights; the Senate passed the Act 98-1.

Now the president, his staff and the Fed gravely predict financial ruin in America if Congress does not act in the manner that they propose. This time it's the biggest single payout in the history of the country, to rescue the barons of the financial sector. And it must be done posthaste! The initial response of Congress sounds a lot like 2001: We have no choice, we must act.

Whether this is the right act -- one that costs every American over $2,000, not including interest -- is not being addressed. The Republicans are silent and the Democrats are merely pushing for add-ons. Congress should instead be looking out for our long-term security by rejecting this outrageous bailout and asking the president to return with another plan.

WILL ZAVALA
Friendship

---

Foremost a church

As the divisional commander of The Salvation Army's Western Pennsylvania Division, you can imagine my dismay at the statement made by Steven Paul of Preservation Pittsburgh in his Sept. 15 letter ("Our Offers Stand"). Mr. Paul says, "While a Christian organization, The Salvation Army, by its own claim, is not a church."

Let me assure you, as an ordained minister and bishop, neither I nor anyone from this organization has ever made or would ever make that claim. Even during our final meeting with Pittsburgh City Council regarding the historical status of our North Side facility, the solicitor and City Council members acknowledged our church status. They agreed that the ruling on our zoning issue was purely a technicality.

Our church was founded in London, England, in 1865 by a former Methodist minister. We are first and foremost a church. Part of our mission statement says, "The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church." Our officers, both men and women, have attended seminary and are fully ordained ministers. We have more than 1.6 million documented church members worldwide. Thousands more attend our worship services every Sunday.

The Salvation Army has had a presence in the North Side since 1896. We have served the community through countless fires, floods, financial crises and disasters. Yet, throughout those 112 years, our hearts and souls have been in our identity and mission as a church. It is heartbreaking to read such an ill-informed and demeaning comment from a community leader who has influence on critical decision making. His careless statement marginalizes who we are as a holy place of worship.

MAJ. ROBERT J. REEL
Divisional Commander
The Salvation Army
Western Pennsylvania Division
Downtown

---

Dismaying error

As executive director of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania, our region's ecumenical association, let me clarify a gross misrepresentation made by Steven Paul, executive director, Preservation Pittsburgh. Contrary to Mr. Paul's Sept. 15 letter in which he wrote, "While a Christian organization, The Salvation Army, by its own claim, is not a church," The Salvation Army is a church!

Christian Associates is composed of 25 regional church governing bodies -- Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. The Salvation Army, because it is a church and not just a faith-based, human services agency, has been an active member since our founding in 1970. Furthermore, as leader of the Western Pennsylvania Division, Maj. Robert Reel also enjoys fellowship among the Christian Leaders Fellowship of Pittsburgh, a fellowship reserved only for heads of churches in the Pittsburgh-Allegheny County region. I am dismayed that Mr. Paul continues to defend City Council's involuntary designation of a house of worship as historic without the owners' consent by suggesting that The Salvation Army is not a church.

REV. DR. DONALD B. GREEN
Executive Director
Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania
Lawrenceville

---

Are literacy efforts high on their agendas?

Sarah Palin can field dress a moose. Barack Obama is left-handed. John McCain was the first sitting U.S. senator to host "Saturday Night Live." Joe Biden stuttered as a child. Cindy McCain loves to watch "Ice Road Truckers."

While our astute media talking-heads continue to provide "important" insights into the character and qualifications of our presidential and vice presidential candidates and their families, perhaps they might find the opportunity to ask each candidate one more question ... How often do they read to their children or grandchildren?

A key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty plaguing so many of our communities is a child's ability to read effectively. Reading proficiency directly impacts his or her school readiness, job preparedness, quality of life and self-esteem. Even teen pregnancy rates decrease among students who are reading at grade level!

If candidates are really serious about "change," we need to know how they intend to support local libraries. We need to know what resources they will commit to early childhood education. We need to know where community-based literacy programs fit in their long-range plans for building a better America.

For more information about the importance of reading to children and local early literacy programs and services, visit the Beginning with Books Web site at www.beginningwithbooks.org.

KEITH G. KONDRICH
Executive Director
Beginning with Books -- Center For Early Literacy
East Liberty

---

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.