In this county, your politics don't make you better

In response to Robert C. Faulkner Jr.'s letter concerning President-elect Barack Obama ("Unhappily, I'm Willing to Give Obama a Chance," Nov. 11):

He writes that being a "Reagan conservative" puts him "head and shoulders above any liberal Democrat." He then goes on to rant about "liberals." Why so much hate, Mr. Faulkner? And is such self-aggrandizement really necessary?

He says that conservatives make "better Americans." Why such disrespect for fellow citizens? We are all Americans and being conservative makes someone no better, nor worse, than any other citizen -- conservative, liberal or moderate.

Mr. Faulkner has one vote, the same as I do. This time, he was outvoted -- not just by me, but by a majority of our fellow citizens. But the deeper question remains: Why is it necessary for him to believe himself "better than" others? In this country, we are equals.

On election night, John McCain gave one of the most gracious, thoughtful concession speeches I have ever heard. In response, some of his supporters booed when he vowed to support President Obama. That was shameful; Mr. McCain deserved better from his own party. Is this the conservative idea of respect, to heckle your own candidate when he is down?

DIANA SLIVINSKA
Ingram

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End of the nightmare

I have certainly been enlightened by the Nov. 11 letters of Robert C. Faulkner Jr. ("Unhappily, I'm Willing to Give Obama a Chance") and Victor K. Hreczkosiej ("Welcome to Socialism").

First, I didn't realize that "conservatives make better Americans." I always thought I was a pretty good American: I pay my taxes, recycle, support the troops (but not the invasion), volunteer and I vote.

I woke up to a new president and the end of an eight-year nightmare. How can anyone defend President George W. Bush, who lied us into an invasion of a country that did nothing to us, led a government that spied on us, ran our economy into the ground and turned its back on our own people in a time of disaster?

I was one of those "un-American" liberals who worked for President-elect Obama. It was painful to be called names, threatened and bullied by those conservatives who make better Americans than I guess I am. We had countless Obama signs stolen, shot at and run over by a car, but I never even thought about stealing a McCain sign.

It seems to me that all of this hate started with the Bush administration dividing our country into the un-American liberals and the patriotic conservatives. This fear and loathing was continued by the negative campaign of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin. It all seemed very un-American and un-Christian to me.

I appreciate that Mr. Faulkner is willing to give President-elect Obama a chance. I hope, Mr. Hreczkosiej, that you, too, can get over your fear and hatred of our new president.

REBECCA C. HALFHILL
Scottdale

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Real America?

Regarding the Nov. 11 letter written by Robert C. Faulkner Jr.: He states that conservatives make better Americans. I really had to take a big breath on this one.

I watched on PBS the Lee Atwater biography. I suggest Mr. Faulkner go to pbs.com and read the articles or get the video, to see how these people lied and manipulated their way to power. And then if he thinks these particular conservatives, who include Karl Rove and both Bushes, are better, maybe they can all go move to the "real" America.

As for me, I am very happy to be a citizen of this America, who elected an intelligent, decent man to face the many hard decisions ahead, and whom I believe will attract the best and the brightest to help him. Luckily for his critics, they won't have to face accusations of being "unpatriotic' or "not supporting the troops."

SANDRA MCCOY
Sewickley

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History lesson

If you take time to look for them, there are very interesting connections to be made in history.

Remember back to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. In what was intended to be Nazi Germany's time to show it's superiority, African-American Jesse Owens won four gold medals -- the 100 and 200 meter sprints, the long jump and the 4x100 meter relay. Rather than congratulating the superstar, the humiliated Hilter left the stadium.

Flash forward to July 24, 2008. In the same Berlin, 200,000 Germans gathered to see and hear and cheer for presidential candidate Barack Obama. Jump forward to Nov. 5: Headlines in German newspapers read, "German Politicians Welcome Obama, Call for Closer Ties to U.S." and "Leading German Economists Say U.S. President-elect Barack Obama Is the Right Man to Tackle the Worldwide Economic Crisis."

Our new president-elect is evidence that America has changed. The world has changed, too.

GLENN RUDOLPH
Cranberry

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Diesel now cleaner

After the Nov. 6 story regarding diesel exhaust levels in Downtown Pittsburgh, readers might be interested to know what industry is doing to reduce emissions. ("Diesel Exhaust at Risky Levels Downtown, Study Finds").

Today's new commercial clean-diesel truck has 97 percent fewer emissions of particulates than a truck built 15 years ago. It would take 60 model-year 2008 trucks to equal the particle emissions of a truck built in 1988.

The move toward this new generation of clean-diesel technology took off after ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel became available nationwide starting in October 2006. Every new diesel engine being built today for highway use has the most advanced particulate filter and control technology of any vehicle. Soon all new off-road machines and equipment will have this, too. Just using the cleaner-burning diesel fuel in any existing diesel engine can reduce particle emissions by about 10 percent.

Your story spoke definitively about the health effects potentially associated with diesel exhaust, attributing the information to an environmental group's study. Since all internal combustion engines, including gasoline and hybrid cars along with wood-burning stoves and industries, emit particles, the federal Environmental Protection Agency has not reached all those same conclusions and continues to evaluate the health effects of all particle emissions.

That the region has funding for upgrading existing school buses, but chooses not to provide the matching funds is unfortunate since retrofitting diesel engines is a proven cost-effective approach to reducing emissions and school-bus retrofits are generally one of the easiest applications.

ALLEN SCHAEFFER
Executive Director
Diesel Technology Forum
Frederick, Md.</<!--End address-->

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Public held hostage

In response to the Nov. 10 letters from Doug Kalakewich ("Think I'm on Easy Street? Try My Job for a While") and David C. Berg ("They Earn It") regarding the impasse in Port Authority contract negotiations:

I rely on public transportation and I am not physically able to drive a bus, as Mr. Kalakewich suggests I try before making judgments about Port Authority wages or benefits. With the uncertain economy I'm grateful just to have a job with decent benefits.

Bus drivers cannot lay sole claim to unpleasant or hazardous working situations, nor to being conscientious workers despite the conditions they face -- people usually deal with it until they can find something better.

If people want to complain about the benefits Port Authority drivers receive, it is within their rights to do so. The bus service is the only means of transport many people have, and some people don't have health benefits, period. Why should the drivers hold the public hostage?

ROBIN JOHNSON
Bellevue

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Bio-technology can help revive our economy

It was refreshing to read the article written by Alan Russell and Joel McCleary, "It's Not Just the Economy, Stupid" (Nov. 12, Midweek Perspectives). Their ideas were an economic blueprint for our nation in a deepening economic crisis.

Their article identified the roots of our economic crisis in our financial institutions and markets. We have witnessed the vanishing manufacturing base of our region and of our national economy, and the threat this poses to our national security.

American families are experiencing economic tough times because of loss of jobs, loss of savings and the increased cost of living. However, the article points out 21st-century approaches to restore our manufacturing base by investing in biotechnology, nuclear energy and the health-care system.

If we create a bio-economy that develops new personalized medicines, reduces health-care costs, creates new materials and new jobs, pulls us out of our economic crisis and protects our national security, then the investment in bio-technology would help bring new opportunities for our families, our region and our nation.

Lastly, the U.S. government should have a Cabinet-level secretary of science and technology, as Messrs. Russell and McCleary suggest.

JOSEPH L. COCCARO
West Mifflin

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