Sins of omission are oftentimes more dangerous than sins of action. The PG editorial board and a good deal of the mainstream media have a penchant for committing these sins. A good case in point was demonstrated in the March 5 editorial "Bunning's Delay: The Senate's Ex-Pitcher Hurled Spite at the Jobless."

While hurling insults at Sen. Jim Bunning for his initial blocking of a vote in the Senate on a stop-gap unemployment benefit extension, the PG conveniently forgot to mention that Sen. Bunning's real reason (as he carefully explained to the media) was to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the Senate when just a few weeks ago the Democrat-controlled Senate passed a "pay go" bill, which required that all spending measures passed by Congress must be paid for. This bill was not paid for.

The American people have loudly proclaimed that the out-of-control spending by Congress must end. I am sure Sen. Bunning does have empathy for the unemployed, but the facts are that the U.S. Treasury is out of money.

GILBERT DADOWSKI
Moon

Accept all carriers

For over a year now, our government representatives and the people of this country have talked of health reform.

Isn't it all a moot point if doctors' offices and hospitals, clinics, etc., do not accept "all" insurance? Aren't we still held captive to the health industry if they are not committed to honoring all carriers?

I have not heard this addressed. Have you?

D.L. McMAHON
Mt. Lebanon

'It seems' isn't truth

I find it funny that letter writer Ernie Liebert ("Palin Speaks Truth," Feb. 26) talks about the "truth," yet he accepts so many untruths as fact.

Take for example his statement that "it seems as if every Democrat in the Senate who is up for re-election in the fall is either retiring or just deciding not to run." Yes "it seems" as if that is the case, if that is the narrative you want to believe.

But here are the facts. In 2010, five Democratic senators are retiring, while the Republicans are abandoning six of their seats. In the House, it's 17 Democrats versus 20 Republicans. If you want to believe that "every Democrat" is retiring as a sign of a failed Obama presidency, that is your prerogative, but the truth doesn't support that theory.

DAVID WALLACE
Turtle Creek

Invaluable service

Your recent news obituary about Charlie Burke captured well his warmth and personality ("Charles R. Burke: Lawyer Who Fought for Sundays, Served on Numerous Boards," Feb. 17). As a volunteer for the Executive Service Corps ESC of Western Pennsylvania, I would like to underscore his devotion and hands-on attention to ESC.

ESC brings together retired business people and nonprofits that need help. Inevitably, this is a meaningful experience for both. Mr. Burke recruited both the volunteers and the nonprofit clients; solicited contributions for volunteer training and put together a hard-working board of directors. His personal effort made ESC a shining success for Pittsburgh.

SUZANNE SHAVER McLAUGHLIN
Edgewood

Working hard

In response to Joann Cantrell's Feb. 27 letter "Call to the Young": I am a 17-year-old high school student, and this is what I was doing during the snowfall. For starters, I was finishing my hours of homework from my numerous AP courses. In between tutoring and volunteering, I had swimming practice, and when I was through with that, I took to studying for my upcoming SAT tests.

The snow was hardly an entrepreneurial opportunity for me; I don't even have the time to work a real job if I managed to get one, due to all of my scholastic and extracurricular commitments. I work hard in and out of school, and participate in four varsity sports, all in an attempt to make myself appealing to universities, because, simply put, I could never afford to pay the ridiculous tuition costs without receiving a scholarship.

For the record, I don't own an Xbox or a Wii, and if I had the time to waste on them, then I would certainly be out shoveling my neighbors' driveways after a snowfall instead. I did, however, find the time to aid one particular senior citizen, a 71-year-old man who also happens to be my father.

ALBERT J. ANDERSON
Cheswick

Young and kind

I was reading Joann Cantrell's letter "Call to the Young" (Feb. 27) and thinking of a night several weeks ago. When I read that Ms. Cantrell would love to hear about neighborhood kids helping out this winter, I had to share my thoughts.

One night after we received several inches of snow, I went out to shovel our driveway so it would be clear in the morning. I started on the part of the driveway that is slightly uphill. When I was about halfway through, I heard a friendly "Hello!" I looked up to see my neighbor's teenage son with a snowblower. Without saying another word, he started the blower and finished clearing the top of my driveway. He then asked if there was anything else and I told him I was planning on shoveling the flat part of the driveway, where our van was parked. He walked down and within a few minutes had that cleared as well.

I am not elderly and am quite capable of shoveling, but I sure did appreciate his help, especially since it saved me at least a half hour out in the cold. I believe it was his decision to come over and help out --I don't think he needed his parents to tell him to help me. I think I thanked him that night, but if I failed to do so, I want to use this as a public thank you and let everyone know there are good kids out there, even ones who help out not to "make a buck" but just out of the kindness of their hearts.

LORETTA CHRISTLEY
Butler

Weak from the start

All the kerfuffle and calling for impeachment of our mayor doesn't surprise me. You could have asked anyone who lives in what was his district as a councilman. He was unconcerned with us then, and he is unconcerned with all of us now.

I asked him face to face at a community meeting a few years ago why we should have a new multimillion-dollar community center when we cannot even repair the Davis Avenue Bridge. His answer: That bridge is not a vital structure. It was so "non-vital" that he never even bothered to secure funding to at least maintain it as a walking bridge, even if it never reopened to cars.

Well, it certainly became vital when we had to rush contractors in at top dollar to implode it last May because it was near collapsing onto people's homes.

Our mayor has no foresight, he has no vision, he has no ability to put himself in people's situations and really understand their concerns. He may be a swell guy, and he sure does pose pretty for pictures, but we all know how he got where he is and why he has remained there. And it for certain wasn't because he did such a bang-up job as our councilman.

MEGAN WARD-ROBINSON
Brighton Heights

The 'No Child' overhaul is the right step for education

President Barack Obama is proposing new reading and math standards in revising the No Child Left Behind law. Currently, some schools aim high with standards that challenge their students, and some have mediocre standards for their students.

The White House statement said that its proposed rewrite of the No Child Left Behind law would "require all states to adopt and certify that they have college- and career-ready standards which may include common standards developed by a state-led consortium, as a condition of qualifying for Title I funding."

I think this new overhaul on the No Child Left Behind law is a great idea, with every state having the standards set at the same challenging level for high school students, which will prepare them for college- and career-ready work. To have the whole nation's education system the same, it will be easier to identify which schools are progressive and which schools are not up to standards.

As a student who has experienced the No Child Left Behind law, I have seen the standards set very low, making me not challenge myself to my fullest potential. Seeing the government setting its sights on the betterment of our education system will in the long run better all of society.

TAYLOR KARNBAUER
Baldwin Borough
The writer is a student at the Pittsburgh Technical Institute.

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