The American Dream shouldn't be publicly financed

I support transit union leader Patrick J. McMahon's plea for the "American Dream" ("My Dream World Is the American Dream for All," June 29 letters). I support his belief that every American worker deserves a living wage and to retire with dignity and respect. I support Port Authority employees' salaries and benefits.

What I will not support is paying for the Port Authority union's "dream" with my tax dollars. I suggest that Mr. McMahon find a way to privatize the Port Authority and have that corporation pay the wages, the benefits and the pension of which he "dreams." And when he finds a private corporation willing to bend to his demands, I suggest he share the name with all of us in Allegheny County so we can apply for jobs there.

I -- we -- the taxpaying public should not have to pay for what the majority of those using mass transit do not receive in the form of benefits and salary. I worked 42 years for a major Pittsburgh company in a white-collar position. I was happy with my pay and benefits and will be happy with my retirement. But no taxpayer money was used for my pay, my salary increases, my bonuses or stock options, my medical insurance plan or my pension.

Asking for concessions from the Port Authority union will not drop Port Authority workers into the "poor" category of Americans. It will, however, place them in the realistically and reasonably attainable category of wages and benefits.

MARCY CENDROSKI
Liberty

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Realities limit pay

Patrick J. McMahon, president of the transit union, writes that his dream is that all Americans have a job that pays a living wage and are then able to retire with dignity ("My Dream World Is the American Dream for All," June 29 letters). I, too, would like everyone in this great country to have the same. The truth is that some of my fellow citizens are not as talented, nor do they have the necessary ability to sell themselves to a prospective employer for enough to have those dreams fulfilled.

As citizens of this great republic, we have the right to the pursuit of happiness. We are not entitled to any more than what our talents allow us. If a person is not capable of doing more than sweeping a sidewalk, for whatever reason, his or her being an American should not entitle him or her to $30 or $40 per hour so that he or she can live a quality life and retire with dignity.

Corporate America has displayed much greed in many cases. But it is not greed that prohibits a company from paying that sidewalk sweeper $50,000 or $60,000 a year -- it's common sense.

Mr. McMahon, it is not enough to simply try; we must be able to bring more than simple effort to a job.

NICK LIBERTO
Blawnox

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A must-read letter

First and foremost, my deepest sympathy to letter writer Antionette Jones and her family ("We Must Stop Killing Each Other," June 25). The letter that Ms. Jones wrote regarding violence is a must read by all, regardless of their age, race, religion, nationality. The letter is not only eloquent but also without malice. She forgives those who committed the violence but begs that the violence be stopped. I applaud her and her words. It is a very simple letter with very deep thought and anguish. I hope all readers of this newspaper read it more than once.

Educators throughout Western Pennsylvania and, for that matter, all over the country should use this letter to educate our young people. It is with education that we shall overcome such brutality and senseless violence.

Let me suggest that every child from grades 3 to 12 be asked to read this letter at least twice. Then use this letter to develop dialogue throughout the year. Write essays, have a debate, competition, whatever it takes. Do not let it die.

I am sure if we are to educate more of our younger folks and repeat the message, the violence as we know it should reduce.

ABBEY VIJLEE
Kennedy

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Worth repeating

I don't think I've ever read words as eloquent as Antionette Jones' June 25 letter regarding the killing of Brandon Alton ("We Must Stop Killing Each Other"). Her words, written in the straightforward and heartfelt way of a grieving relative, should be shown on your front page with headlines and should be read from every street corner by a town crier -- until everyone hears it.

MARILYN A. CHARTERS
Hampton

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Fees go too far

Recently I read about the airlines charging for pop and bottled water on flights ("US Airways Attendants See 'Trouble' in Drink Fees," June 29). Everybody knows times are tough right now, but to nickel and dime the people who fly is just bad policy.

The airlines have already increased the price on tickets and now charge for baggage handling. What is next, pay toilets on planes?

As far as the beverage fees go, what if all passengers who purchase a beverage give the flight attendant a $20 bill? Is the airline going to have enough change to accommodate these people? Think about it!

WILLIAM RUBINSAK
Whitehall

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Fear not, cyclists

Thank you for publishing "A Question of Grit" about Franklin Toker's "excellent adventure" (The Next Page, June 29). It is a rich rundown recounting his bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. However, I hope folks don't get frightened off by his heroics. The ride is a pleasure and accessible.

Just a week after he risked his life to complete this journey, my wife and I, along with two other couples (all in our late 50s), bicycled the same route. It was a great experience! Beautiful Western Pennsylvania, great people, big food.

Professor Toker is obviously a skilled and energetic writer. It was fun to read his piece. However, the ride itself is (99 percent of the time) a pleasant, but not epic, adventure.

JAY ROCHLIN
Tucson, Ariz.

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Nix nuclear notions

In the June 29 Forum piece "Nuclear Renaissance," Professor Forrest J. Remick says, "The great environmental advantage of nuclear power is that it produces no greenhouse-gas emissions or air pollution."

That statement ignores something very serious. Nuclear waste products are the most dangerous and long-lasting waste of any industry. And what is the plan for handling this accumulating waste? The plan is to bury it!

The planet can handle only so much pollution.

The stated great environmental advantage is questionable. Check out the book "Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer: To Global Warming or Anything Else" by Dr. Helen Caldicott.

DON GRBAC
Valencia

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Downtown blight

There is one word for UPMC's logo atop the U.S. Steel Tower: blight. That goes for all other skyscraper signage as well.

DAN SKANTAR
North Fayette

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Zimbabwe's misery won't end until Mugabe is removed

I have lived in Zimbabwe for months at a time during the last seven years, and I can assure you that Robert Mugabe and his closest supporters couldn't care less what the world or Africa think at this point. They don't care whether the West or Africa "endorse" their regime. They have led their people into massive suffering by pillaging the economy and wasting resources. They don't care, and any argument that their end is near is ludicrous and naive.

Martin Luther King had it right: The oppressor will never willingly give up power. Mugabe and his party will not wake up one morning and say, "Gee, we've made a mess of things. Let's let someone else have a turn now." They have too much to lose and, when you don't care, then you can do just about anything to stay in power, as they have proved again and again.

So don't expect any words or policies to bring any change in Zimbabwe. You can condemn them, sanction them, criticize them and even ridicule them, but until you are seriously ready to remove the powers that be, you can expect more misery and suffering at unprecedented levels.

JOHN STANKO
Monroeville

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