MIDSTATE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Commentary on Harrisburg and Central Pa. by Patriot-News readers

• Address flaw in succession
The passing of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll may result in consideration being given to the constitutional question of succession in Pennsylvania.

• Buy hybrids instead
Much discussion is being made about a "bailout" of the U.S. Big Three auto industry. I have a simple solution that could make it a win-win situation for the federal government, taxpayers and the companies.

• No longer bad?
For years, we have witnessed Democrats decrying the evils of corporations. Terms like "Big Oil," "greedy drug companies" or "evil insurance companies" have been used repeated to justify the government's need to impose windfall profit taxes, set price caps or to take over control of health care. After all, is it not the Democrats' valiant opposition to these dastardly entities that convince many to vote for their party's representatives?

• Unimpressive record
The Nov. 6 paper includes yet another excuse offered by Sen. Jeff Piccola concerning why he almost lost the election. First it was Judy Hirsh's fault, which came off as being not only hostile but jealous of her success, and now it's Gov. Ed Rendell's fault. Has it ever occurred to this guy to look at his record? For a legislator who has been there more than 30 years, his achievements are unbelievably unimpressive.

• Bail me out
They first bailed out the financial institutions, and because I may need a new car loan one day, I didn't speak up.

• Drilling costs
PennFuture agrees that companies drilling for natural gas, most of them from other states, should pay the state and local communities for the costs of maintaining roads, educating workers' children and protecting natural resources (editorial, Nov. 24). These companies stand to realize significant profits, so they should not be allowed to pass their costs on to the taxpayer.

• No pay raises
In light of the current economic conditions, let's have a state expense "freeze" -- no pay raises for anyone in any department for any reason until the state budget is balanced and then no retroactive raises for anyone.

• Pass to pollute
The fallacy of Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.'s argument to me is that allowing cities (and wealthy people, corporations, etc.) to buy their way into polluting the Chesapeake Bay, and other water bodies, flies in the face of the population movement in our society ("As I See It," Nov. 25).

• Voting system allows shared sovereignty
Charles W. Rubendall II (Letters, Nov. 2) calls the Electoral College a "two centuries-old anomaly" created by the Founders because they were, "afraid to allow ordinary citizens to vote directly for their president."

• Delicate retort for odd remark
Leave it to a Clinton to give us another example of how not to conduct yourself in public affairs.

• Hypocrisy revisited
The Nov. 17 editorial ("Reeking of hypocrisy") sustains an eight-year contempt for President Bush. Since the 2000 election, your coverage of the president has been tepid, negative and derogatory. Your views have clouded balanced discussions of conservative alternatives. Calling the president a malodorous hypocrite is over-the-top.

• Letters to the Editor
Pennsylvania American Water Company shouldn't have to ask for a rate increase from the Public Utility Commission anytime soon.

• Obvious result
"Gun-toting soccer mom" Meleanie Hain has one person and one person only to blame for her current predicament -- herself. She claims to now be ostracized and ridiculed by neighbors. I ask, what did she expect?

• Selfish raise
I opened my paper Nov. 20, and there are the glaring headlines: "State lawmakers await raises." How crass! They are going to receive a 2.8 percent raise in these times when most people are struggling financially.

• Site underfunded
Your Nov. 25 editorial on the challenges facing development of new nuclear reactors was right to note that other forms of energy investment face similar hurdles.