Issue One: Rep. Metcalfe
Unseat him
So if a veteran of the U.S. military sees the world differently than state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, he or she is a traitor? Seems rather un-American and simple-minded to me ("Metcalfe Defends Harsh Talk About Vets on Climate," Oct. 21).
I think Mr. Metcalfe has enjoyed too much security in his position and, as a resident of his district, I wish a more moderate opponent would step forward to defeat him.
DENISE EJZAK
Butler
What's scary
Regarding the remarks on climate change by state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe: His comments are always from the disconnected-from-reality school of thought. This time it was about global warming. He showed belligerent disrespect toward touring veterans who are raising awareness of climate change and its threats to America's safety.
I read the letters on the Oct. 23 editorial page. Every letter raised important issues. But the real story is that Mr. Metcalfe and U.S. Reps. Michele Bachmann and Joe Wilson are examples of people in public office who promote fear based on unfounded allegations, reject science because it is inconvenient and deliberately incite people and direct their constituents' attention away from the true sources of discontent.
As it was with Sen. Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s, these politicians work hard cultivating emotional responses of the voters in their districts. But in the end, Mr. Metcalfe, Ms. Bachmann and Mr. Wilson are not really the problem. The scary thing is the thousands of voters who appear to accept everything they say at face value, voting them into office time and again, thus cheering on their irresponsible behavior.
PAUL MOESSINGER
Robinson
Hot air
I am alarmed that Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has not read the Constitution (and apparently not much else either), which clearly does not address the pollution of our natural resources as a "right" of business or anyone else. As to his problem dealing with facts, such as the fact that the Earth is warming, I wonder how he feels about other facts, say, gravity? Or how about the fact that the Earth is round? Or the fact that lunar cycles predict tides?
I suggest that Mr. Metcalfe begin to listen to other voices aside from his own hot air (another fact, by the way) and pay particular attention to facts that most of us are well past disputing. Only then will he be capable of serving the people of Pennsylvania. Otherwise his opinions will devolve us back to the Stone Age while taking up precious space in our sources for real information.
CAROL JAWORSKI
Peters