Letters: VP pick sets up clear choice for voters

The selection of Rep. Paul Ryan as the GOP vice presidential candidate presents the voters with a clear contrast between the welfare state promoted by President Obama and a return to our core values of hard work bringing rewards, which outweigh any standard of living provided by government handouts ("Editorial: Romney-Ryan a bold ticket").

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Campaign rally: Paul Ryan hands the microphone to Mitt Romney on Saturday in Ashland, Va.

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Campaign rally: Paul Ryan hands the microphone to Mitt Romney on Saturday in Ashland, Va.

The Democratic Party has created a voting bloc that depends on the party's programs. Ryan will articulate how Americans can return to the economic greatness that was the foundation of our country before we became mired in the Great Society and Obama's "hope and change" policies.

Whether USA TODAY will report the facts and not try to spin Ryan's message will be interesting to watch. Please remember that, contrary to popular conceptions, it is not Ryan who is attempting to throw old ladies over a cliff. Ryan is trying to prevent Obama from throwing America into a chasm from which it cannot recover.

Dave Kennett; Dayton, Ohio

Ohio lawmaker a better choice

Rep. Paul Ryan, 42, touts the virtue of private enterprise but has worked most of his adult life in the public sector. He briefly was a marketing consultant for his family's construction business.

Letters to the editor

USA TODAY receives about 300 letters each day. Most arrive via e-mail, but we also receive submissions by postal mail and fax. We publish about 35 letters each week.

We often select comments that respond directly to USA TODAY articles or opinion pieces. Letters that are concise and make one or two good points have the best chance of being selected, as do letters that reflect the vibrant debate around the nation on a particular subject.

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Mitt Romney should have chosen a more seasoned person to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, such as Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio.

Gary Wesley; Mountain View, Calif.

Next GOP president?

In announcing Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney introduced Ryan as "the next president of the United States," later correcting himself. Mistake aside, Romney's statement might very well turn out to be an accurate prediction.

If President Obama beats Romney this November, Ryan's star could continue to rise nonetheless, and he might run for and win the presidency in 2016.

Constantinos E. Scaros; Newmanstown, Pa.

'Empty promises,' indeed

Paul Ryan's speech Saturday would have been terrific, if only it had made more sense ("Romney taps Ryan as his running mate").

He started by declaring that President Obama "passed nearly every item on his agenda," and then complained that "politicians from both parties have made empty promises." But how could the president's promises be "empty" if he passed "nearly every item on his agenda"? Then Ryan patted himself on the back: "I believe my record of getting things done in Congress will be a very helpful complement to Gov. Romney's executive and private-sector success." Never mind that his major claim to fame — the Ryan budget plan — is dead in the water in Congress, an "empty promise" if you will.

Finally, he stated: "We won't blame others. We will take responsibility!" But his entire speech contained not one single specific proposal and blamed Obama for nearly everything. It's really hard to see what Ryan brings to this ticket.

Joan Jacobson; Lakewood, Colo.

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Letters: Harm in denying Chick-fil-A free speech

As a tolerant, open-minded liberal, I am surprised and disappointed by the anti-liberty stance taken against Chick-fil-A by fellow Democrats such as Chicago alderman Joe Moreno, who has threatened to block a new Chick-fil-A from his community, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ("Editorial: Chick-fil-A food fight leaves pols eating crow").

By Ben Earp, AP

Showing appreciation: Customers at a Chick-fil-A in Shelby, N.C., on Aug. 1.

By Ben Earp, AP

Showing appreciation: Customers at a Chick-fil-A in Shelby, N.C., on Aug. 1.

While it is clear President Dan Cathy and his company are against gay marriage, we must keep in mind that they have a First Amendment right to hold this position. As foolish as they may be, it is not against the law. Therefore, Chicago or any other city cannot use this to withhold business permits.

Additionally, by railing against a group's religious beliefs, Moreno, Emanuel and others are doing a great disservice to the Democratic Party in general and to President Obama at the very time they should be doing just the opposite.

The best way to fight bigotry in any form is to point it out to all, thereby ostracizing the intolerant person or group. The last thing we should do is fight bigotry with more bigotry as some Democrats have elected to do.

Jeff Clauser; Chicago

Tolerance goes both ways

In cases like the Chick-fil-A debate, the offended party often acts as if it's the only one with First Amendment rights. Where are mine? Should everyone agree with me when I don't like something? Equality Illinois, a group that protects and defends the rights of gays and lesbians, has the right to voice its opinion. But that opinion cannot be used in an attempt to suppress everyone else's rights, such as President Dan Cathy's right to oppose same-sex marriage ("Challenge Chick-fil-A's practices, Another view). Our great country is being destroyed from within by all the special interest groups.

Ollie B. Emerine; Elizabethtown, Ky.

Letters to the editor

USA TODAY receives about 300 letters each day. Most arrive via e-mail, but we also receive submissions by postal mail and fax. We publish about 35 letters each week.

We often select comments that respond directly to USA TODAY articles or opinion pieces. Letters that are concise and make one or two good points have the best chance of being selected, as do letters that reflect the vibrant debate around the nation on a particular subject.

We aim to make the letters platform a place where readers, not just writers representing institutions or interest groups, have their say.

Look at other company policies

Microsoft founder Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer both donated money to a same-sex marriage advocacy organization this year. It would seem only natural that the folks who strutted to Chick-fil-A and stuffed their faces with chicken and waffle fries in support of President Dan Cathy's views on Aug. 1 would go a step further by unplugging their computers and never using them again.

But I don't really see that happening any more than I can foresee any Chick-fil-A followers ditching their sneakers from Nike, which, by the way, expressed support for Washington state's same-sex marriage bill. Proving such devotion to a cause is sometimes superseded by one's inclination to simply chicken out.

Vin Morabito; Scranton, Pa.

Marketplace will be best indicator

Many agree with Chick-fil-A's stand on same-sex marriage, while others disagree. Some supporters choose to voice their opinion by dining at the chain, while others are choosing to boycott Chick-fil-A.

That's what the marketplace is all about: being free to voice your opinion and make choices. Likewise, the marketplace is the proper venue for debating this issue. As for Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other politicians who think they have the right to tell a business what to think, they should stay out of the issue and let the marketplace be the place where the issue is decided.

Stephen V. Gilmore; Charlotte, N.C.

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Letters: Democrats hinder progress in education

In the piece about why schools in poor neighborhoods fail, commentary writer Richard Whitmire attempts to push the blame on to someone or something else ("Column: Poverty not all to blame for lousy school outcomes").

By Tony Dejak, AP

Computer class: Trevon Davis, 9, in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

By Tony Dejak, AP

Computer class: Trevon Davis, 9, in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

One group that appeared to be missing is the Democratic Party. It controls the majority of inner-city neighborhoods and has for many years. The fault of our education system rests on the shoulders of the education unions, whose political contributions fall almost solely into the hands of Democratic politicians. Charter schools have proved to be a way out and are supported by the GOP (another tidbit left out of the article) and are a step in the right direction.

For me, it is plain to see that Democrats want to keep minorities and the poor in their place.

Randy Lampe; Mason, Ohio

Focus on effectiveness

Focusing on how students perceive the challenge of their curricula obscures the real issue: stagnant student achievement. The problem with American education is not that it's easy, but that it's ineffective ("School is too easy, students report").

Letters to the editor

USA TODAY receives about 300 letters each day. Most arrive via e-mail, but we also receive submissions by postal mail and fax. We publish about 35 letters each week.

We often select comments that respond directly to USA TODAY articles or opinion pieces. Letters that are concise and make one or two good points have the best chance of being selected, as do letters that reflect the vibrant debate around the nation on a particular subject.

We aim to make the letters platform a place where readers, not just writers representing institutions or interest groups, have their say.

By framing the discussion around perceived challenge, educators can point to regulations that supposedly make schools more difficult when they should be looking for reforms that can make schools better. Further, there is no conclusive evidence that nationalized standards do anything to remedy the serious issue of flatlining achievement. Federal spending on education per pupil has almost tripled since 1970, with no significant gains on the National Assessment of Educational Progress standardized assessment. Is it worth it?

Matt Pawlowski; Washington, D.C.

Challenging vs. harder work

It's unfortunate that only 37% of fourth-graders find their math homework "often" or "always" easy. In fourth grade, it's supposed to be easy. Students are supposed to be learning the basics, the foundation for more advanced math in high school and college.

It's interesting that in the Forum piece "Why our kids hate math" the issue presented is we start kids too quickly with "advanced" mathematics. I agree. Cognitive and abstract brain processes don't develop until later in adolescence to enable kids to process the advanced topics.

As for history or English classes not being challenging, let's not confuse the word "challenging" with "harder." Often, the response is to give a greater volume of work, not necessarily more intellectually challenging work, to high-achievers.

It's no wonder we're falling behind the rest of the world in education. We expect kids to perform more complex math before they know their multiplication tables, and then punish the high-achievers by making them do even more mind-numbing work.

Kevin Stout; Franklin, Tenn.

How much do students know?

If American teens think their classes are too easy, how can we explain how little they actually know? For instance, three-fourths of them failed to reach proficiency in knowledge of U.S. history on the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress. As for civics, close to one-half of black and Hispanic teens could not name a single right protected by the First Amendment.

Proponents of the Common Core national standards contend that instilling more "critical thinking" skills will make everything fine and dandy. More likely, the latest cycle of progressive education will result merely in further spikes in unmerited self-esteem.

Robert Holland, senior fellow for education policy, The Heartland Institute; Chicago

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Letters: Value found in stability and moments of silence

The good Benedictine sisters of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Kansas do have a point to make ("Column: Lessons from a Benedictine monastery").

Mount St. Scholastica

Most conversation today is frivolous chatter. The advent of cellphones hasn't helped the situation any. We do need silence in order to get hold of ourselves, and take constructive bearings on our world.

Moreover, the high geographic mobility many experience these days has taken a terrible toll on communities. We need to stay in one place for a while and get to know each other. Without stable values, we have no constructive self-image. What one values is what one believes conscientiously. And what one believes conscientiously is pretty much the composite of who one is.

It seems that the Benedictine sisters know who they are, what they believe and what they are doing. That's more than what we can say for a lot of people these days.

Letters to the editor

USA TODAY receives about 300 letters each day. Most arrive via e-mail, but we also receive submissions by postal mail and fax. We publish about 35 letters each week.

We often select comments that respond directly to USA TODAY articles or opinion pieces. Letters that are concise and make one or two good points have the best chance of being selected, as do letters that reflect the vibrant debate around the nation on a particular subject.

We aim to make the letters platform a place where readers, not just writers representing institutions or interest groups, have their say.

John L. Indo; Houston

Evenly apply disclosure rule

Commentary writer Drew Cohen's piece on the need for the government to implement rules demanding that companies disclose their campaign contributions was conspicuously lacking an equally anguished cry for the government to do the same in regard to unions ("Column: Shareholders should know about political donations").

Cohen is probably too busy pursuing his joint degree in law and business at George Washington University to be aware that many union members pay political contributions out of every paycheck, contributions that go almost exclusively to the Democratic Party to help elect candidates who pledge to advance unions' agendas.

If it is any comfort to Cohen, these union contributions level the playing field against evil corporations, one of which perhaps will hire him one day.

Robert J. Menerey; Horseshoe Bay, Texas

A truly bipartisan deal?

In the recent editorial debate on budget politics, Rep. Paul Ryan in his opposing view states: "Republicans' Path to Prosperity budget that passed the House last week represents the only plan that … advances bipartisan, patient-centered health care solutions" ("Paul Ryan: Compromise budget proposal was flawed").

How does it advance bipartisanship when he calls it a Republican plan? How is it bipartisan when it was passed on a party-line vote? Have I missed something?

Were the views of Democrats in the House taken into consideration? If so, which ones? Only then can Ryan claim that his plan advances a bipartisan solution.

Tony Awad; Alpharetta, Ga.

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