Letters

Blackout: Can It Happen Again?

Now that the Northeastern U.S. has suffered the largest power outage in history [COVER STORY, Aug. 25] and the economy has lost billions of dollars through idled offices and factories, spoiled food and interrupted travel, maybe President Bush and the Republican congressional leadership would like to tell us how the glorious "free market" is going to prevent further catastrophic blackouts. Maybe Dick Cheney's ultrasecret energy task force has that information in its notes, which the Vice President adamantly refuses to share with his employers, the American people. STEPHEN KRIZ Maple Grove, Minn.

Utilities such as electricity are said to be public services. What a farce! Utilities that are owned by for-profit corporations have primary legal responsibility to their investors, not the public. When the supplier of electric power has a monopoly in a given area, there is no competition and no incentive to do better, and government regulation is too easily manipulated. Public services should be owned by the public. RICHARD C. BRAUN Pleasant Hill, Tenn.

So I had to walk nine miles from Manhattan to my home in Brooklyn. So the milk turned sour, and the meat went bad. So I couldn't use my computer or watch TV, and I had to sleep outside because there was no air conditioning. But how often do I get to see the stars over New York City? CHAIM THEIL New York City

In the old days, utilities were graded on service and reliability. Americans, welcome to your deregulated, profit-first future. Invest in plant, staff and equipment? Not anymore. That obsolete approach would reduce the bottom line and--oh, yeah--executive bonuses. We'll all just have to learn to do more with less. More candles, water jugs and anxiety. Fewer comfortable homes, less safe food and hope. CHRIS SMITH Minnetonka, Minn.

Experts suggest that utility ratepayers could be on the hook for $50 billion or more to upgrade the electric-power grid. Meanwhile, the current annual Federal Government investment in solar-energy tax credits and research programs is less than $100 million. Solar power kept working when the grid went down. What is wrong with this picture? GLENN HAMER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION Washington

Taking Teachers from the Poor

Joe Klein masterfully laid out the explanation of why the worthwhile Teach for America organization was defunded by the Federal Government's AmeriCorps program [IN THE ARENA, Aug. 25]. Limited resources plague even the richest nation in the world. When we insist on funding items like the F-22 Raptor fighter jet and a missile-defense shield with billions upon billions of dollars, we crowd out money for valuable things like education and social programs. President Eisenhower, a five-star general, warned us to increase our scrutiny of defense spending. Nonetheless, we find ourselves with a $400 billion defense budget. Neither Klein nor the rest of us should look past the Pentagon when seeking the answer to who killed Teach for America. FRANCIS X. STONE Boston

My daughter is a Teach For America teacher, so you can imagine my concern when I read the headline on Klein's article "Who Killed Teach for America?" Teach for America is not dead. It is the scholarship funds provided by the Federal Government that have been killed, not the program. BILL ZESSAR Bettendorf, Iowa

Rich conservative republicans send their children to private schools and don't care if poor children are taught to read, write and think. These kids have little opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty. President Bush has to take a lot of the blame for the failure to fund Teach for America. This "compassionate Conservative" talks about quality education, but will not act to improve U.S. schools. "Leave no child behind" is a catchy phrase, but it doesn't help ensure a quality teacher in every classroom. ALLAN BOEHNE Monterey, Calif.

Our government will not give teach for America $14.7 million but spends a billion dollars a week on Iraq? This is barbaric insanity! We need to change our priorities and spend a hundred million dollars to teach our children the skills to be diplomats, not warriors. DAVID BREEDEN Charlottesville, Va.

Political Necessities

Garrison Keillor spoke for many of us rational individuals in his description of Jesse Ventura's governorship of Minnesota [ESSAY, Aug. 25]. Keillor referred to Arnold Schwarzenegger's candidacy for California Governor and noted that Minnesotans "invented the action-hero Governor." Education and experience are the substantive ingredients necessary for any successful career, including one in politics. Star power and money should not be the determining factors. Are you listening, California? ALEXANDER G. KAPOCIUS Orland Park, Ill.

Keillor described people in public life as "well-mannered and respectful." Well-mannered and respectful politicians? Hardly. Sarcasm and ridicule are the manners most often employed. In fact, Keillor's Essay is little more than disdain and hardly an example of civility and good breeding. There's nothing factual in his piece, only ambiguous allegations of how "all" Minnesotans feel about former Governor Ventura. BRIAN TRACEY Fort Wayne, Ind.

Hey, Garrison, speak for yourself. Ventura was elected by the people. He was a welcome change from "politics as usual." Maybe Arnold is just what California needs. JOHN HURLA Park Rapids, Minn.

Dear Garrison, please move to California and run for Governor. You can stay at my house until you get settled. NICK MIZE Moorpark, Calif.

Fast-Food Tax?

Re your report on obesity in children [HEALTH, Aug. 25]: Tobacco and alcoholic beverages are unhealthy and unnecessary. Society has chosen to impose taxes on them in proportion to the problems they cause. Why not a tax on junk food? The resulting income could fund medical research, provide health insurance for children from low-income families and build gyms at elementary schools. Of course, legislators would have to resist lobbyists willing to sweeten campaign funds with some plump gifts, but maybe, for the health of America, it's time to cut the fat. DONNA KEISER Corpus Christi, Texas

Gumshoe Diplomacy

The arrest of the alleged terrorist mastermind Hambali by Thai police [WORLD, Aug. 25] demonstrates that police work in Pakistan, Yemen and now Thailand can result in the capture of terrorist bigwigs. It's hard to avoid the thought that the Bush Administration's preferred policy of war is largely show business. Police investigations are dull, while war is flashy. And politicians are eager to show they're doing something, not just sitting around. PAUL KUNINO LYNCH Katoomba, Australia

Standing Tall

I was appalled by the Food and Drug Administration's decision to allow the use of human growth hormone to boost the height of children [YOUR TIME, Aug. 25]. It sends the message that short is bad and exemplifies social Darwinism, putting those who are short and poor into a subclass from which they will never escape. The wealthy will always be able to afford medical and cosmetic treatments that the poor cannot even dream of. CRAIG L. COWING Blooming Grove, N.Y.

Being short is not a burden but a blessing. As someone who is never going to hit the 5-ft. mark, I am proud of my shortness. Everyone has a quirk; mine is being 5 in. shorter than the average female. But who wants to be average? Celebrate your shortness! DAWN KLING Lititz, Pa.

Serious Comics

In his article about the popularity of graphic novels and the serious topics they explore [BOOKS, Aug. 25], writer Lev Grossman showed an incredible lack of respect for comic-book writers and artists. His comment that graphic novels are underestimated because they "look just like their less evolved forebears, comic books" was insulting. Comic books, even the ones about superheroes, deserve far more respect. And they can be just as visually creative and well written as the rather pretentious "adult" graphic novels described in his report. MICHAEL W. LIMBERG Burbank, Calif.