Letters: Corporations deserve a say

BOB FINKELSTEIN'S passionate, patriotic plea (

letters, Feb. 10

) for the nation to "vote for democracy" and denounce the Supreme Court decision to give corporate America complete freedom in campaign advertising is truly touching.

It's not hard to guess his politics. Barack Obama's campaign advertising expenditures were a record-setting $750 million, more than double the previous record. And guess where half of that money came from? Yes, unlimited unnamed corporate interests! Much of the other half came from unlimited union contributions and the lawyer lobby.

Corporations, large and small, are responsible for 80 percent of our jobs and contribute a majority of our tax revenues. Why shouldn't they also have an unlimited voice come election time?

Lon Gibson, Philadelphia

Why we waterboard

Patrice Batyski (letters, Feb. 17) wants Dick Cheney prosecuted for war crimes. This will not happen, Patrice. If it was your child's life at stake, would you want to stand on your high horse of "playing by the rules"? There are no rules in war except that when you decide to fight, you fight to win, and you win by destroying the enemy.

Terrorists don't wear uniforms, so the Geneva Conventions don't apply. The difference between me and Patrice is that I regard all Americans as my brothers and sisters. I'd waterboard every time to save the life of every one of them, including Patrice. Stop trying to get revenge on Bush and Cheney and remember that we torture to protect our people, and that means the freedom-loving citizens of the world.

Stuart Caesar, Philadelphia

The Uncultured Bowl

Three hours of boring commercials, off-key singers and a half-time show by a group who are experts at making noise, not music. That's the Super Bowl. American culture, where are you?

Ephraim Levin, Philadelphia

Fix those reading lists

I read Dom Giordano's column on reading, 9, and totally agree. Children might feel differently about reading if they could select what would interest them. Many books picked for them are outdated and boring.

Josephine Zirilli, Philadelphia