I couldn't agree more with the statement. But I think the kids should have had the entire day off as well as the day of the Steelers' parade! It's time we back off on our children since they are only children; they have enough pressure placed on them by some adults, and after 12th grade, they will have another 70 or 80 years to be serious on their own.

Childhood is about learning, and children need to learn how to have fun, too, and how to celebrate great achievements in all areas of life. Life is not all work, work, work, and if this town gets a few days this year to join together and celebrate, why be a Scrooge and cheat the kids out of this great chance to learn how a community can have a great time celebrating together? Maybe it's time some parents grow up and see the forest through the trees!

By the way, my kid is only an honor roll student, but he is one of those rare kids who enjoys school because we don't ram it down his throat.

JOHN T. STRAHSMEIER

Franklin Park

Appalling revelry

I don't understand why the celebration of a historic Steelers win results in the destruction of so much property ("Penalty Flags May Be Ahead for Revelers in Oakland," Feb. 3). Setting fires, throwing bottles at police officers, breaking windows, uprooting trees ... how is this celebrating?

As a Pitt alum and a current graduate student, I am appalled at the actions of so many of my fellow students. As an Oakland resident, I am afraid what March Madness could bring to the neighborhood. As an adult, I want there to be consequences for the individuals responsible.

KATE MAURIN

Oakland

Thanks to Obama?

Way to go, Steelers! Not so way to go, Dan Rooney.

His acceptance speech when receiving the Lombardi Trophy included thanking President Barack Obama!

In the history of the 42 Super Bowls prior, has anyone ever thanked the president? For what? For making the Steelers his No. 2 team after the Bears?

The Steeler Nation deserved more thanks for filling the stadium 80 percent Black and Gold! And Mr. Rooney never even bothered to mention the Steelers' valiant opponents, the Arizona Cardinals (neither did head coach Mike Tomlin).

Is Mr. Rooney lobbying for a position in the Obama administration or what?

BRIAN DAY

Canonsburg

We've been had

After a mere two weeks in office and several questionable strokes of his pen, Barack Obama has created such a lack of confidence in this country -- it is unprecedented! He has broken all promises of a "new ethical tone" in Washington. Tax evaders, lobbyists, liars are the norm for this administration. This man has shown his true colors very early on.

He is an orator only and nothing more than an empty suit. He has pulled the ultimate scam on the American people in the country he professes to love. Perhaps now the little guy who is harassed for honest mistakes on tax returns can cite the Geithner-Daschle-Rangel rule to avoid having all possessions taken away and being thrown into prison. Perhaps they could even be given a Cabinet position for their "mistakes."

Mr. Obama has already proved to us that there is no help for the middle class. Not in his administration. He has taken his Chicago politics to the entire nation, and God help us now!

ALEXANDRIA DUBART

Harmar

Fiscal insanity

According to The New York Times (Jan. 29), "Despite crippling losses, multibillion-dollar bailouts ... employees at financial companies in New York, the now-diminished world capital of capital, collected an estimated $18.4 billion in bonuses for the year. That was the sixth-largest haul on record, according to a report released Wednesday by the New York State comptroller."

The article goes on to state that it's not clear whether the banks had used taxpayer money for these bonuses.

This is insane. While millions of Americans are losing their jobs and their homes and looking toward a bleak economic future, their tax dollars appear to be part of billions of dollars in bonuses for the very people responsible, in part, for the faltering economy in which they find themselves.

Until there are crystal-clear restrictions on how this bailout money is spent and genuine accountability on behalf of the benefactors, it is unconscionable that our government continue doling out huge sums at the expense of the taxpayers.

GREG REMPEL

Crafton

Disrespectful plan

Many of us vividly remember the TV images of the looting rampages that occurred across Iraq after its liberation by U.S. soldiers in 2003. The looters stole copper wire, furniture, electronic items, just about anything of value.

On Jan. 28, 2009, we witnessed the looting of American taxpayers when 244 House Democrats passed the President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi-inspired $819 billion stimulus plan ("House Passes Obama Stimulus," Jan. 29). For now, I'll let the psychoanalysts determine the correlation between these two events.

However, I do know that the stimulus plan is mislabeled -- it should be called the perpetual government spending machine. The plan creates 32 new government programs that will cost $132 billion -- then metastasize. After interest payments, the overall cost will balloon to $1.2 trillion.

Even Harvard University professor Martin Feldstein, who was praised by Team Obama during the campaign, has denounced the plan as being wasteful and misguided. If Mr. Obama wants to avoid a travesty, he should shutter his hard-left 1930s economic ideology and accept a legitimate bipartisan plan that respects the taxpayers and private-sector elements of this country.

ROBERT GRIGAS

Murrysville

Work is the key

In regard to your coverage of the House Republicans' total nonsupport of the economic stimulus package: Sadly, the Republicans saw "pork" in the stimulus package while millions of Americans are starving for work.

Their principles for small government don't seem to put anyone back to work. Now I can say I see why soup lines will be longer.

BOB RICK

Penn Hills