Give gifts to those in need

The Christmas season is here again, with its abundance of great joy -- and wasteful spending. The amount spent on presents in this country alone would end world hunger.

This year, why not save the life of an impoverished child in Haiti, Africa or elsewhere, instead of giving someone a present they don't even need.

-- Norman C. Granvold, Stoughton, chairman, Operation End World Hunger

If there has ever been compelling evidence that one can never place complete faith in the police or their supporting infrastructure to prevent violent crime, it is the double tragedy of Brittany Zimmermann's death combined with the violation of public trust by District Attorney Brian Blanchard, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Police Chief Noble Wray in their attempt to keep the failure from public scrutiny.

What was Falk's response to the dispatcher's undistracted failure? Hire more dispatchers at public expense. And the excuse that the tape contained evidence -- was it really just protection of evidence? Or does this show the lengths politicians and bureaucrats will go to in order to preserve their jobs?

This terrible death proves two things:

When seconds count, the police are only minutes away (48 to be exact).

A gun in the hand is better than a dispatcher on the phone.

Bravo, State Journal, for serving the public.

-- Christopher Cervantes, Verona

Oates right about Pack's wrong choice

State Journal sports writer Tom Oates tells it like it is. Finally, a local sports writer challenges the Packer party line.

The Packers made the wrong play by choosing a good college quarterback over a great pro quarterback, Brett Favre. Particularly odious is the ongoing sliming of Favre by the Packer organization and its loyal Favre haters.

I've had a great fall, from sitting in the Newark airport with a "home crowd," watching Favre throw a record six touchdown passes in a victory against Arizona, to the recent pasting of Tennessee.

Meanwhile, the Packers struggle for a .500 season in a division that is mediocre at best.

The only downside is the civil war that has broken out in our home. I like Favre. My oldest son likes Aaron Rodgers. And my youngest son tries to play peacemaker.

The only thing certain at this point is that they are happy in Miami, happy in New Jersey and whining in Green Bay. Enjoy the season, Favre haters -- there's always next year.

-- Dennis McGilligan, Madison

Limit retirement fund to increase spending

A tax increase is usually painful. But if the federal government would reduce the maximum contribution to retirement funds by half, the taxpayers would have more money in their pockets.

The reduction could be applied to 2008 so the retirement funds would refund the overpayment to taxpayers, thus stimulating the economy and collecting more taxes at both the state and federal levels. In 2009 taxpayers would see a larger paycheck as the contribution to retirement would be lower.

At some time in the future, there could be a provision for catching up on those contributions.

-- Steven Wearne, Rio

Don't add more tax on funerals, hospitals

What is Gov. Jim Doyle thinking about when he suggests taxing hospitals and funerals more? Does he know about, or have any statistics on, the charitable services hospitals administer?

Why, when someone dies, does he want to charge more taxes? He even wants to worm more money out of the dead.

Is this what you call compassion -- or greed?

-- Sally Dreher, Madison

Getting harder to buy American goods

I had a rude awakening while Christmas shopping -- I couldn't find anything made in America. Could this be a contributing factor to the shaky economy here in our country?

I couldn't even find a toy for my "grand-dog" that was made in America, no matter which pet store I went to. It's no wonder our plants are closing and so many are out of work.

The last straw was at my grocery store, where cartons with "imported from China" were stacked up in the canned goods aisle. I have nothing against our foreign neighbors, but whatever happened to buying merchandise made locally?

It's time to get back to buying American. Charity begins at home.

-- Shirley J. Perlick, Lodi

Employee ownership is best way to go

Our American system has worked very well and has been adaptable to diverse and extreme conditions for over 200 years.

Sadly, while we promote democracy around the world, most of our own top companies are run in a feudal manner with a handful of upper management and CEO "royalty" getting the lion's share of pay, perks and benefits. Often inept in their jobs, with their own greed as motivation, they are nevertheless last to go, and never to suffer.

When their companies fold, they leave the majority of workers and retirees in the exhaust of their private jets, out of work and money after years of loyal service.

America has to break this upper crust if we are going to get things back in order. If we are going to bail out businesses, then we should let the employees own and operate them, voting on their destiny, their leaders and their leaders' compensation.

It would be in every employee's interests to make the company profitable, and all employees -- from the janitor to the manager -- should get an equal vote on issues.

After all, this model, based on our own governmental system, has operated well since we threw off the yoke of royalty so many years ago.

-- James Kostohrys, Mineral Point

Schools: Do more to defeat racism

Our country has elected its first African-American president. How is it that, while the country as a whole is seemingly more tolerant, some of Madison's youth still are not?

Being among other young people I hear the racial slurs and jokes directed at every race. I've also read about the racially motivated brawl at Memorial High School and spoken to Madison students about their involvement in and exposure to racial tensions. I don't like what I'm hearing.

It's not enough to clean up after a fight like the one at Memorial or to hire more security personnel. It's also not enough to simply throw the word "diversity" into the curriculum.

Teachers and students alike need to stand up and lead by example. Students need to dispute the unkind words of their peers, and teachers need to be more aware of the low standards they set for students when they don't consistently correct students' derogatory racial comments.

Madison schools should be more proactive in controlling and preventing racism in youth. Only when this is accomplished will we see more tolerance of diversity.

-- Melanie Williams, McFarland

Bravo on green planning in Madison

Finally a proactive response is on the table for Madison residents. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is initiating green ideas from Germany and applying them in future neighborhoods on the Northeast Side.

The plans are meant to bring about much needed efficiency in Madison living, such as reductions in vehicle trips, energy and water conservation, rain gardens, green roofs and more.

At a time when finding money in the budget for new projects is difficult, our leaders recognize that we must prioritize smart growth. These new plans will produce long-term benefits, with energy and water savings, reduced fees for road upkeep, cleaner ground water and reduced carbon emissions from vehicles.

As a Madison resident, I applaud the efforts to plan my city's growth responsibly.

-- Shaina Kilcoyne, Madison