Big Three not equally bad

Cars built by U.S. car makers are not comparable. It's a mistake to lump them all together into one category.

It's reported that late model Fords, Mercury and Lincoln cars lead the domestics in reliability and are now on par with those built by Japanese companies.

General Motors cars are a mixed bag, with one in four still well below average reliability. And Chrysler trails the other two domestic carmakers with almost two-thirds of its autos rated below average reliability.

-- Walt Hannan, Livingston

Regarding Wednesday's editorial, "Give what you can despite economy," I thank the State Journal for underscoring how important philanthropy is at this challenging time in our nation's history.

I work for the nonprofit Child Development Inc., which provides services to an average of 300 to 400 children per month at its two preschools and drop-in center at the Dane County Job Center.

All of us at CDI can attest to the positive, direct impact donors have on the lives of the children and families who depend on CDI for education and care.

Our donors are vital partners in our work. This partnership benefits not just the organization, but our neighborhoods, our city and our state.

As a piece in the Nov. 14 New York Times suggests, it benefits donors as well. In the article, columnist M. P. Dunleavey writes "The times are such that even a $50 or $100 gift can seem like too much, when measured against one's own anxiety." Yet, Dunleavey continues "I am anxious, but I find that whenever I manage to give anything at all, I feel a lot better."

The times are such when every opportunity to feel better is a precious one. Thanks again for encouraging Wisconsinites' generosity when it's most needed.

-- Anna Purnell, Madison, development director, Child Development Inc.

Young's mass transit ideas resonate today

Dane County has lost an icon of progressive thought and ideas with the death of Rebecca Young.

I served with Becky on the Dane County Board in the 1970s. She was an articulate and courageous spokeswoman for progressive causes. Her arguments in support of her positions were always grounded in sound, persuasive logic.

One of her most passionate causes was mass transit. She advocated policies encouraging alternatives to the private automobile for decades. She was a pioneer in starting a regional approach to transportation in our county and later statewide through her service in state government.

If our country had followed her ideas then, I doubt that we would be in the deep energy crisis we face today.

-- Bill Lunney, Madison

Better uses exist for campaign funds

I'd like to know the cost of the recent presidential election, the amount spent by each main candidate. Then I'd like to know how many children could by covered with insurance using the amount the candidates spent.

The presidential campaign process should have a time limit of six to eight months -- no more. Our forefathers would have frowned on this year's mess.

The Senate and Congress should also have term limits the same as the president -- two, four-year terms are enough. But I doubt that will ever happen.

-- Marion G. Arthur, Platteville

Select justice based on legitimate reasons

While it's naive to think that special interest partisanship didn't play a role in Wisconsin judicial campaigns and elections until recently, such partisanship was historically well managed and subtle. It did not rise to the ugly, divisive and mean-spirited level it now does.

This change for the worse comes to us courtesy of the politically conservative, right-wing interests and the money behind them. They ignore, change or dismiss facts and substitute their own version of reality, trying to shove it down the throats of voters by spending huge sums on advertising campaigns.

The last several Supreme Court races have featured candidates backed by these pro-corporate interest groups, not for their knowledge of the law and experience, but because they fit the desired mold.

The judge running against state Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has no appellate court judicial experience, and his campaign is being "managed" by Darrin Schmitz. If it's anything like the one Schmitz ran against Justice Louis Butler, one can only imagine the level of smarminess to which it will sink.

Justice Abrahamson is one of the most respected jurists in the country. This campaign should focus exclusively on the candidates' experience, abilities and knowledge of the law, not whether they pass some political litmus test.

-- Michael Davis, Fitchburg

Support mayor in wake of IZ demise

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz made the difficult but correct decision not to press for an extension of Madison's Inclusionary Zoning ordinance. There is general agreement that the program has not achieved its purpose of creating hundreds of workforce homes, distributed around the city.

While we disagreed with the mayor on IZ, we appreciated his emphasis on housing issues and concern for workforce housing in Madison. Homeownership, even with the current travails in the market, is still the surest way for families to climb the economic ladder and a positive factor in stabilizing our neighborhoods and schools.

With the downturn in the housing market and the economy, there is more affordable housing in Madison. However, we all understand (and hope) that the market will recover. The mayor is correct to recognize that Madison should be ready with a plan to address the workforce housing situation both now and in the future.

We support his call for the creation of a committee to find new ways to insure a supply of such housing, dispersed throughout the community. He is right in his goals and right to seek a new approach. Our association is prepared to work with the mayor and his committee in this task.

-- Philip H. Salkin, Realtor Association of South Central Wisconsin

Bail out citizens with credit debt ceiling

In this time of economic struggle, instead of looking at people facing foreclosure, automakers or financial institutions, why not help all Americans who have put themselves into credit card debt?

The government could do this by putting an interest percent ceiling on all existing credit card debt. For example, set a 4 percent interest ceiling on all balances as of Dec. 31, with any subsequent charges subject to interest laws as they exist today.

This would allow the average Joes to make a dent in their credit card debt or be free of it in a shorter time. Once the debt is paid, they'll have more disposable income which will help the economy.

Currently the only ones benefiting from the high interest rates are the same financial institutions that got us into this mess, so why shouldn't they help get people back on their feet?

The deadline is short, because the American people need to learn how to budget and exercise self-discipline. They need to understand the government is giving them a second chance by limiting interest on their existing debt. Anyone so unwise as to continue to mount credit card debt will do so knowing they are susceptible to the higher rates they experienced before the freeze. This could apply to small businesses as well.

-- Gary Kriesel, Madison

Punish, don't reward, lies in loan process

In the automobile insurance industry, if an applicant fibs about prior accidents or arrests, that application is "fraud in the inducement" and the insurance company will merely return the premium, in effect denying any and all insurance coverage.

Similarly, if there was exaggeration or fibbing about income level in a home mortgage loan application, the applicant should lose all equity through foreclosure and be prevented from buying that property again after the mortgage loan interest rate has been reduced.

It is a political decision about how much to help truthful others keep their homes.

-- Jon Holtzman, Cambridge

Try moratorium on home foreclosures

Everything is such a mess that it won't get back on track. The way things are going, I don't expect too much.

Things would improve faster by giving those billions of dollars to taxpayers instead of banks, which should have to live with their greedy decisions. By doing that, people would buy and the economy would bounce back. Also try a five-year moratorium on housing foreclosures.

With the bailouts, the government gets bigger and more in debt, so the taxpayers are on the hook for more.

-- E. Mike Rufener, Monticello