Letters to the editor: Workers' tough realities

Letter to the Editor

Workers' tough realities

Regarding "Spoiled Americans" (Your Views, Jan. 22): I take exception to Art Lewis' letter. I work part-time at a job that some believe is beneath them: driving cars for a rental car agency. With me are mostly seniors who work hard every day for a little over minimum wage. So I know there are Americans who would rather work than collect a welfare check.

I also work with Generation Xers who were promised the world but given little. They're on the bottom but more than willing to work their way up to management despite what they're assigned to do.

Contrary to what Lewis says, Americans aren't spoiled; they know when a job offers them no future and no benefits, and poor working conditions such as having to slave away in a field for 10 hours a day under the hot Florida sun. Until that changes, Lewis isn't going to see anyone other than immigrants picking crops.

Edyth L. McNair

Brandon

It's theft — period

Regarding "The Internet strikes back" (Our Views, Jan. 21): Your editorial about intellectual property minimizes the value of artistic and intellectual expression. Just because intellectual property can be easily duplicated does not mean it is OK. Perhaps the proposed laws are not good legislation. However, our culture has gotten used to having easy access to songs, movies, books, newspapers, etc.

I suggest the following exercise. I have substituted "concerts" for "songs" in one paragraph of your editorial. I hope you understand how ridiculous your idea sounds when referring to an event rather than intangible information:

"A teenager who illegally sneaks into 100 concerts isn't depriving the music industry of $9,900, even if the concerts are available legally on Amazon.com for $99 each. This teen was never going to buy anywhere near that many concert tickets."

Please don't write this off as an apples-to-oranges comparison. Someone had to create a product (concert, song, mortgage, gas) and is entitled to protect their property. I doubt the Tribune would appreciate the copying of its content without being paid its due. Has it occurred to you that if online piracy didn't occur, movie ticket prices and concert tickets may cost less? When theft occurs at a grocery store, we all pay more in higher prices. Illegal downloading is theft!

Shawn Ryan

Tampa

Whose choice is it?

Regarding "The mental effects of abortion" (Other Views, Jan. 23): I agree with the writer that women suffer from increased risk of mental health problems after going through with an abortion. Has the writer ever considered that the depression, anxiety and tendency for substance abuse does not stem from the choice the woman made but simply from the guilt, shame and remorse that such organizations like hers imposed on the individual? Does pro-choice truly mean pro-choice? Is society as a whole willing and able to accept each woman's choice — even if the choice was hers alone and not what religious or pro-life organizations would support? Who truly makes the choice in pro-choice?

Millie Landry

New Port Richey