State turning blind eye to prison abuses

(PNI) Regarding the first part Sunday of The Arizona Republic's series "Death in the system":

Another article about prison abuse that makes one want to cry in shame.

While most people are indifferent to what happens in prisons because they think everybody is guilty anyway or that they deserve to be there, it is amazing that after being accused by Amnesty International of committing atrocities, the state's prison officials aren't even admitting that there's a problem.

They're just going to build more "supermax" prisons to house people in inhumane conditions.

How we can claim to be a society primarily based on Christian values and let these abuses and injustices continue? Or is it that because they are prisoners, they and their problems are ignorable?

--Michael House, Phoenix

Independents want decent choices

Regarding "Independents are just slow to choose" (Letters, Saturday):

The writer suggests that while R is for Republican, D for Democrat, I is for indecisive. I am an independent not because I am indecisive, but rather so that I have a choice to vote for either a moderate Republican or a moderate Democrat.

Since Ronald Reagan was president, the Republican Party has moved so far right it is left. Most Democrats are still further left than I like.

I want a representative, whether in the state Legislature, the U.S. House or Senate who will work for all, not just the very wealthy, who will represent all constituents and is willing to sit down and talk across the aisle and compromise. Compromise is not a dirty word.

--Patricia Abraham, Mesa

A new secondhand-smoke threat?

Regarding "Medical marijuana is a farce? Get real" (Letters, Thursday):

The criticism of drug companies is valid, but the endorsement of marijuana shows that many do not realize the danger of THC, a chemical compound of cannabis.

There are THC pills available, but they must be generic. Drug companies cannot get profits like their current products yield.

I was shocked during my course work in medicinal chemistry that THC inhibits cell division.

The thought of children or pregnant women being exposed to secondhand pot smoke is chilling.

Licenses for smoking of pot should be given only to people who have found that THC pills are ineffective.

--Donald Olander,

Ahwatukee Foothills

Attacking Bain Capital bad policy

It terrifies me to think that Bain Capital has become the centerpiece of the country's economic policy. It tells me the White House does not have a clue on how to energize an anemic economy and pull out of the sluggish recovery.

It seems like every liberal/progressive is now jumping on the Bain Capital assault bandwagon. The liberal media relish that negativity.

While Bain Capital is one of the world's leading private-investment firms, it is only a fraction of what makes the U.S economy tick.

A private-equity firm is very different from a government-led venture. It does not use taxpayers' money.

President Barack Obama has used taxpayer money to become the "social-venture capitalist" of the day. His social-venture failures -- Solyndra, Evergreen Solar, SpectraWatt and Mountain Plaza, to name a few -- suffered layoffs and plant shutdowns.

Bain Capital does not belong on the national campaign table. Take it off.

--Ray Torres, Scottsdale

Elect candidates who care for state

Regarding Laurie Roberts' column Saturday, "Fellow Arizonans, it's about time we shake the nuts from the tree" (Valley & State):

That was so very well said.

More and more often we are getting comments from out-of-state family and friends wondering what is going on in Arizona and where we find people like this to elect!

People in Arizona, we must find and elect candidates who have as their focus what is good for Arizona and not just on ways to make points with ideological zealots.

The same thing is happening nationally to a large degree, but let's not be the leader in hopeless and useless political combat.

Roberts' column is so right on. Thank you!

--C. and M.J. Howe, Chandler

There's plenty of tobacco outcry

Regarding "Follow tobacco industry's money" (Letters, Friday):

The author cites "443,000 tobacco-related deaths per year" and claims there has been "little public outcry." As a former smoker, I must ask if she is living in a cave?

Tobacco is one of the most heavily taxed "sin" items, done in the name of discouraging use. Advertising has been banned from television, restricted in print and, coming soon, actual packaging with sufferers' aliments printed on the package of cigarettes, which is unprecedented in scope.

Smoking is banned in almost every public place, including restaurants, bars and small businesses.

Lighting up is even banned outside within a certain amount of feet of the doors of buildings. Our children are taught tobacco dangers as soon as they start school.

This all sounds like plenty of public outcry.

While following the money is usually a great way to see where it is going, that has little to do with the public education about the dangers of smoking.

--Chuck Parkhurst, Phoenix

Heat, flip-flops, hiking don't mix

David Letterman has stupid animal tricks; Phoenix has stupid people tricks, like those hiking on one of our many trails in flip-flops with very little water -- and it's only 112 degrees.

--Angie Cole, Phoenix

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