Increasingly visible

Adam Smith wrote in 1776 that the best allocation of resources is through price-the "invisible hand" of the market. The impact of the "invisible" (and costly) environmental rules described by Bob Jones becomes more visible every day, especially in California ("The rising cost of environmentalism," May 26). Yet some seek to blame President Bush with a crescendo of pleas for price controls that are carefully orchestrated by the highly paid, Clinton-era spinmeister, Mark Fabiani, who is heading Gov. Gray Davis's media campaign. Hopefully, an increasingly impatient, power short, and outraged public will view with skepticism this effort to shift blame for the state's energy woes, especially given Mr. Fabiani's experience in blaming the "vast right-wing conspiracy" for Mr. Clinton's problems. - Russell Miller, Greenville, S.C.

Protect human health

Your analysis of the economic cost of environmental regulations leaves out an important component of the issue. Although environmental regulations ultimately produce higher energy prices, they are enacted to protect human health. Air and water quality suffer when industrial polluters have no incentive to reduce emissions. - John Ausema, Newark, Del.

Incentive to save

People are crying about high fuel prices, but this is the healthiest thing we've encountered for some time. Higher prices provide an effective incentive to conserve. - Jennie Kessler, Benton, Kan.

Either or

There are many causes for the current power crisis besides environmental regulations. For example, California botched their power situation by timidly semi-deregulating the power industry. California, as well as the rest of us, may experience power shortfalls and more expensive power in the future because of an addiction to cheap energy coupled with an unwillingness to allow huge power plants in our backyard. We can't have it both ways. - Joe Schieffelin, Wheatridge, Colo.

Met her match

Many thanks for Mr. Plowman's even-handed report on the latest attack by liberal Episcopal bishops to vilify or silence, and then dispose of, conservative Episcopal laity and clergy ("Liberal intolerance," May 26). As a retired Episcopal archdeacon and a friend of Fr. Samuel Edwards, I can say with confidence that Suffragan Bishop Dixon has met her match and then some in Fr. Edwards, whose reputation as a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ and faithful priest ought to be unquestioned. - Donald Seeks, Fresno, Calif.

Literacy valued

"Wasted dollars, wasted lives" in the May 26 issue, regarding illiteracy in America, is a keeper. I am a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators and teach literacy in African languages in a Muslim community on the south side of the Sahara Desert in Cameroon. Massive amounts of federal spending are not needed to teach literacy in communities. I've had classes of half blind old women go directly from writing on the inside of cement sacks with a piece of charcoal to reading and understanding Scripture in their language. Although government schooling is available, these parents prefer a community school and fund a local teacher to teach all their children to read the Koran in the original Arabic. To an outsider, these parents appear desperately poor, but they value literacy enough to find a way. - Marian Hungerford, Milwaukie, Ore.

Incinerating infants

I have read stories in WORLD about how tiny inroads are being made in the United States for the cause of life ("Holding the line," "Change of heart," May 26). It's good to see some progress here in England, where I am stationed for military duty, as well. According to a recent story in London's Daily Telegraph, the Royal College of Nursing is recommending that women who have abortions or miscarriages be allowed to bury or cremate the unborn baby at the government's expense. Can you imagine the uproar in the States for a similar proposal? The RCN claims that 500,000 fetuses per year (mainly from abortions) are simply incinerated along with other clinical waste. The RCN declined to comment on whether their proposal implies that a fetus is a child, but it points out how parents grieve after the loss of a child-even an aborted one. - Steve Shuster, Lulworth Camp, England

Press on

The May 26 Faces really caught my attention, in particular the item about an amazing girl who did something about a problem the adults haven't yet solved, gory video games in public lobbies. Danielle Shimotakahara is an encouragement to me to press on with doing right. - Heidi Wahl, 17, Cut Bank, Mont.

Rather not

Regarding CBS News personality Dan Rather's quote that he believes "you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things": Is his political bias showing or does he really believe that? (Quotables, May 26). One Webster's definition of honest is "never taking advantage of the trust of others." CBS would like us to trust Mr. Rather with the nightly news. I'd rather not. - John Walker, Island Falls, Maine

Change needed

I wholeheartedly agree with "Geese and ganders" (May 26). "What goes on in Washington every day of every week" is exactly what needs to change so desperately. Unfortunately, when those who are the leaders of my party choose not to run their personal and political lives with the integrity I expect them to, I become very disappointed, frustrated, and sometimes even pessimistic. - Rob Eby, Olathe, Kan.

Can't buy me attention

Tom DeLay's fundraising method sounds more like the logical extension of the "survey" scam Republicans used extensively prior to the last election, rather than the Clintons' selling-of-the-White House technique. I was offended and irritated by the insincerity of the survey, in which questions just short of push polling were followed by a fundraising appeal. - Bonner Smith, Rockford, Tenn.

Hello?

Why is WORLD so shocked at Tom DeLay's fundraising activities? Hello? This is American politics. - Daniel J. Drazen, Berrien Springs, Mich.

Educator to be

Thank you for your magazine. It has been wonderful for informing me of world events from a Christian perspective. Most of all, I have enjoyed your views on education. I will graduate in a year with a degree in elementary education and often find my university classes very secular. Your articles are very refreshing and help me balance what I am learning in class. - Jessica Schnepper, Clinton Twp., Mich.

No balance

I found "Daze of diversity" to be shocking but not surprising (May 26). It should be evident to any cultural observer that soon this sort of thing will typify every public school. What is most disturbing to me is that some conservative parents are only seeking "balance" on these topics. How can a parent tolerate any of this kind of subterfuge? Do they really intend to offer both sides up as "options" for their children? Christian parents must wake up and realize that the stakes are too high to risk their children any longer in the failed social experiment of government schools. - Scott Nedderman, Monroe, Conn.

It's nothing new

Thank you for a great job on "Daze of diversity." Earlier this month I was substitute teaching at Windsor High School, in the same California county as Santa Rosa High, mentioned in your story. One student informed me that, according to his government teacher, communism is the best kind of government, animals have more rights than people, we must not cut down any more trees, and we must stop drilling for oil. It showed me how much indoctrination students are already receiving before they ever encounter programs like "Days of Diversity." Perhaps that explains why the students and teachers at Santa Rosa High are so accepting of presentations like those at "Days of Diversity." They have all heard it before. - Orlean Koehle, Santa Rosa, Calif.

True faith

Andree Seu's column struck a chord with me ("Love and chocolate," May 26). I, too, have been without my spouse for two and a half years. It is easy to trust when things go well, but true faith is seen for what it is in the hard times. - Herman J. Klingenberger, Rochester, N.Y.

Log in our own eye ...

To kick the United States out of the UN Human Rights Commission was ridiculous ("Bad company," May 19). But while we Americans nurse our hurt pride, let us not forget that we who consider ourselves the human-rights leader of the world still kill hundreds of thousands of our own, unborn children every year. - Elizabeth Henderson, Pensacola, Fla.