Letters to the editor for Tuesday, Aug. 21

THE GLASS CEILING LIVES

Pay equity is elusive

Through its Aug. 13 article "Young women are winning battle of the pay gap," the Star Tribune fuels the popular myth that women have "made it" economically and sets up a win-lose gender pay battle.

We're thrilled that college-educated women in their twenties in urban markets -- Minneapolis is one of them -- are achieving pay equity with men or better.

But the larger reality is much different. Because while the young woman interviewed doesn't see the glass ceiling, that ceiling continues to shortchange the leadership and economic potential of women.

According to the American Association of University Women's national report, "Behind the Pay Gap," at one year out of college, women working full time earn 80 percent as much as their male colleagues earn. And 10 years after graduation, the number drops to 69 percent.

We are pleased that the article upheld young women's big dreams and optimism. We hold those, too. We, too, want women -- and men -- to have it all. We're certainly on the road to equality, but we are not there yet.

LEE ROPER-BATKER, MINNEAPOLIS;

CEO/PRESIDENT,

WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA

ST. PAUL'S BUDGET

Time for real leadership

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has the wrong idea of what leadership means. He follows the same old tired script that calls for an inner-city Democrat to throw sand at suburban Republicans, then demand money.

Leadership is writing your own script. For example, Coleman should look at giving up power to the state in exchange for local government aid. For instance, both the state Department of Human Rights and the attorney general's office handle human-rights complaints. By allowing the state to handle complaints, the city could save money. But to do so would require the mayor not to pander to certain racial groups.

Leadership would be allowing for greater control of plowing services by Ramsey County. However, that would mean challenging the public-employees union that helped finance Coleman's campaign.

JIM FARRELL, MAPLEWOOD

ROVE RESIGNS

A medal in his future?

Karl Rove's departure from the White House left me pondering his qualifications for a Medal of Freedom. The president has already awarded our nation's highest civilian honor to the intelligence chief whose prewar intelligence was proven false and to Iraq's first civil administrator, who got our efforts at "winning the peace" off on the wrong foot.

It would seem that Rove's role in the Valerie Plame leak and the firing of federal prosecutors would qualify him well.

However, Rove lacks one thing those others had: incompetence. He was very good at his job, which seems to have been to drive wedges through our electoral landscape so deep as to have made it ungovernable.

DAN SMITH, ST. PAUL

CAPKA'S PAST

Peters backs him

I was very disappointed with the Star Tribune's recent article about Rick Capka, the U.S. Department of Transportation's federal highway administrator and my point person on the ground to help the people of Minneapolis rebuild the Interstate 35W bridge ("Official who will oversee work was let go in Boston," Aug. 14).

Throughout his 36-year career of public service, Rick has demonstrated the ability to provide clear, steady leadership during emergency responses. His record, including his tenure at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, was thoroughly examined during the process leading to his unanimous confirmation by the Senate as federal highway administrator.

He has my full confidence and has proven himself time and again by providing results.

MARY E. PETERS, WASHINGTON;

SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Kersten on the bridge

A blame-game pro

Katherine Kersten can dress it up and put a bow on it all she wants, but does anyone really think we would be hearing this "can't we all just get along" rhetoric if a Democrat were the governor ("Bridge collapse ought to unite us, not divide us," Aug. 20)? If I have gotten anything out of Kersten's past columns, it's that she has absolutely no problem pointing the blame finger at a liberal or anyone who does not share her ultraconservative views.

Maybe Minnesota needs finger-pointing right now. How are those in power going to learn that our safety is more important than saving tax dollars?

ROBYN KIM, BURNSVILLE

Pay now or pay later

In her Aug. 20 column, Katherine Kersten laments that some folks are politicizing the I-35W bridge collapse by casting blame. Not surprisingly, the blameworthy often take just such a position.

She also points out that a majority of Americans do not favor an increase in taxes to foot the $188 billion bill for repairing the 70,000 deficient bridges in this country.

Americans are fast learners. We have learned that our elected representatives are willing to go to irresponsible extremes -- such as massive deficit spending, cuts in essential services and tragically deferred infrastructure maintenance -- in order to keep taxes for the current crop of voters low.

But make no mistake -- one way or another, future generations will pay for our current and continuing irresponsibility, either by obeying the laws of economics or the laws of gravity.

JOHN ROACH, MINNEAPOLIS

THE VALUE OF LIGHT RAIL

Roads generate revenue

In opposition to light-rail skeptics for the planned new bridge, an Aug. 17 letter writer states that "none of the highways in Minnesota generate any revenue, either."

Wow! Basic economics should be an requirement in this country before you are allowed to vote!

How does he think his groceries got to his neighborhood supermarket? How did his home get there? His refrigerator? His sofa and bed? His shampoo and deodorant? His plumber? His bicycle?

Not by light rail!

MIKE DECAMP, PLYMOUTH