In honor of our veterans who valiantly give their lives while fighting against tyranny in Iraq, I propose that all American citizens pay tribute by taking 24 hours on Memorial Day and giving our automobiles a well-deserved rest. Everyone stay home. Neighborhoods and communities could celebrate with home cookouts and parades and block parties. Avoid buying fuel on Memorial Day. If we as a nation can threaten to reduce our fuel consumption, we may be able to change the supply-and-demand equation of gasoline and reduce the price.

Terry Bell Alexandria

Clooney will vote Hollywood agenda

The comments by Marcus Carey, chairman of the Republican Party of Northern Kentucky, were right on target regarding George Clooney. George, if your father is his own man, why do you need to tell the voters that? With more than 40 percent of his campaign funds contributed by radical Hollywood liberals, how can he be his own man? Hollywood liberals are buying a congressman. If elected, Clooney will vote the Hollywood agenda - bigger government, more gun control, higher taxes, more regulation and more liberal judges.

Maurice Smith Florence

Smitherman stands up for good cause

Regarding the letter "Smitherman proving to be a disappointment" (April 21): The way I see it, Cincinnati City Councilman Christopher Smitherman is trying to create a level playing field for all citizens. If police get a "three strikes and you're out" policy for using racial slurs, so should ordinary citizens who speak before council. I'm a middle-aged, Italian-American, white gay male, and I praise the councilman for standing up for all citizens, including minorities.

Sure, I don't like hearing a select few hurl profanities in council chambers, but I also detest law enforcement doing it too and getting away with it. Smitherman is merely pointing out that if the police have special rights, so should everyone else. If people would come out of their comfort zones and really listen to what Smitherman has to say, maybe they will get it also. Keep up the great work, Councilman.

Victor P. Fabro East Price Hill

Paper voting trail needed for recounts

The Enquirer editorial "Paper receipts make for risky voting" (April 11) stated that the new voting machines for Hamilton County - Texas-based Hart InterCivic - were used successfully in Orange County, Calif., March 2, and that paper trails would be too risky and costly.

However, according to the Los Angeles Times, Orange County had some precincts reporting voter turnouts of more than 100 percent March 2. The chairman of Hart InterCivic, David Hart, said it was impossible to identify which votes were cast incorrectly. Why? There was no paper trail. A recent Republican Ohio Senate primary winner was reversed. How? There was a paper trail recount.

Why would anything that improves the accuracy of the most important aspect of democracy, our vote, be too risky or costly?

Ted Benedetto Amelia

Publish names of those owing support

Just an idea in response to the article "County: Pay up, or walk" (April 17). Why doesn't the county publish the names of the deadbeat parents in the newspaper every six months? They could also set up a Web page for people to anonymously give information or a new address on these individuals. It would also provide information to employers who may not know an employee is wanted for delinquent child support. And please, don't try and tell me such an idea would violate the civil rights of these deadbeats. They forfeit any rights when they don't support the children they bring into this world. The only right of concern here is the right of the child to obtain proper food, clothing, shelter and an education.

Susan Elfers Reading

Anti-offshoring bill could boomerang

A bill has recently been introduced in Ohio that would prohibit awarding state work to companies who would perform any part of that work outside the United States. This is a very bad idea for several reasons, but I'll just mention two:

• It would increase the cost of services to the state and, of course, to Ohio taxpayers. Our representatives in Columbus should be held accountable for buying high-quality goods and services at the lowest prices available.

• It sets a dangerous precedent for more government meddling in business. If our companies can't buy labor offshore, next it will be parts, and who knows what after that. This would be the beginning of a hazardous slippery slope.

Chuck Giesler Blue Ash