In response to Harry DeMaio's "Your voice" column ("Negative purchase dynamics pack punch," June 30), I absolutely couldn't agree more. He certainly hit every one of my buttons. Every "NPD" (negative purchase dynamics) example that he gave I can relate to, including Delta.

I would add that those products that haven't been supersized or taken off the market have been moved to some obscure area of the supermarket. That area is blocked by a small army taking inventory or stocking shelves - or by wet floor signs, mops and buckets.

I think our problem is the fact that we have a bad tendency to think and use logic. It's certainly not a politically correct thing to do these days.

I'll bet that DeMaio, like me, wouldn't need a device to help us remember to take little kids out of a hot car ("Devices can stop parents from forgetting kids in car," June 30).

Clearly, our generation could be profiled as revolutionaries. Mr. DeMaio, I'm sure we'll meet in the special screening area over at the airport.

Patricia Heim, Colerain Township

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Americans in Iraq are heroes

Buck Newsome's letter "Thanks for column supporting war" (July 1) really hit home with us.

Our son, Chris, was in Iraq during the first couple of months of this war with a Marine Corps Force Recon unit, (Special Ops). I've been wondering when someone would come up with what is obvious to me with regard to what is happening in Iraq. Who really does know more about what is going on over there? Is it all of us sitting back here in the comfort of our homes in front of the television? No. It's those brave men and women (heroes all) who are eating dust, sleeping in holes, and always looking back over their shoulders. These are Americans. They are bright, intelligent people, capable of making up their own minds about what is right or wrong. They remain committed to what they believe to be a noble cause.

Stephen Woodward, Batavia

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Iraq, al-Qaida link is real

Regarding the letter "Bush's actions harm troops, veterans" (July 1): How long are we going to have to suffer the shameless lies of the left, especially as regards the Iraq War? Their mantra - no weapons of mass destruction, no al-Qaida links, no discernible terrorist threats - are serious misrepresentations of the truth. Evidence has been found that the Hussein regime was building weapons of mass destruction. Even the Clintons, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Sen. John Kerry believed that in the 1990s. The 9-11 commission has linked al-Qaida to Iraq, although the media refuse to print it. And if anyone believes there are no discernible terrorist threats, just look to Spain.

John Turney, Springdale

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Average citizens feel tax burden

Ohio has added an additional two cents per gallon gas tax. College tuitions throughout the state are increasing between six percent and 10 percent. This should remind the average citizen that federal tax cuts in reality only transfer the responsibility of tax collecting and the only real cuts are in social programs - see educational grants, early start programs, "No Child Left Behind," road repair and construction, etc.

There is no free lunch for those average citizens.

Gerald Schwartz, Amberley Village

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University teachers deserve respect

As a former adjunct instructor at UC, I am appalled at University of Cincinnati's spokesman Greg Hand's audacity to claim an adjunct's workload and involvement with the university is nowhere near the caliber of that of full-time faculty ("Part-time teachers pushing for union," June 29).

Last fall quarter, while teaching four English courses at Raymond Walters College, I endured 50- to 60-hour workweeks, preparing assignments, reading and critiquing essays, and holding classes and office hours. Little rewards were found through unsupportive department heads, outdated computers in a crammed communal office, lousy student attitudes, and a monthly check of $1,060 - before taxes.

UC should pay more attention to helping teachers teach, not research. Research is valuable, yes, and should be rewarded, but shouldn't those who teach be respected with fair wages, benefits, and peace of mind knowing that attending graduate school wasn't a fruitless fluke, and that working another job flipping burgers or serving lattes isn't necessary to scrape by monthly?

Amanda Barton, Clifton