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Re: the Oct. 17 article "39-year McConnell Era at Sahuaro comes to end."

The year was 1981. I was a junior at Sahuaro High School, behind the wheel of a Dodge Aspen station wagon, eagerly anticipating the exciting world of driving, and ready for "behind-the-wheel" training. Sitting in the passenger seat was Mr. McConnell, wearing one of his many hats.

Throughout the weeks that followed, I was taught the rules of the road, as well as strategies to avoid distractions while driving. I can only assume that this was Mr. McConnell's purpose for gently and playfully snapping my wrist with a rubber band as I slowly drove up the road to "A" Mountain.

Dick McConnell touched many lives during his tenure at Sahuaro. I can proudly say I have received only two minor moving violations during my past 27 years of driving. Thanks, Coach.

Re: the Oct. 17 article "39-year McConnell Era at Sahuaro comes to end."

I've had the good fortune of being associated with coach Dick McConnell at both ends of my career — as a player on his junior varsity team at Rincon High School in the early '60s, and for the last 14 years as a volunteer coach in the girls program at Sahuaro High School, where I see and talk to him almost every day.

He is, and always has been, the consummate professional as a coach and the finest of gentlemen as a man. I know he has influenced me in both regards, and I count myself lucky to have played for him, to have learned from him, and to know him. Everyone who has worked with him will miss him, and the basketball community will have a void. No one will replace him, only follow him.

The media have been trumpeting the 22 percent approval rating of the Democrat-led Congress. A casual yet incorrect interpretation would suggest that it is the Democrats who are held in low esteem. This is not true.

In 2006, the American people voted for change. Democrats were given the majority, yet Republicans held onto just enough power to block the changes wanted by the majority of Americans. That's why nothing gets done. That's why Congress' approval rating is 22 percent; Republican obstructionism, most recently evidenced in the unsuccessful override vote of the SCHIP children's health program expansion. The people want it, the Republicans block it.

This is exactly what the Republicans want. By keeping Congressional approval at 22 percent, they can blame it on the Democrats and make President Bush's 31 percent look good. How sad is that?

"Dems do more after leaving office," says the letter writer, a retired foreign service officer (Oct. 19). He points out the various accolades received by Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Al Gore compared with the mundane activities of several Republican presidents and a vice president after they left office.

With very good reason, the writer purposely omitted any mention of their comparative accomplishments while in office.

Re: the Oct. 17 article "All business: Kucinich's wife a straight talker."

Thanks for the good article on Elizabeth Kucinich. I heard her in Green Valley on Oct. 16, and she was impressive; intelligent, thoughtful, she gave full and reasoned responses to all questions. I used to live in Cleveland and know a lot about Dennis Kucinich. It is a shame how the media make it so hard for voters to learn anything about him. Stop focusing on how much money the candidates make. Start comparing their positions on important issues. That would be a real service to the voting public.

There have been several articles recently in the Star concerning Proposition 200. While I agree that the proposition, as written, probably would not stand a court test, we should at least be thankful someone has the courage to once again remind us of two unassailable facts: We live in a desert, and water is a finite resource.

We cannot continue growth at any cost and expect to have a reliable supply of potable water for the next century. This is a situation that needs our politicians to put aside their differences and stop bowing to the growth lobby's every request. At some point in the not-so-distant future, water rationing, prohibition of car washing and routine fines for wasting water will become a severe reality.

If you don't like this potentially flawed proposition, let your representatives know and help write one that works.

Re: the Oct. 16 article "O'odham aiding elderly, but youth needs unmet."

Although I appreciate the Star's investigation into contemporary Tohono O'odham life, I must take exception with the article's light investigation into the status of Tohono O'odham elders. American Indian elders have high rates of poverty and some of the lowest rates of service intervention. Geographic isolation and lack of transportation make many elders at-risk for social isolation.

While the nation is lucky to have a state-of-the-art nursing facility, this facility serves an extremely small slice of the elder population. The article, however, seems to claim "the senior center fixed one of the Tohono O'odham Nation's pressing problems — caring for its elders." This line, coupled with the front-page picture and article headline, provided the impression that elder issues have been fully addressed. Further research and interviews, however, would have provided a much different picture.

I hope the Star will devote a much larger investigation into the situation afflicting American Indian elders in the state of Arizona.

Re: the Oct. 14 column "Social work halls push ideology."

George F. Will questions federal funding to schools of social work because they enforce adherence to the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics. The code advocates social justice and the ability to "understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination." He considers this indoctrination of a particular ideology and considers words like diversity, inclusion, racism and sexism unfit to be part of a curriculum.

I say bring it on. It is unfortunate that more professional codes of ethics do not include this "ideology." What a world this would be if we all advocated for social justice and understood the forms and mechanisms of discrimination. I am proud to be a professional social worker.