http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fstage.www.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F Editorial and commentary from the Inquirer en-us Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166896&44=18965329&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2Fpa%2F20080515_Recalling_the_artful_pleasures_of_the_mechanical_typewriter__One_writer_s_paean_to_the_platen.html By John H. Kennedy Occasionally, a distinctive racket shatters the peace and quiet in my ivory tower. Oddly, I relish it. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT de9e2fb41dd2f6cdd09ec962d0ac7139 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18965299&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080515_A_to-do_list_for_tax_policymakers.html William G. Gale is vice president and director of the Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution Stimulus checks in taxpayers' mailboxes this year are a bright note in an otherwise unpleasant season. In most Americans' minds, the annual tax-filing ritual raises two questions: Why is it so complicated? And, what's the point of all these incomprehensible rules and exceptions? Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 49a6401254a3d0895e69c5c5dbd01664 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166896&44=18965334&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2Fpa%2F20080515_Let_s_try_harder_with_rehabilitation.html By Leon A. King II Over the years while serving the City of Philadelphia as a deputy city solicitor for civil rights, I represented successfully in many trials, and/or interviewed, hundreds of police officers about the dangers of their jobs. I witnessed firsthand in court the unfair second-guessing of split-second decisions officers made in situations most people would run away from. My most cherished award came from the Fraternal Order of Police for my dedication to law enforcement. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT c68cfa44831c54702400ec24436f91d3 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18965319&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080515_Editorial__Camden_Murders.html The number of homicides in Camden has jumped at an alarming rate: 24 people murdered so far this year - almost three times as many killed in the city during the same period in 2007. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 7e98409ee9d2515a940123645da10b03 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166896&44=18965324&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2Fpa%2F20080515_We_Want_to_Hear_From_You.html Regional Commentary Page The Philadelphia Inquirer 800 River Rd. Conshohocken, PA 19428 For Pennsylvania letters and commentaries: suburbanletters@phillynews.com Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 1e8e0123b8b024b826361b6a52d7fd4d 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18965309&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080515_Editorial__Classroom_Violence.html Last week, the state Department of Education criticized a district report that said Philadelphia schools were unsafe. This week, the department issued its own report. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT bc63da941e03ab9d459bf034b03ab904 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18965314&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080515_Editorial__Wireless_Philadelphia.html In a city where more than half of the households aren't hooked up to the Internet, the demise of Philadelphia's ambitious effort to launch the nation's largest municipal wireless system is all the more disappointing. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT abe1a843e9aacc5f50e1d7202bbb5b08 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18965304&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080515_Letters_to_the_Editor.html Clinton's big winAfter Hillary Clinton trounced Barack Obama in West Virginia, the superdelegates and the Democratic National Committee should wise up and see that she is the only candidate who can beat John McCain ("Clinton wins big in W. Va.," May 14). Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT bb777c0b7a8804b327037dbfc068db7c 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18965294&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080515_Walters_knows_ambition_isn_t_all.html Meghan Daum is a Los Angeles essayist and novelist Barbara Walters' memoir, Audition, in which the legendary TV newswoman admits to a lifetime of chronically low self-esteem, hit bookstores the same day the results of the North Carolina and Indiana primaries made Hillary Clinton's indefatigability look more like Bush-level delusion than admirable perseverance. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT c4d54cb3653a1dc61d072646c745774d 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18965289&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080515_It_s_way_past_time_to_clean_filth_of_some_music_videos_from_TV.html An increasing number of people are fed up with the airing of sexually explicit, violent, degrading, stereotypical music videos on TV, especially during hours when teenagers haven't turned in for bed. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 509507248483507f4442fae3582cb979 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18922409&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080514_Worldview__Bad_policies_have_left_Bush_little_leverage_in_Lebanon.html The timing couldn't be worse. President Bush's last trip to the Middle East comes at a time when his Mideast policy is in tatters. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 9e4ca3bc55f47299fc0850947819d864 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18922434&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080514_Editorial__Guns_in_National_Parks.html A proposal to let visitors to national parks carry concealed weapons is one of the goofier ideas to be hatched by the Bush administration. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 824ddefe85d84403181f6b5bf1067437 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166896&44=18922449&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2Fpa%2F20080514_Turbines_can_harm_wildlife_if_they_are_in_the_wrong_location__Site_those_windmills_carefully.html By Eric Stiles Scientists have concluded that climate change and habitat loss are the two primary threats to the survival of wildlife and natural communities. Thanks to the recent passage of the New Jersey Global Warming Response Act and forward-thinking state policies, we are now beginning to wrestle with solutions, including energy conservation and expansion of renewable energy. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 5ac940b4a31227544894280863b172b5 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18922419&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080514_A_workable_merger.html Serguei Netessine is an associate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Delta and Northwest announced plans to merge last month, largely in an effort to create a stronger airline better able to weather the soaring cost of fuel. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 99a04bd06752ce64af89d5888fbc3ddc 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166896&44=18922444&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2Fpa%2F20080514_Telling_are_times_with_aging_parent.html By Thomas Leibrandt When I was a boy, the highlight of every week was Saturday lunch with my father. Our time together was more than just fun; it was crammed with lessons in life and his stories of generations of family history in Philadelphia. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT d39db93a6f25372217522b358406b3cd 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18922429&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080514_Clinton_s_campaign_has_been_a_triumph_-_nomination_or_not.html Michael Tackett writes for the Chicago Tribune On the outside, there is no quit in the Clinton campaign. They keep talking about finding a way to count the votes and seat the delegates for her from the Florida and Michigan primaries, which the Democratic National Committee ruled were rogue operations. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 2ce93cd029847ee4ba0e3a9e3c0dd531 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18922424&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080514_Editorial__Bonusgate.html House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D., Greene) has pledged to divert "substantial" tax money from his Harrisburg slush fund to more beneficial uses. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT bad9f495deb03515263a930b49af296c 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18922439&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080514_Editorial__Smoking_Restrictions.html It's a good thing Gov. Rendell threatened to veto a weak statewide smoke-free law that would undercut the strong antismoking health measure already in place in Philadelphia. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 0cdd2e225f986e2c2f8243581be5b641 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=166881&44=18922414&32=3796&7=195517&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fopinion%2F20080514_Letters_to_the_Editor.html Turnstile justiceI am utterly disgusted at the manner in which so many Democrats, liberals and leftists have exploited the slaying of police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 8e66294f9112aedf312263964d0c3739 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z