for a strike

While there may be valid arguments against the SEPTA strike, citing bad timing ("Bus to nowhere," Wednesday) is not an acceptable complaint when people's rights are concerned. There is never a good time to inconvenience the status quo with a fight for civil and economic human rights. If not now, when?

Sarah Graden

Philadelphia

Union is making

a big mistake

I'm pro-union. However, in this case, the Transport Workers Union has made a terrible mistake. Negotiation involves power, and the union has very little. Everyone finds the union greedy, asking for more and more while the rest of us subsist on less and less.

It's hard for the union to claim that social justice is on its side. This strike is an enormous hardship - one that falls especially on people who start out economically distressed. On the other hand, the bus drivers are already living relatively comfortably on up to $24.50 per hour, plus health insurance and pension.

Workers should know that in the court of public opinion, the union, not the management, has already been condemned.

Ken Greiff

Philadelphia

Newspapers must

report on everything

I do not agree with the letter calling your story about Alan Markovitz "embarrassing." Enlightening is a word I would use, however ("Article about strip clubs was an embarrassment," Tuesday).

I think it's important for newspapers and magazines to report on all facets of society. Whether some of us find them offensive isn't the issue. The issue is information and education. Closing our minds to certain facets of society is promoting ignorance.

Anthony Preziosi

West Deptford

a_preziosi@yahoo.com

Jersey voters made the right choice

Kudos to the registered voters in New Jersey who took the time to cast their ballots for a new governor. Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie won by more than 100,000 votes, which leads me to believe that even some registered Democrats voted for him. The voters rightly decided to hold Gov. Corzine accountable for promises he made four years ago (property tax reform, runaway spending, and ethics reform). Because he failed to deliver on any of them, even his millions couldn't buy another victory.

I'm positive that Christie realizes that if he doesn't make good on his promises in the next four years, the registered voters will give him his train ticket out of Trenton.

David M. Levin

Vineland

Poverty is not

preordained

Like much of what emanates from City Council, Bill Green's argument against proven income-tax reduction policies is a head-scratcher.

Councilman Green seems to imply that tax cuts won't work in Philadelphia because of the inordinately high poverty level among its citizens. While I will leave it to the councilman to explain the bridge between those two thoughts, it is high time for leadership - not hand-wringing - from our politicians on the delicate subject of poverty.

Poverty is not some preordained bogeyman destined to reign over certain segments of our society. For the most part, poverty is the result of poor choices. A professor in domestic policy at the University of Maryland has this prescription for avoiding poverty: Finish high school; have no children until you are 20 years of age; and be married before you have your first child. Compliance with the above results in poverty levels in the single figures.

Michael J. Santella

West Chester