Letters to the Editor
Cut aid to Israel The slap to America's face that Israel gave, by announcing expansion of settlements in Jerusalem, should be answered by cessation of the billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars we give Israel annually - which help construct the settlements ("Israel's apology gets a cool reception," Monday).
Cut aid
to Israel
The slap to America's face that Israel gave, by announcing expansion of settlements in Jerusalem, should be answered by cessation of the billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars we give Israel annually - which help construct the settlements ("Israel's apology gets a cool reception," Monday).
Mere words of disapproval are not enough to dispel U.S. bias in favor of Israel, which prevents our being viewed as an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
Besides, stringent times at home demand a halt to the billions we unnecessarily give Israel - a wealthy nation.
Donald F. Clarke
Devon
Support for
Nutter's new tax
I would like to commend Mayor Nutter on his newly proposed tax. This tax is not about creating a slimmer population; it is about finding new sources of revenue so that our city can continue to provide services to people in need in our community ("Sugar buzz at City Hall," Thursday).
Soft drinks are certainly not necessary to anyone's survival; they are a luxury item and should be taxed accordingly. This tax should be extended to diet drinks, bottled water, and energy and sports drinks, and increased once more on cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, candy, and chewing gum, none of which contributes to our good health or well-being.
I'm also willing to pay for garbage removal and other city services, providing provisions are made to exempt the poor.
Andrea Preis
Philadelphia
At least
the bridges work
This is one liberal Democrat who won't lose any sleep over the Republican shenanigans going on at the Burlington County Bridge Commission ("Burlco agency's bridges all lead to GOP," Sunday).
We can all agree that this kind of pinstripe patronage is repulsive, and that the politicians and their friends cited in the article are yet another example of pigs feeding at the public trough, but at least they've got clean, efficient, working bridges that cost half as much to cross as those run by the equally patronage-plagued and Democrat-infested Delaware River Port Authority.
Also, when I turn over my two dollars, at least I know that my money won't be used to pay toll collectors $50,000 a year, to subsidize museums in Philadelphia that no one cares about, or to pay for the white elephant that will soon be a soccer stadium in Chester.
Joseph Steinbock
Marlton
Why show pictures of places of worship?
Saturday's Inquirer presented, front and center, another Muslim who has been accused of a crime and a picture of the mosque he attended ("Clearance level high"). Does The Inquirer make it a practice to associate places of worship with criminal accusations? It would seem so, but only if the accused is Muslim.
How often do we see pictures of churches or synagogues attended by Christians or Jews accused of crimes, even violent crimes or hate crimes? Does The Inquirer buy into some association, or are we just being subtly brainwashed? We should all be offended. I ask that the locally owned paper of record end the practice.
Steven Hershey
Philadelphia
Help seniors
pay for health care
Senior citizens, many whose children no longer attend school or are childless, continue to pay lifelong school taxes for services they do not or never used.
Why can't our older patients' health care be funded with fees and parameters commensurate to the current educational tax burdens they've faced all their lives?
Dominic Marucci
Philadelphia
DEP judgment
went too far
The $6.5 million judgment against four officials of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is shocking ("Verdict in DEP case stirs concerns," Thursday).
It is also legally indefensible. These officials were simply doing their jobs - responding to citizen complaints and preparing an air- quality permit. When public officials do their job, the law protects them from claims of personal liability.
The impact of this decision may be far-reaching. Polluters will threaten personal lawsuits against officials. The DEP's best and brightest may find jobs elsewhere, where they will not face such harassment. Those who remain may duck the demanding task of saying "no" to pollution, leading to weak permits and lax enforcement.
Jan Jarrett
President and CEO
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future