Letters to the Editor
A letter writer argues that because the Founding Fathers were intellectuals and in favor of small government, conservatism can be equated with the height of intellectual endeavor ("Right is rejecting left's failed policies," Friday).
Don't pigeonhole Founding Fathers
A letter writer argues that because the Founding Fathers were intellectuals and in favor of small government, conservatism can be equated with the height of intellectual endeavor ("Right is rejecting left's failed policies," Friday).
The problem with this argument is that not all of the founders of this country were intellectuals. For instance, George Washington's formal education ended when he was in his early teens. Furthermore, not all of the founders supported limited government. One of the first political parties in the United States was the Federalist Party, which, as its name suggests, supported a strong central government. Two of its most prominent members were John Adams and Alexander Hamilton.
The Founding Fathers had vastly different points of view, something that conservatives should remember when they presume to speak for them. The debate about the proper role of government has been in progress since the early days of the republic.
Bill Fanshel
Bryn Mawr
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GOP unconcerned about unemployed
A headline on Friday's front page, "Senate defeats federal jobs bill," would have been far more accurate if it had read "GOP defeats federal jobs bill." The fact is, 57 members of the Senate voted to pass the bill, but thanks to the arcane rules under which the chamber operates, an intransigent minority was able to sabotage it.
Where was the Republican anxiety about the deficit when Congress blithely gave George W. Bush a trillion-dollar check to invade Iraq? Are these people so determined to see government fail that they are willing to throw millions of Americans under the bus?
Of course, if Republicans were only half as concerned about the rest of us as they are about the welfare of foreign corporations, we wouldn't have to ask such questions. But, thanks to the likes of Rep. Joe Barton, we already know where their truest sympathies lie.
Isaac Segal
Cherry Hill
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Protect legal residents
Mayor Nutter, while usually on target, is not on this one. Allowing federal immigration officials to view arraignment information is not a violation of human rights, and, in the case of illegal aliens, not even a violation of civil rights ("Phila. to end immigration deal with feds," Monday).
Illegal aliens on the arraignment list are present in our city unlawfully and now have run afoul of the legal system for a second time, this time getting caught. Our mayor thinks that we should give these individuals a haven. Nutter should be much more concerned about the law-abiding citizens who are victimized by these individuals, and take the opportunity to rid our city of their presence.
The system may not be perfect, but the fact of the matter is that these individuals are here illegally and have done something that the vast majority of the citizens of Philadelphia don't do, and that is get arrested.
In a city with significant budgetary problems, I would think the mayor would be happy to alleviate this financial drain on the city. The right to protection under the law for our legal citizens should be the overwhelming concern of the mayor.
Tom Mitros
Gulph Mills
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Don't let Fla. arm Pa.
A letter regarding Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato's support for closing the "Florida loophole," which supplies Pennsylvania residents with legal permits to carry concealed weapons, is either ill-informed or disingenuous ("Onorato is off the mark," last Thursday).
Every day, Pennsylvania police are coming into contact with criminals who have already been denied a concealed-carry permit in our state, or have had one revoked, but are still able to carry a concealed weapon because they wrote to the Florida Department of Agriculture.
We trust our law-enforcement professionals to protect us day in and day out from armed and dangerous people. If we expect them to stand between us and thugs with guns, the least they should be able to expect is that when they flag someone as too great a risk to carry a concealed weapon, their judgment will not be undermined by a bureaucrat in Tallahassee.
They should also be able to expect that we citizens will do all we can to protect them from harm.
Burt Siegel
Elkins Park
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An apology was in order
The fact that school officials never thanked Violet Sutton-Lawson for protecting the welfare of Asian students on Dec. 3, 2009, at risk of serious injury to herself, is unacceptable ("S. Phila. High aide who defied attackers is laid off," Saturday).
One of the best life lessons our schoolchildren must learn is how to manage effective interpersonal skills, including honoring and acknowledging good deeds by others. The violence at South Philadelphia High School was a prime example of broken interpersonal skills, and school officials have perpetuated this ineptness. At least a thank-you message or another form of acknowledgment was warranted.
Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, your leadership skills and those of your staff are appalling. You all have failed to set the example for respecting others and need to be held accountable. Ackerman, if you can't lead by example with decorum, then step aside.
Emily Thorne
Philadelphia