Letters to the Editor

I am increasingly alarmed by the disclaimers being offered by Gov. Rendell and his homeland security director, James F. Powers Jr., concerning the "counterterrorism" contract entered into for the purpose of spying on the people of this commonwealth ("Institute's alerts like 'gossip,' panel told," Tuesday).

For them to claim that they did not intend what in fact did happen is what is known in the law as "a self-serving declaration of no probative value." Their say-so simply does not make it so. There is another maxim in the law that holds that we always intend the natural and probable consequences of our actions. What happened is exactly what was intended.

It is clear that they have no concept of freedom, no concern for individual liberty, nor any regard for human dignity. By their action they are turning us into a society ruled by fear. One of the Four Freedoms for which World War II was fought was Freedom from Fear, and that freedom is now being betrayed.

Paul Kester

Newtown

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Reading about the mess at the Philadelphia Housing Authority and former Mayor John F. Street's attempts to weasel out of his responsibility to oversee Carl R. Greene, no one should be surprised.

Street's nasty attacks on the mayor and his feeble attempts to turn this all to his advantage are just about what I would expect from him.

Do us all a favor, John: Fold up your tent and fade away.

Mary Loyden

Philadelphia

marygram1@verizon.net

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I fear that Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, in promoting the "good works" of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, is unwittingly making the case for the tea partyers ("PHA board committed to serving community," Monday).

All of the elements are there. Income redistribution. Big, inbred government bureaucracy. Lack of accountability. Connected politicians and their union friends feeding at the trough. No benefits for middle-class, nonunion taxpayers. There isn't even an acknowledgment to the taxpayers who are funding the "gyms, dance halls, and recording studios."

You know, it's enough to make a taxpayer irrationally angry. It's enough to make one want to eliminate the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Al Giacomucci

Philadelphia

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On Sunday, Jim Furyk won more than $11 million by becoming the PGA Tour and FedEx Cup Champion. His motivation to excel had no relationship to the level of federal income tax due on these winnings. Among sports professionals and business persons alike, the desire to reap the rewards of bettering the competition trumps all. Among the millionaires I've known, many carp about paying any taxes, but this doesn't diminish their desire to win.

I contrast this with the disingenuous arguments of virtually all Republican elected officials that a rise in 2011 tax rates for the top 2 percent of earners, to the levels of the 1990s, would "discourage" and "create a disincentive" for these, the wealthiest in the country.

To that I say, piffle! Will Furyk (or any athlete) try less hard in 2011 because he'll be paying higher taxes? Will bailed-out Wall Street barons (or any corporate CEO) throw in the towel for the same reason? Not so.

Steve Heumann

Berwyn

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The editorial " 'Don't ask' needs to go' " on Saturday began with this:

"The failure of the Senate to repeal the military's policy banning gays was another missed opportunity to conquer prejudice."

Prejudice? How ironic; the use of this insulting, accusatory word perfectly describes the motivation for the sentence in which it appeared - pro-homosexual prejudice.

Prejudice is the reason for banning admitted homosexuals from the military? How about a much simpler, no-villain explanation: housing. A soldier's barracks, tent, bunker, foxhole, ditch, or whatever other place houses him or her in close personal proximity with other soldiers is no place for sexual tension.

Anthony P. Schiavo

Lafayette Hill

ant31415@aol.com

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The recent passing of American pop singer Eddie Fisher at age 82 reminded me of another era, the 1950s and 1960s, when the singers were clean-shaven and had that "boy next door" look ("A star eclipsed by his personal life," Saturday).

Fisher was right up there with the likes of Perry Como, Dick Haymes, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Harry Prime, Frankie Laine, and Jerry Vale. He had an amazing string of hit tunes: "Lady of Spain," "I'm Walking Behind You," "You've Gotta Have Heart," "I Need You Now," and "Oh! My Pa-Pa," to name but a few.

His tragic personal life aside (failed marriages to Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Reynolds, and Connie Stevens), Fisher had that innate quality that attracted fans of all ages and that, in my book, counts for something.

Herb Stark

Massapequa, N.Y.