Letters to the Editor

We've reached a new low in this country when Ron Castille, the chief justice of the state Supreme Court, sees no problem with accepting gifts from attorneys who argue cases before his court ("Castille is accepting of litigants' gifts, trips," Sunday). This attitude further shows that this country is in a downward spiral. Castille seems to imply that the onus for recusing himself for conflicts of interest resides on the parties arguing cases before him. He must have missed the day they taught avoiding the appearance of impropriety in law school.

Our country is headed in the wrong direction. We have gone from what Tom Brokaw dubbed the Greatest Generation to the worst generation. Its members see nothing wrong with getting rich at the expense of others (Wall Street), have guided the country into a near-continuous war footing, and now the scales of justice are seemingly tipped toward one side, as long as it can provide a few rounds of golf at exclusive country clubs.

Matt Driscoll

Franklinville

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Has Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ron Castille established a new rule of law that accepting rounds of golf as tax-free gifts from folks who do business with you is OK because he "could never afford" to pay personally ("Castille is accepting of litigants' gifts, trips," Sunday)?

I believe that there is another law that may affect these and his other "gifts."

For federal income-tax purposes "gross income" includes all income from whatever source, except for those items specifically excluded by the IRS code. If Castille hasn't reported the value of all his "gifts" as income, I'm not sure that the U.S. Supreme Court would OK Castille's new law.

Arthur Gravitz

Cheltenham

agrazitz@yahoo.com

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A note to the Republican leadership: Health-care legislation is a done deal. Get used to that fact ("One-two-three punch the GOP can deliver," Sunday).

It is highly unlikely that the legislation can be repealed as long as there is a Democratic senator alive who can mount a filibuster. And trying to defeat the intent of the bill by not funding this legislation will anger the 30 million people soon to be covered under the act, the children under age 26 who are to be covered, those denied coverage because of a preexisting medical condition, and those whose insurance has reached the limits of coverage.

You can bet your bottom dollar that all those who are adversely affected by Republican attempts to deny this coverage will make their discontent known at the ballot box in the next presidential election.

If such a health-care plan is good enough for England, France, Canada, and even the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (under a Republican governor), it should be good enough for all Americans.

B. Jerome Shane

Newtown Square

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Republicans in Congress don't want to extend unemployment insurance for those who will have their benefits expire Dec. 1 ("Jobless help to expire as Congress debates tax," Nov. 19). However, they do want to extend tax cuts for those making more than $250,000, which will cost taxpayers about $700 billion over the next 10 years. Does it make you wonder who paid for all those expensive campaign ads?

Elinor I. Naylor

North Wales

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Matt Mackowiak praises House Republicans for showing the voters they were willing to change ("Democrats showing they still don't get it," Tuesday). They "held town-hall meetings, and produced a Pledge to America," and imposed an earmark moratorium. House Democrats were condemned for mouthing "promises about jobs, reducing the deficit, and cutting earmarks," but not taking action. Neither party has done anything except make promises. Let's save our praise for results.

William J. Carolan

Turnersville

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A bill sponsored by State Sen. Richard J. Codey (D., Essex) to strengthen penalties for first-time offenders using cell phones while driving was recently passed by a Senate committee ("Expensive calls," Nov. 18). First-time offenders would be fined $200, and anyone convicted twice within 10 years would be fined $400 for the second offense. Anyone convicted three times or more would be fined $600 and face a possible 90-day license suspension. Codey said, "It's long past time we put some teeth in the law."

This bill definitely has teeth, but it doesn't have the necessary muscle to support it. First and foremost, there are not enough police officers available to enforce it. Second, motorists will continue to ignore the law and use their handheld cell phones at will. There is only one thing that would stop motorists from using their cell phones: if the provider cuts off their service.

David M. Levin

Vineland

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The Editorial Board never disappoints me ("Palin's rebuke," Saturday).

First, it can't resist taking cheap shots at Sarah Palin.

Second, it accuses U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller of being a sore loser. What do you think Sen. Lisa Murkowski was after losing in the primary and then running a write-in campaign? You guessed it, a sore loser. Except, unlike Miller, she is from just another family of political hacks.

George R. Kawchak Jr.

Phoenixville