Barnes Foundation
This is an artist's rendering of a new Barnes museum on the Parkway.
Letters to the Editor
The new Barnes:
Is that all there is?
Re: "A first look at the new Barnes," Tuesday:
$200 million and all we get is another lousy box? Doesn't Philadelphia deserve better? Doesn't it want something better? Why is mediocre design acceptable here?
Craig Wallen
Philadelphia
Fresh fringe
for Republicans
Republicans are developing new fringe groups. Led by Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.), some went to Honduras to support Roberto Micheletti, who gained power after the duly elected president, Manuel Zelaya, was kidnapped in his pajamas, flown out of the country, and told in no uncertain terms not to return ("GOP lawmakers fly to Honduras," Saturday).
These tactics are reminiscent of the bygone Banana Republics, so I guess we can call this new fringe group the Banana Republicans. Apparently, they want to defend democracy against the meddling of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.
Banana Republicans, if you want to limit Chavez's influence, why don't you support heavy investment in clean energy? Over time, we could reduce our own demand, and the marketplace would work its magic to lower oil prices, thereby limiting Chavez's ability to cause trouble.
Alfred Abel
Jenkintown
Nonprofit trick
missed by BRT
You have hit only the top of the nonprofit real estate tax-abuse problem at the Board of Revision of Taxes ("Another Phila. tax-board stumble," Tuesday). All over the city, former church buildings are filled with for-profit uses wrapped in the thin veneer of long-withered religious operations.
Just in Center City alone, you can find concert venues, recital halls, for-profit day-care centers, and office buildings all operating in buildings that pay no real estate taxes because there is a small nub of a congregation that meets there one day a week.
When I brought one of these cases to the attention of BRT workers several years ago, they simply shrugged. I moved.
Jonathan Goldstein
Narberth
Nurses reject
swine flu vaccine
After attending a conference given by the National Vaccine Information Center (www.nvic.org), we licensed nurses have decided that we can better protect our health by not taking the swine flu vaccine, despite a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The course of the swine flu is milder than even the seasonal flu and results in relatively few hospitalizations and deaths.
People born before 1957 have protective immunity.
Vaccine clinical trials are small and short. And it is being tested on only 120 pregnant subjects.
Vaccine manufacturers and government agencies cannot be prosecuted in the event of serious side effects.
We do suggest, however, that people follow the CDC's other recommendations: frequent handwashing, covering coughs, and staying home when afflicted with flu symptoms.
Rosemarie Allen
Rose D'Adamo
Philadelphia
Fight technology
with technology
All new cars could easily be fitted with electronic signal-blocking devices that would render cell phones, PDAs, and other devices inoperable in a moving vehicle.
Virtually every new vehicle made is fitted with technology to assess vehicle dynamics. This technology could easily be programmed to, upon sensing an accident, switch off the blocking technology. It is time to harness the same technology that brought about these devices to curb their senseless use.
John Jones
Solebury Township
Don't listen
to the screamers
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal believes the debate on health care is over, that the "people have spoken" at town halls and to their congressmen ("GOP can lead on health care," Tuesday).
But didn't the "people" speak when they elected this president, who campaigned vigorously for health-care reform? A few screamers are not the majority, who elected this president to do the job he promised.
Regina Simmons
West Deptford
