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Letters to the Editor

The latest major sports news concerns Tigers Woods spitting on the golf course in Dubai ("Tiger swept up in spit storm," Tuesday). He was fined and issued an apology.

Ban spitting from all sports

The latest major sports news concerns Tigers Woods spitting on the golf course in Dubai ("Tiger swept up in spit storm," Tuesday). He was fined and issued an apology.

Now that spitting has been exposed in the sports world as a health hazard, let's ban it in baseball. I cringe every time I observe a player spitting, which they all do. I stopped watching games because I found myself cringing all the time.

A pro at spitting is Jimmy Rollins, who seems to project saliva every three seconds during a game. He has to be dehydrated after a game.

I guess it's a macho thing with players, makes them look bad or something, like Ty Cobb. Spitting should be banned from every sporting event, not just golf.

Jim Burke

Sicklerville

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Two standards on health care

Some in Congress have pledged to repeal President Obama's health-care reform act, characterizing it as an extravagant government entitlement program. How dare they?

They say these things even as one of their own - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D., Ariz.) - experiences remarkable recovery enabled by generous taxpayer-funded congressional health benefits largely inaccessible to most citizens ("Giffords continues progress, Tuesday).

Are elected representatives somehow more worthy than those who appoint them? Evidently so, judging by many who hold public office.

William K. Mullan

Chalfont

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Helping citizens is government's job

Please tell the writer of the letter "Conservatives can care for the poor" (Wednesday) that he can keep his "Christian" charity.

As someone who spent many childhood years on government welfare and food stamps, at least my family wasn't beholden to the arrogant whims of a religious group.

Helping American citizens is the responsibility of our government, not Christians who have arrogated themselves to a position of wealth.

Conservative Christians don't like government welfare because they can't proselytize or force others to pray to their Jesus by threatening to withhold money, which is precisely what most of them would do, if they are given half the chance.

Michael McGonigle

Philadelphia

mcgonigle.m@gmail.com

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State 'philanthropy' is more effective

The conservative view that individuals, not the government, should be the primary source of charitable giving is well-intentioned but misguided. If the goal of "charity" is cost effectiveness and efficiency in delivering services such as food, shelter, and medical treatments, then federal, state, and local government "philanthropy" is far more effective than individual giving can ever be.

First, it is quite unlikely that individual giving will ever be as substantial and generous as our current government systems. Second, in difficult financial times, as incomes decline, charitable giving also declines. Third, if the government structures used to disseminate goods and services to the poor were dismantled, those charitable functions would need to be replaced by numerous new organizations in the private sector. Smaller, local private groups would lead to a substantial duplication of costs.

Vincent Morello

Phoenixville

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The sad reality of an abortion clinic

Michael J. McMonagle's opinion piece is cleverly written to obscure the reality of what really allowed Dr. Kermit Gosnell's abortion practice to flourish ("Abortion facilities need scrutiny," Wednesday). While certainly state regulators dropped the ball, this clinic existed only because it was the best remaining option before the back alley for poor women who, because of no medical coverage and/or government funded assistance, could not be treated by mainstream medical practitioners who follow the approved and legal guidelines governing abortion.

The need for a woman to terminate an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy has existed since the ability to do so was discovered, and will continue to exist as long as there are women. If McMonagle's group, and others whose ultimate goal is to make all abortions illegal, prevail, the conditions reported in West Philadelphia will multiply exponentially, and will be impossible to police.

Charles Cohen

Merion Station

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Ackerman deserves public's support

I am expressing my unwavering and unequivocal support for Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. She recently was named the nation's top urban schools leader. She is turning things around, with impressive achievement gains in less than three years.

For the first time, more than half of Philadelphia's students scored proficient or better on state standardized tests. Graduation rates are up, and dropouts are resuming their studies. Reading and math scores have increased, while violent incidents have dropped.

Managing America's eighth largest school system is no easy task, but no one is better prepared to lead it than Ackerman. During this Black History Month, Ackerman's achievements should be applauded, not denigrated.

State Rep. Ronald G. Waters

Chairman, Legislative Black Caucus

Philadelphia

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