Letters: Is the natural-gas boon overrated in Pennsylvania?

WHEN IT comes to removal of Pennsylvania's natural-gas resources, Gov. Corbett says we Pennsylvanians must let the gas industry operate with tax rates lower than other "competing environments" such as West Virginia, Texas or even Canada. If not, investors will show us the door, and the promise of industry jobs for local Pennsylvanians will go with them.

But how many "local Pennsylvania residents" are included in the claim of new employment for 70,000 industry workers? Proof is in the workers' license plates - I call this a "Woodstock economy" synonymous with a rock concert in town, only this time the concert is natural-gas extraction.

Jim Capps

Philadelphia

Ackerman echoes

First the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, now Arlene Ackerman. Why are Philadelphians so resigned to let the mayor and City Council continuously show them that they have very little regard for their wallets?

Property taxes were raised to fund a school system that will never be fixed unless educators and parents are held accountable and No Child Left Behind is revamped. Yet Ackerman continued to get bonuses, and now we are paying for her ouster.

Maryann Parrish

Philadelphia

Arlene Ackerman really didn't do that bad - she managed to teach the city how to write an ironclad employment contract.

Joe Carlin

Philadelphia

Investigate Cheney

When promoting his memoirs on the "Today" show, Dick Cheney described himself as the "lightning rod" and "Darth Vader" of the Bush administration. In reality, Cheney has attracted criticism not because of any resemblance to a fictional super-villain but because he boasts about authorizing the torture of detainees who weren't citizens, as though this status made them lesser human beings.

An independent panel must be established to investigate all aspects of the use of torture by the U.S. and help ensure that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens again.

Barbara Quintiliano

Malvern

Tailgating nonsense

I was at the recent Temple-Villanova game, tailgating in the parking lot with many other fans - youngsters as well as some guys from my era in the '70s. What was going on was nothing more than some good clean fun - college kids blowing off steam as school was getting started.

Then, just before game time, two undercover police arrived and started checking IDs and writing tickets to the kids who were underage and drinking beer.

With the crime in the city, "flash mobs," the budget crunch and the issues that Temple itself has with crime on campus, this is the place that police choose to focus their precious resources?

As an alumni board member, as well as the parent of a current Temple senior (who is 21), I have to say that I just don't get this.

While I can't say I condone the underage drinking, I believe the police could spend their time focused in a different area. Color me disappointed.

Joseph M. Tait

Maple Glen

Mike makes right

Every time I open up my DN., there's always some dog fanatic like Steve Lorman bashing Mike Vick. But, unlike him, I believe if you didn't molest a child, rape or murder a human being, you deserve a second chance. A dog is not a human being; it is a pet. (When I see a dog owner allowing his or her pet to lick their lips, I get totally repulsed.)

Vick not only paid his debt, he continues to be aware of his mistakes. On the field, his comeback has been unbelievable. Should I not give a second chance to the people I yell at for not picking up after their dog at the park across the street from my house? I wouldn't want to stay angry at the hundreds of ignorant people I'm talking about.

Stefan Kumor

Delran, N.J.

Obama's jobs storm

There sure have been a lot of weird happenings, what with the earthquake and Hurricane Irene.

So when I heard a loud roar and saw it get real windy, I immediately thought it was a tornado.

But when I looked out my door, it was only the funneling cloud of President Obama's "new" jobs plan whereby he funnels tax money to the unions. Then they refunnel it back to his campaign.

Tom Bell

Philadelphia