Get over it, Hillary critics

ISSUE | WHITE HOUSE RUN

Clinton critics

Commenting on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, Charles Krauthammer takes the same line as all the Republican pundits and Republican candidates and hopefuls ("The surreal Clinton campaign," April 20). They are throwing everything they can think of to picture Clinton as an old, foolish retread. Unfortunately for them, they completely miss the mark. Clinton is clearly the most qualified candidate and is easily ahead of any opponent of any party. Krauthhammer seems to yearn for the days when the only people allowed to vote were white men who owned property.

|Richard Billings, Cherry Hill

ISSUE | ESTATE TAX

Looking out for 1%

It is not hard to believe that Congress passed a bill to repeal the estate tax for the top 5,400 families in the nation ("Calif. trends should worry GOP," April 21). After all, this Congress has been purchased by the wealthy and apparently is willing to do their bidding.

For some time, Congress has demonstrated an inability to do much of anything else for the rest of the 300 million-plus Americans. The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision made it clear that the almighty dollar is more important than the concept of one man, one vote foolishly espoused by the founding fathers.

|William Kirkpatrick, West Chester

ISSUE | PROM DATES

OK to go stag

While it is great that students are having fun finding creative ways to pop the prom question, I am disturbed that a date is still required at many schools ("Stepping up: Creativity is the key in popping the prom question," April 24). To this day, I remember the angst created in trying to secure such a date many years ago. A friend's daughter recently spent prom weekend in tears because her date cancelled.

The idea that one needs a date to attend the prom only serves to perpetuate the false belief that self-worth at a social event is conferred more by the fact that you have a date.

There should be a policy in all schools that everyone should be permitted to go to their class prom with or without a date. It is a well-earned rite of passage in senior year.

|Cindy Gelman Singer, Philadelphia

ISSUE | REQUIRED READING

Remedial work on U.S. education trends

The minuscule number of American universities mandating a Shakespeare course highlights a systematic erosion in American education ("A lack of Will: Bard rarely required on campus," April 24). We have excised competition from most public school curricula, deeming it inherently shaming. Academic programs focus resources on the gifted and the challenged, leaving vast numbers of mid-level achievers to wallow in mediocrity, grade inflation, and inattention. American students are reacting to lower expectations by focusing on developing test skills like memorization and recitation.

Like muscle, our brains react to and grow from challenges. The concept that learning can be fun has morphed into learning should be easy. It should not be. We need a return to more basic education focused less on ego-building and more on the three R's.

|Christopher Knob, Media, cknob@comcast.net

Words to live and learn by

How poor our linguistic and theatrical heritage will become if we ever forget where the quality of mercy comes from, why it is important to be (or not), and that "when sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions" ("A lack of Will: Bard rarely required on campus," April 24).

|E. F. Gallagher, East Norriton

ISSUE | BAG TAX

Use carrot, not stick, for green grocery totes

Instead of penalizing those who continue to use plastic bags - a negative approach - it would be better to reward those who use their own canvas bags - a positive approach ("Shopping bag fee proposed for Phila." April 24).

I first started using canvas bags in the late 1980s. I'm still using my first bag, obtained at Martin's supermarket in South Bend, Ind., while I was doing graduate work at the University of Notre Dame.

Canvas bags last indefinitely, hold more groceries (and other purchases), are washable, have more hand-friendly handles, and all of this while being good for the planet.

|Marie Conn, Hatboro, mconn56@yahoo.com

ISSUE | UTILITIES

Tap casino revenue for pipeline work

The state Public Utility Commission unremarkably suggested that the solution for funding the Philadelphia Gas Works infrastructure is for Philadelphians to pay more ("PUC's gas pipe advice: Hike prices," April 22). But what about letting Philadelphia keep more money for its public-health and safety priorities?

Funding for energy safety could be opened up by amending the gambling law, which provides excessive aid to the horseracing industry. A coalition of Philadelphia state legislators should propose a change in priorities for casino revenue, to shift more revenue to public utility infrastructure improvements.

Another casino town may need to upgrade its sewage-treatment facilities and the like. But in Philadelphia, the revenue could help PGW pay for gas-line replacement.

|L.K. Hastings, Philadelphia