Letters |

It is disturbing, but not surprising, to learn from former U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona that his efforts to bring accurate reports on health matters to the attention of the public were stymied by the administration when they did not comport with its political posture.

It is instructive that soon after Carmona issued a scathing indictment of second-hand smoke in June 2006, his period of service to the American people concluded, and he vanished without a trace.

He was not publicly thanked for his service nor was his report on second-hand smoke acknowledged, precisely what I would expect from a party that has accepted millions of Big Tobacco's tainted dollars.

Even as Carmona was ignored, the administration found the time for an ostentatious farewell for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who helped to bring about the disastrous occupation of Iraq.

It is regrettable that so many of us could not read the tea leaves before twice electing this president who has inflicted upon us one of the most damaging administrations.

Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair

The Inquirer's call to de-politicize the position of surgeon general (editorial, Thursday) is as brain dead as the hearings that reviewed Richard H. Carmona's tenure. Political appointees of the executive branch, whether cabinet members or federal prosecutors, serve at the president's discretion. This is what elections are about.

In the case of Carmona, at some point his priorities ran counter to his employer's and he moved on. End of story.

Michael Hudson
Chester County

There is something seriously wrong with our education system. Background checks are made of cafeteria workers and school bus drivers, but not of teachers, professors and university officials such as Steven Devlin, the latest such official to be accused of sexual misconduct. In addition to being employed by Lehigh University, he is a former employee of the University of Pennsylvania, which has had several faculty sex scandals in the past few years.

Margaret A. Orner

Coatesville

On May 18, 2000, my sister, Jean Marie Ferraro, was killed when Pier 34 collapsed into the Delaware River. For seven years, my family and the families of the others who died, DeAnn White and Monica Rodriguez, trusted that we would see justice served. It was not.

In May, one defendant pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and the other no contest. Today they are freely living their lives. At some point they will be confined to the comfort of their homes for a few months, surrounded by family.

Their influential friends, including Mayor Street, wrote to the judge pleading they shouldn't be sent to prison.

In seven years the mayor has not found time to express condolences to any of our families, but he found time to express his outrage at the prospect of jail for these men.

After hearing the sentence, I believe the mayor and others influenced it. The message to the citizens of Philadelphia is that as long as you have influential friends you do not have to abide by laws.

Michelle Selah

Marlton