Letters to the Editor

In 'I' we trust

When I read about Rick Perry's speech decrying an entitlement culture, I had a sudden realization: Perry and the tea party are aiming too low ("Perry would remake tax code," Wednesday). Their goal is radical political change, but politics can take you only so far. They should set their sights on bigger game - namely the reform of the English language, specifically, the elimination of the first person plural.

Once and for all, get rid of the word we. If people would think only in terms of "I," then negotiating an intersection, acquiring an education, obtaining food and shelter in old age, getting treatment for an illness, and nearly every other human endeavor would depend entirely on each individual - with all goods and services provided by other individuals, called "corporations." It would be a social utopia.

Mark Reber, Wynnewood

The larger issue

I agree that a good remedy for the lethally low state-provided lawyer fees in capital cases would be a boost in those fees ("Income shouldn't decide the quality of justice," Wednesday). It would also be a fine idea to take the issue off the table by abolishing the death penalty.

To describe ending capital punishment as a "better yet" step distorts reality. For an incompetent lawyer to answer a client's complaint with "At least you only got life in prison" indicates that the problem can't be solved by sentencing changes alone.

James Miles, Collingdale, jxxphilly@gmail.com

Hurting students

The Pennsylvania Senate has just signed off on a plan to take a broken education system that is ripe for reform and make it demonstrably worse ("Pa. Senate OKs school voucher plan," Thursday). At the heart of the bill is Gov. Corbett's voucher proposal, which would give students in failing schools money to attend other schools.

This plan seems like it gives poor students the opportunity to have a quality education. But coverage of this legislation has downplayed one of its most crucial points: funding. In other states that use voucher schemes, the vouchers are funded out of the state's general fund. This bill, in contrast, provides no new funds. Instead, it takes money that is already going to schools and ties it to students. So, if a student leaves a school, that school loses the funding associated with that child.

Some students may escape their desperate plight, but many others will not. Schools are under no obligation to accept transfer students, and will likely take only a limited number. The vast majority of poor children will then be forced to watch as crucial resources drain away from the cash-strapped, impoverished schools that need it most.

Michael J. Gaudini, Narberth

Go with the 95%

In the beginning of climate-change research, skepticism and outrage abounded that humans could be a major contributor to climate change ("Let's prize climate skepticism," Tuesday). There are few 100 percent "proven" scientific theories. When there is more than 95 percent research agreement, as there is on the issue of climate change, it becomes "accepted science" and requires us to respond responsibly. In our democratic society we should consider it unacceptable that the voice of inaction from the 5 percent, the skeptics, rules the day against the 95 percent. We can't afford the time lost to the continuing inertia created by the politicization of this issue.

Mark Smith, Glenside

Highlight reel

The iconic, indelible images I have of the Phillies are of Tug McGraw's "Tugger Twirl" and Brad Lidge on his knees. Both moments followed World Series championships. They were both relief pitchers, and now, they're both gone. That's baseball.

Richard Fitterman, Oreland

Weak plans

The Inquirer's "solution" to the mortgage crisis is only marginally better than President Obama's weaker plan ("Mortgage crisis efforts weak," Wednesday). For a mortgage to be renegotiated, the owners of the mortgage must be identified. For mortgages ensnared by securitized mortgage obligations, the contract has been sliced and diced among multiple "investments" and is often owned by multiple individuals and institutions. Unless these securitized obligations are unraveled, even solvent mortgages cannot be renegotiated.

Either the Federal Reserve or the Treasury is going to have to buy these obligations - not at face value, as banks once demanded of the Bush administration, but at much lower market value. Both the banks and the government will take a loss on these transactions, but the result will be institutions with firm and sound books with real assets. Then the government will reissue the unraveled mortgages so that they can be renegotiated.

Ben Burrows, Elkins Park

No election ploy

To the cynical letter writer who accused President Obama of withdrawing from Iraq as some kind of reelection strategy ("Iraq withdrawal is a reelection stunt," Tuesday), I say this: That war was a fraudulent endeavor from the jump, and to somehow accuse Obama of reelection trickery, when in fact he is simply making good on a stance that he took from before U.S. boots hit the ground in Iraq, is not only wrong, it's stupid.

Scott Paynter, Media, Singuh1@gmail.com

Keep the change

To save the government lots of money, as well as save consumers aggravation, get rid of pennies.

You can't buy anything for a penny, and there's no such thing as penny candy anymore. And who do you know who believes that $3.99 is a much better deal than $4? They only complicate things.

Last time I checked, it costs way over a cent for the U.S. government to mint a penny.

Face it, they have simply outlived their usefulness.

Kay Braun, Philadelphia

Voter information

With the 2010 census resulting in the redrawing of political boundaries, city commissioners should apprise registered voters of their new district boundaries for City Council, state representative and senator, and Congress.

After looking at maps (without street names) of the recently gerrymandered 10th and adjacent districts, I was unable to determine to which one I had been assigned. Upon calling the commission's offices, I learned that a minuscule blip into the Seventh District was where my residence was located.

Not all of the offices mentioned are on the ballot this year, but this is critical information voters must have.

Phil Stein, Philadelphia