LETTERS - Aug. 22

ISSUE | PROBLEMS SOLVED

Collect more taxes

The most obvious, simple, and fair way to resolve any Social Security shortfall is to eliminate the cap on wages subject to the Social Security tax. Why shouldn't those fortunate enough to earn more than $117,000 a year be taxed on those earnings?

The problem is that some in Congress are more interested in dismantling Social Security than in fixing it.

|Bill Johnston, Upper Darby

Hire more lawyers

As an attorney who has worked with the city's Law Department for years (though not representing the city), I can say unequivocally that a recent letter was wrong and illogical (Aug. 19). The Law Department is fully staffed with bright, competent, hardworking attorneys. The reason they have to hire outside counsel for major cases is that there are simply not enough of them.

It makes no sense to suggest that because the department does not have enough attorneys to handle major cases, it should reduce its staff. If its budget were sufficient for all its needs, the "problem" would be solved.

|Ned Dunham, Flourtown, edunham@kleinbard.com

ISSUE | ISLAMIC STATE

We're at war

President Obama still refuses to face the nature of the enemy. With an Islamic State video showing the beheading of kidnapped U.S. journalist James Foley, it's appropriate to ask the administration and the media that supports it if they have finally gotten the message. Obama has said we are not at war with Islam, but a large segment of it appears to be at war with us.

|Stephen Hanover, Doylestown

War is over

Throughout President Obama's tenure, the Republican cupboard has been bare of better ways to handle the problems that have cropped up, as Charles Krauthammer shows ("Grand ideas meet reality," Aug 18). Dealing with the Islamic State is important, but its initial victory was against a force 40 times larger. Pushing it back is not simply a matter of arming the opposition, and Americans are unenthusiastic about getting back into Iraq. When Republicans can come up with innovative, sensible, and practical ideas for handling the crisis, get back to us.

|Richmond L Gardner, Horsham

ISSUE | DOWN SYNDROME

Special needs last a lifetime

As the mother of a fine 47-year-old man with Down syndrome and as a longtime advocate for people with special needs, I'm fully in favor of doctors providing complete information on Down syndrome to expectant parents ("With Down syndrome diagnosis, information," Aug. 19). However, that information should include the fact that once the federal mandates that protect people with special needs from birth to age 21 end, families are left substantially on their own.

This means very little or no job training, very few or no jobs, almost no money for independent or semi-independent housing, no transportation, etc. Services are left for the states to provide. And Pennsylvania, whose legislature is so determinedly "pro-life," doesn't begin to provide enough money for those services. That is why the waiting list for services never disappears. That is why you see parents in their 70s and 80s with "children" in their 50s and 60s still living at home. People's special needs last their entire lives - and well beyond the lives of their parents.

The last worry on my list is that people with Down syndrome will disappear. My first worry is about the care they will receive as adults.

|Arlene Jarett, Bryn Mawr

Lives that should be lived

I hope a new law reduces the number of babies with Down syndrome whose lives are terminated through abortion ("With Down syndrome diagnosis, information," Aug. 19). Why? Because of Bridget Anne Murray, my daughter, and because too many parents are missing the opportunity to raise children who bring so much joy and love into their lives and the lives of everyone they meet.

My vocation in life is a special one: to be a husband and a father of two wonderful children, one of whom received a diagnosis of trisomy 21, or Down syndrome, at birth. I remember being nervous, even scared, about what the future held for my family and, in particular, my daughter. But over time, I have learned to embrace the responsibility of raising a child with special needs. I see the special role she plays in this world, and I love every extra chromosome in every cell in her body. Are there challenges? Yes. Would I trade them for the world? Not a chance.

Two years after Bridget joined our lives, my wife and I were blessed with the birth of our son, Charlie. During her pregnancy, my wife and I chose once again to decline prenatal testing. We decided that if our second child was born with a lifelong disability, we would embrace the role of parents to another special-needs child.

Why? Because of Bridget Anne Murray. Because of her and her brother, I am the luckiest dad in the world.

|Chris Murray, Berwyn, crmurray30@verizon.net

ISSUE | PUBLIC HEALTH

The whole fracking truth

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has revised its policies, The Inquirer noted, following "reports that the department had discouraged staff from talking to people who had [gas-]drilling-related health complaints" ("Pa. revises procedure on gas-drilling health complaints," Aug. 18). While that's admirable, it's hardly enough.

For some time, the department has effectively decided to ignore certain health concerns, which has compromised its integrity at the most basic level. To truly right this wrong, Pennsylvania must fully investigate the situation, ensure public access to all past and future claims about fracking-related health complaints, thoroughly evaluate the health impacts of fracking, and end attempts to politically guide investigations into such concerns. Only with such transparency can Pennsylvania's health professionals truly safeguard human health and protect future generations.

|Cherie Eichholz, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Philadelphia