Letters to the Editor | Feb. 18, 2024

In the early 1970s, Richard Nixon rode to a landslide reelection victory with the help of the so-called silent majority. Fast-forward 50 years and there is now the silenced majority. Who’s that, you wonder? Ask why George Floyd’s family received a $27 million settlement when he was trying to pass a $20 counterfeit bill and you’re racist. Challenge Israel’s massacre of innocent Palestinians and you’re antisemitic. Disagree with transgender females competing against cisgender females and you’re transphobic. Oppose the mass influx of illegal immigrants and you’re xenophobic.

We all talk about these issues around the kitchen table, but everyone is hesitant to publicly discuss them since the liberal media (including The Inquirer) will dismiss and deride you and your thoughts. I believe that this hesitancy to openly discuss one’s views is more dangerous to American democracy than Donald Trump. Until we reach a point when we can have these open discussions, the deep and disturbing divisions within our country will only continue to fester and grow.

Taylor McCormick, Drexel Hill

I am responding to a recent letter to the editor (“Privilege showing”) regarding the controversy surrounding Independence Blue Cross’ new in-person office policy. We understand there are jobs that require in-person participation, but what the writer fails to realize is that employees were offered a hybrid option that was deemed to be permanent at the time. Returning to the office will be a huge financial burden to a large population who had not budgeted for before- or after-school care or elder care and commuting costs. The writer should also be informed that there are wait lists for these types of care, especially at the end of the school year. Camps are also filled for the summer in most cases.

In addition, all of the IBX employees from 1901 Market St. pay city wage tax even if we don’t live in the city. As employees, we have been supporting the city infrastructure while also being able to support our local communities. Should we abandon our minority residents who work in the service industry whom we have been able to support locally? Since the writer seems to think commuters should pay for the city’s needs, perhaps the writer is willing to give up a percentage of his salary to support my local community?

H. Putney, Philadelphia

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s decision to completely reorganize the Department of Licenses and Inspections is an example of what is necessary in good government: leadership. In 2013, a building collapsed on the Salvation Army offices, killing seven people and injuring 13 others. Mayor Michael Nutter established a special commission to determine the role of L&I in the collapse. I was fortunate to be appointed the executive director. The commission members donated their time and worked continuously for six months. They determined that L&I was obsolete and ineffective and should be replaced by a construction department headed by a registered engineer, and another department to oversee the licensing of commercial retail businesses.

Mayor Nutter publicly approved of the recommendations. Unfortunately, he left office, and the incoming administration ignored the report. City Council held a hearing, but in boxing parlance, took a dive on the recommendations, and the commission’s great effort died on the canvas. Mayor Parker has now dismantled L&I and formed two new departments similar to the commission commendations. A long-overdue change in city government will occur because of the leadership of Mayors Nutter and Parker.

Peter Vaira, Philadelphia, pvairawgpllp.com

As a member of a senior generation, I am perplexed by the use of age as the major metric defining one’s ability to lead or to govern. Taken one step further, I would argue that even a keen memory is not absolutely essential. I recall that in the time of my training in medicine over 40 years ago, there was greater reliance on having accurate facts at our fingertips. That was a time when powerful handheld electronic devices were not yet in use, and timely and accurate recollection of specific medical information was critical. Those days have long passed, and any physician can unearth a treasure trove of vital information with a few clicks. Conflating memory with textured wisdom is an unfortunate error of perception. They are not the same, nor are they linearly related to age. For my leaders, I look for wisdom and life experiences to guide us. Good memory in the absence of wisdom will hardly lead us in the right direction.

Harvey Guttmann, Jenkintown, hguttmann@gmail.com

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