Letters to the Editor | June 6, 2023

As I began to read Kyle Sammin’s column on the report by special counsel John Durham, my eyes drifted to the column above by Solomon Jones, “GOP’s war on truth kicks into overdrive.” That’s what I found as I read Sammin’s piece. Does anyone in the GOP, or the media covering for it (Fox News), tell the truth? I haven’t read the Mueller report in its entirety, but I’ve read enough to know that then-Attorney General William Barr lied to the American public when he gave his version of the report. Sammin obviously hasn’t read it. The report documents Russia’s involvement with Donald Trump’s campaign staff and much more.

Trump’s current legal situation is a story that could have been foretold by the extent of his malfeasance while in office, before and after. Much of our travails could have been avoided if Sen. Mitch McConnell had the courage to put country before party at Trump’s first impeachment, when the truth took a back seat to the cover-up. But what did that lady say about facts? There are alternate facts, and then Rudy Giuliani told us truth isn’t truth. The GOP is a riot — literally and figuratively — and the U.S. is the worse for wear thanks to it.

Nathan Farbman, Philadelphia

I was disappointed in Sen. John Fetterman’s no vote on the debt ceiling legislation. As an economist with 40 years of experience, policy issues matter to me, so I was interested in how he would vote on his first major economic policy issue. It was irresponsible, and arguably economic terrorism, for a congressperson to seriously consider forcing the U.S. to default on its debt. I share his concern about the negative effects of work requirements for social assistance programs. Work requirements are expensive and can reduce enrollment.

Research shows they do not measurably raise employment, as working-age recipients often cannot work due to poor health and child-rearing responsibilities. However, the economic benefits of voting no to avoid work requirements are minuscule compared to the immediate and long-term economic costs of a debt default. Sixty-three Democratic and Republican senators understood this trade-off and did the right thing. Fetterman did not.

Phil Hopkins, Bryn Mawr, pjhopkins3@comcast.net

I have no issue with District Attorney Larry Krasner investigating the shooting of a teen driver on I-95 (who was allegedly involved in illegal drag racing). It would be nice, however, if the DA also spent some time investigating the “more than 100 drag racers and a large crowd” gathered in Northeast Philadelphia and the “numerous vehicles and pedestrians illegally blocking the roadway” near I-95 at Penn’s Landing. He could also investigate all the multiple illegal and dangerous off-road vehicles, motorcycles, and the like being driven illegally and recklessly, endangering life and destroying quality of life in the city. But given his past priorities, does he even care?

Matthew A. White, Philadelphia

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