Letters to the Editor | Sept. 11, 2022

I am always fascinated by the aversion conservative-leaning folks have for anything that helps normal people.

While corporate welfare costs us taxpayers collectively an estimated $100 billion a year, prison — one noncollege option — costs an average of $33,000 per year per person. College graduates pay much more in taxes than nongraduates; far more than the $10,000-$20,000 per person in debt being forgiven. Yeah, aiding our kids a bit to help them get a good start in life, working to repair our broken higher education business, and building a tech apprenticeship system rather than fly by night private schools is needed — but seriously, lending money to students who by definition don’t have any isn’t very smart.

Mara Obelcz, Hatfield, momobelcz@gmail.com

The most important elections are school board elections, as school board members

make decisions that affect the quality of our future generations. Recently the specter of “vouchers” disguised as “parental choice” has reared its ugly head. According to the Carson v. Makin decision, if a state gives funds to private schools, they must allow those funds to also be used in religious schools. A majority of private schools are run by religious institutions. The state may not interfere with religion, so teachers do not have to have the same qualifications to teach in private religious schools. The schools can hire according to religion, as well as cherry-pick their student population. State funds could be used to discriminate on the bases of sexual preference, religion, and even race, using religious freedom as an excuse. Sadly, it has been proven that the voucher system does not lead to better results.

Gloria Schor Andersen, Voorhees, amgovern@aol.com

Wildfires in the Northwest. Severe drought in the Southwest. Torrential rain and flooding in the heartland and Mississippi. The water imbalance caused by climate change is threatening the way of life for perhaps 100 million Americans or more.

The U.S. does a fabulous job of moving natural gas, oil, and electricity around the country as needed. Why not water? We need a new, aggressive infrastructure project to address the water imbalance that likely will be with us at least through the rest of the century. Will it cost billions? Yes. But we would be paying it forward rather than spending those billions on ongoing and worsening disaster relief. And providing thousands of new jobs.

Barry Lurie, Bala Cynwyd

In Tuesday’s edition, the editorial supporting “Biden’s prudent warning,” used the word democracy more than 10 times. You also wrote that Philadelphia is the birthplace of American democracy.

First, on examining both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, the word democracy does not appear. We live in a democratic republic, with states represented in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate gives all states the same two votes, no matter the population of each state. On Jan. 6, 2021, I, too, was horrified to see the lawless mob forced its way into the U.S. Capitol Building. There was no justification. Most Republicans feel this way, despite your claim in the editorial. Only a small portion of those who were in Washington, D.C., that day chose to make this illegal entry.

President Joe Biden claims that the upcoming elections are a choice between democracy and autocracy. He demonized all who opposed his vision for the future of the country. Disagreeing with an elected official does not make one a threat to democracy. There are more civil ways to present our differing views on the role of government in our lives, and in our republic. President Biden chose to paint his opponents as enemies.

David E. Kelly, Springfield

The article titled “Judge grants Trump bid for review” (Sept. 6) points out that a federal judge, appointed by Donald Trump, was allowed to render a decision — a favorable decision for Trump — involving Trump’s effort against the government of the United States. This brings to mind a quote: “There is too much law for those who can afford it, and too little for those who cannot.”

Victor J. Janosik, Norristown

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