Letters to the Editor | Feb. 13, 2025

America does not need to own Greenland, Panama, or Gaza. What America needs is a lower cost of groceries, affordable health care, and more jobs. However, by throwing out so many newsworthy bombshells, Donald Trump is not only distracting us from important quality-of-life issues, he’s distracting himself, as well. He’s no longer making any reference to his pre-election concern about the price of eggs or any other economic issues but is focusing his energy on dismantling the FBI and pardoning people who attacked the police. I’m grateful for Bernie Sanders, who never loses focus and will always remind us that health care is a human right.

Verley Platt, Philadelphia

Trump wants to remove the Palestinians from Gaza and put their land under U.S. control. Here’s an idea: Let’s move them to Oklahoma! That’s what we did to the Apache, the Cheyenne, the Comanche, the Seminole, the Choctaw, the Arapaho, the Cherokee, the Iowa, the Nez Perce, and other groups. When it comes to evicting native populations and taking their land, no nation has more experience than we do.

David Wilkins, Philadelphia

We have fines for parking too long in a metered space or driving without a license. Could we not have fines for performing a courtesy tow without providing an accurate drop-off location and a location that is a legal parking space? Make the fines three, four, or more times the payment for carrying out a courtesy tow, and the problem of misplaced cars would disappear.

Steven B. Erisoty, Philadelphia

The Pennsylvania attorney general’s website notes in bold that the office has some jurisdictional limitations. While that is true in some circumstances, 22 states have sued to prevent Donald Trump from withholding appropriated funds on the basis that it is unconstitutional. Pennsylvania did not join them. Our current AG took an oath to uphold the Constitution, as presumably did those of the other states. If Dave Sunday believes he has no jurisdiction to intercede, he should explain why. If he believes Trump’s action is constitutional, he should do the same. A committed AG would not remain aloof from the fray.

In his inauguration speech, Sunday vowed to take the fight to those who violate the public trust and ensure that the rule of law is upheld: “Citizens have the absolute right to demand that their government works to keep them safe from harm.” It’s time he put those words into action. While funds are withheld, Pennsylvanians for whom Sunday expressed empathy and support face harm. His inaction is troubling.

Stewart Speck, Ardmore, speckstewart@gmail.com

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