Letters to the Editor

It is not difficult to see the root of the problem at the Delaware River Port Authority (Inquirer, May 5-6). This is still a really small gene pool of old-time pols, union officials, special interests and bureaucrats. With all the conflicts of interest it is no wonder that the priority of this agency is looting commuters' wallets.

Chairman-designee John H. Estey says one seat on the commission for a commuter representative "is something we should consider." That's big of him, considering that 85 percent of DRPA revenue comes from bridge tolls. How about having the majority of seats be for commissioners representing the interests of those who pay the bills?

The article also mentioned that the commissioners are signaling more cooperation between delegations by intermingled seating at their meetings rather than sitting together by state. Call me a cynic, but I am not sure that this signals a new course. It just may be that it is easier to pass the money sub rosa when you are sitting on the same side of the table.

Jon Clark

Franklinville

The Democratic Party is sliding into oblivion, and I'm burning my membership card as I write. The Clintons, who represented the last high-water mark of the party, have been betrayed, dishonored and berated by some of their closest allies. Two states that would likely go to Hillary, Florida and Michigan, have lost their credentials. Barack Obama decided to run without establishing the portfolio needed to be a viable, proven candidate or the ability to attract the white, blue-collar and Reagan Democrat votes. The superdelegates are shaking in their boots and will not alienate their black constituents by nominating the most likely candidate to defeat John McCain.

Thus the Democrats, in their most liberal posture, are more interested in being the first party to nominate an African American for president than in winning. That this will happen when a Republican president has sent this country reeling is much too bitter a pill to swallow. Change is fine, but not for change's sake. Democrats are too idealistic and naive to ever appeal to the base of this country.

Anthony J. Frascino

Cherry Hill

The Editorial Board has reached a new level of hypocrisy. First, it is against putting legal notices in free community papers vs. keeping them in newspapers like The Inquirer ("A power of the press," May 5). The reasoning is that it would limit the public's access to information. But how can that be if every citizen is given a free community newspaper, but not everyone pays for a newspaper subscription? Sound reasoning for sure.

On the same page is an editorial against the Supreme Court decision upholding the Indiana Voter ID law ("Another reason to stay home," May 5). The law puts an undue burden on the poor and elderly who would have difficulty obtaining an ID, the editorial states. However, the board doesn't seem to have empathy for the poor and elderly who might not subscribe to a newspaper and won't see legal notices there. I guess they do not have the right to this information.

Tom Harkins

Wilmington

So Ricardo Muti is going to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for

five

years (Inquirer, May 6), and we're stuck with Charles Dutoit for the next four. Our prejudiced music critics have successfully disparaged Muti and Christoph Eschenbach out of Philadelphia. Many thanks to Eschenbach for years of exciting programs. What new horror awaits us in the future? Simon Rattle?

Theodora L. West

Philadelphia

As a ninth grader in a suburban high school, I do not believe additional testing is necessary ("Rendell's graduate skills test in trouble," May 5). Students in my classes are already swamped with quizzes, tests and projects for every subject. We spend weeks preparing for and then taking the mandatory standardized tests. Neither the teachers nor the students need more tests crammed into already overfilled schedules.

Kate Hentschel

Hatboro