Letters to the Editor
First things second Well, we have our priorities straight: 1,700 people cleared off snow at Lincoln Financial Field so the Eagles could beat the 49ers, and in Philadelphia, all schools were closed Monday because not enough city streets had been plowed. 'Nough said.
First things
second
Well, we have our priorities straight: 1,700 people cleared off snow at Lincoln Financial Field so the Eagles could beat the 49ers, and in Philadelphia, all schools were closed Monday because not enough city streets had been plowed. 'Nough said.
Norma Bolden
Newtown Square
Nothing's in it
for us
So the Democrats now have cloture on their health-care bill. Ben Nelson got a permanent Medicare exemption for Nebraska; Chris Dodd got $100 million for a new hospital in Connecticut; Mary Landrieu got the second "Louisiana Purchase."
Senators in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware received Harry Reid's sincere thanks. Our senators, all Democrats, are useless. Replace all of them ASAP.
John Harrison
Millville
Votes for sale
in Congress
I am now an irate American. What started out as a bad bill in which more than 40 percent of the elected representatives of the people were not only ignored but not even consulted, has turned into a pork-barrel buying of votes - not to provide anything for the people, but only to give President Obama a victory.
I will do everything in my power to see that any area legislator who votes to allow the selling of votes by holdouts will be removed from office the next time we have the chance.
This bill is a total outrage.
Mark Methlie
Lansdale
Tougher
gun laws needed
A letter Friday ("System fails to keep us safe") says that the failures of Philadelphia's criminal-justice system serve as proof that commonsense gun laws are unnecessary. The writer said people should be wary of passing more laws that "criminals will ignore," even though the proposed one-gun-a-month limit is aimed at people who buy guns legally and transfer them to criminals.
The Inquirer series "Justice delayed, dismissed, denied" (Dec. 13) noted that police officers are frustrated with this city's revolving-door criminal-justice system, but it should also be noted that police officials support enhancement of current gun laws. It amazes me when gun-rights activists conveniently ignore the professional opinions of police chiefs who plead for more gun control.
The letter writer laments the fact that thousands of criminals are roaming the streets, but doesn't see any reason why we should make it more difficult for guns to end up in the hands of these fugitives. The fact that Philadelphia's court system is in such disarray means that we need stricter gun laws more than ever.
Sheth Jones
Philadelphia
A savior
for Atlantic City
With gaming revenues tumbling in a recession that sees no end, heavyweight investors Donald Trump and Carl Icahn are battling it out over Trump's three ancient Atlantic City properties that, because of an enormous debt load, are the biggest losers in town.
It's a pity that many notable gaming analysts lament that Atlantic City is permanently disfigured and blew a 30-year window to make itself a destination location, a unique place that would be able to compete against rivals. Yet, right under everyone's nose, the planets have lined up for making it one of the world's premier hot spots.
After finishing his last tour, rocker Bruce Springsteen scoffed at the notion of retirement and said that there were plenty more miles left on the E Street Machine.
If the right investor were to come along and purchase what is now Trump Plaza, which is connected to the 14,000-seat Boardwalk Hall, and put a creative deal together to land Bruce Springsteen to a long-term Celine Dion-like contract, that would transform Atlantic City into the rock-and-roll capital of the world, drawing his millions of rabid fans from around the globe to the East Coast gambling mecca.
And the fact that New Jersey elected a new governor, Christopher J. Christie, who is a Springsteen fan of the purest pedigree, could only help expedite this once-in-a-millennium transaction.
Eugene R. Dunn
Medford, N.Y.
Santorum
provides the laughs
I hope that Rick Santorum did not dislocate his shoulder patting himself on the back in his commentary last Thursday ("Challenging science dogma").
I find his "commentary," or, as I like to refer to it, his "aspiring presidential position papers," very entertaining and suggest that his pieces be moved to the comics, where they would be better suited.
Kevin McTague
Springfield