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Letters to the Editor

How not to balance a budget Of course Gov. Corbett balanced the state budget without raising taxes. He is cutting funding for the Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, for health care, and for public schools and colleges ("Planned cuts at Phila. Library for the Blind opposed," Oct. 27). He is ignoring our roads, bridges, and mass transit. He isn't taxing natural-gas drillers. He pays allegiance to the no-tax pledge of Grover Norquist - who isn't even a Pennsylvanian.

How not to balance a budget

Of course Gov. Corbett balanced the state budget without raising taxes. He is cutting funding for the Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, for health care, and for public schools and colleges ("Planned cuts at Phila. Library for the Blind opposed," Oct. 27). He is ignoring our roads, bridges, and mass transit. He isn't taxing natural-gas drillers. He pays allegiance to the no-tax pledge of Grover Norquist - who isn't even a Pennsylvanian.

Instead he's concentrating on school vouchers, limiting voter's rights with specious fraud claims, prison funding, balancing the state budget on the backs of the counties and local governments, and of course political ideology at any cost!

So, why raise taxes when he can do all this to average Pennsylvanians and not inconvenience large corporations or the rich? Does the average person give hundreds of thousands of dollars to his and other GOP campaigns?

Michael Miller Jr., Philadelphia

Vouchers help city's most vulnerable

Given the decades-old crisis in urban education, and the billions of tax dollars that have been spent, we can't afford to accept the same excuses, political agendas, and failed policies ("Vouchers are not for the kids," Oct. 30). It's unfair to deny children a more immediate solution simply because of ideology.

At the Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia, I see the desperation of families when they are unable to provide a safe, quality education for their child. I also see the tremendous and transformational difference in the lives of CSFP students enrolled in quality, safe private and parochial schools. CSFP alumni are graduating high school prepared and on-time at rates in excess of 95 percent.

The good news is that there are more than 10,000 empty quality seats in 200 Philadelphia private and parochial schools. We can change the destiny of thousands more children today, by providing financial access to these tuition-based schools. CSFP supports Senate Bill 1 because it is an effective way to help our city's most vulnerable population.

Ina B. Lipman, Executive Director, Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia

We all have to obey the rules

I recently saw an item on TV about parents being outraged because cars were not stopping at stop signs on school buses. I completely understand their concern, but the report got me thinking about other rules that are often viewed as unnecessary and inconsequential.

I wonder how many of these same parents have ever texted while driving? Or not turned their phone off during takeoff and landing on a plane?

There are smaller examples as well. Why do some people always have more than 10 items in the express checkout? What about ignoring the handicapped parking signs at stores?

If we truly want others to obey rules, we ourselves need to do the same. And not just the ones we agree with. We need to pay attention to all of them.

Michael Campbell, Phoenixville

Corzine's cloudy future

Not so very long ago, the name of former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine was being mentioned as a potential replacement for Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner ("CEO Corzine steps down at MF Global," Friday). I couldn't believe the Obama administration thought Corzine had the credentials to lead the Treasury Department. The people in New Jersey knew better. Now it looks like Corzine's future is a little cloudy. Do you think his good friends in Washington will hold the job for him? Geithner is looking better all the time.

Carol Rhodes, Barnsboro