Letters to the Editor

Televise Supreme Court sessions

I think it would be an excellent idea to televise U.S. Supreme Court sessions ("A case for TV in top court," Dec. 8). Having been present at a few sessions, I can highly recommend watching them. They are interesting, enlightening, and educational.

Recently, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania began televising sessions. I don't know what the response has been, but, if we can do it in our commonwealth, I see no reason to prevent its happening nationally.

In fact, students in history classes in high school and college would benefit greatly from using television for this purpose. As Dick Polman's article suggested, it might even encourage Justice Clarence Thomas to raise his voice and ask a question.

Anita Shmukler, Warrington, anitags9@aol.com

A new GOP front-runner

Beware of the "Gin-grinch" who has stolen Romney's Christmas.

Aaron M. Fine, Swarthmore

Gingrich wants to turn back clock

Newt Gingrich's plan to teach young children a work ethic by having them scrub toilets and mop floors is blatantly discriminatory ("Gingrich says he'll challenge Obama in every state in 2012," Dec. 6). His real aim is to abolish child labor laws and bust the janitorial unions. Why focus only on children from poor neighborhoods? Entitled children from the suburbs also need a work ethic. Our aim in a democracy should be to elevate the aspirations of all children through a superior education.

Gingrich wants to turn the clock back to another century. I find his remarks demeaning and very offensive.

Julia Vieland, Philadelphia, nanarecords@comcast.net

Stand up to the NRA

Another shooting at Virginia Tech ("Va. Tech deaths puzzling to friends," Sunday). How long are we going to let the National Rifle Association hold our public policy hostage? Columbine, Virginia Tech, Atlanta, Tucson, Nickel Mines. Those are just a few of the places where mass killings with guns have occurred, and that list doesn't include the daily shootings in Philadelphia. We need politicians who will stand up to the NRA.

William H. Ewing, Philadelphia

Eloquence to push big government

In his many addresses in the last three years, President Obama, an excellent speaker, has given the country touches of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Woodrow Wilson, Truman, and Reagan - to name a few ("A run against his own record," Monday). His message is how government can solve the financial problems of middle-class America by increasing taxes on the rich. The idea is that father or big government knows best, and a fairness czar, in the form of a bureaucracy, will decide the lives of Americans by equalizing income.

The irony is that we have a president speaking to people's individual financial problems and his solution is for an amorphous, insensitive, enormous government to do the job.

Henry Coxe, Ambler

Pa. candidates debate in NYC

Could somebody please explain why the photo with the story "Each striking the conservative chord" (Saturday) shows a picture of the Pennsylvania GOP senatorial hopefuls next to a striking poster for the moderator, the Pennsylvania Business Council, at a debate in New York City? Maybe the Business Council - and the people who hope to represent us - could consider taking their business to Pennsylvania.

David M. Scolnic, Wynnewood

Get rid of 'councilmanic prerogative'

Councilman Darrell L. Clarke's examples of how councilmanic prerogative - his own, in particular - made better projects out of Temple University's construction of a student residence hall and the Barnes Foundation's lease of land on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway sounded like classic Philly-style political strong-arming, special favors, and overreaching ("Council clout needed to help neighborhoods," Monday). I'd like to hear the other side's point of view on how these projects were dramatically improved under the prerogative. This practice needs to go, along with these council-maniacal egos.

Janet Lorenz, Philadelphia