LETTERS - Jan. 26

ISSUE | ENERGY POLICY

Nuclear generation key to lower carbon

While taking a welcome stance in favor of achieving carbon neutrality in Pennsylvania, State Rep. Greg Vitali (D., Delaware) was remiss in his failure to highlight nuclear energy as an emissions-free source that must remain part of the state's energy mix if it is serious about carbon reduction ("Issues facing Pa. leaders," Jan. 20).

Pennsylvania's existing nuclear energy plants provide more than 34 percent of its electricity and account for an impressive 93 percent of emissions-free electricity. Every year, the state's nuclear plants prevent the emission of more than 63 million metric tons of carbon dioxide - equal to what would be released by more than 12 million passenger cars.

Therefore, Vitali should consider supporting policies that preserve the continued operation of nuclear plants. Policies that subsidize some clean-air energy, like wind and solar, to the detriment of other clean-air energy, like nuclear, only serve to encumber the state's achievement of its carbon reduction goals while increasing costs for consumers.

|Blanche Lincoln, Leadership Council of Nuclear Matters, Washington

ISSUE | ANTITERROR

Deprive terrorists of oxygen of publicity

I wonder if the major news networks have ever considered setting a policy that they will refuse to show any terrorist videos involving hostage actions. Surely, the terrorists are delighted when the major networks air their videos of threats to hostages. If there were no broadcast of these terrorist-sponsored videos, it is possible the terrorists might lose interest in this type of action. I, for one, have no interest in seeing such videos on the evening news.

|Dave Gilbert, Kennett Square

Ignore at our peril

As the world explores the roots of terrorism in Europe - segregated Parisian suburbs, where young people live in poverty and racism without hope - Americans should thinking about our own ghettos of hopelessness, poverty, and racism. Aren't we just Paris and Brussels waiting to happen?

|Karen Porter, West Chester, karenporteresq@gmail.com

ISSUE | DANCE

Waiting for the old soft shoe to drop

The fact that there was little, if any, dancing during the Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre pieces the other week at the Dance Celebration at the Annenberg Center apparently was not a problem for Inquirer reviewer Merilyn Jackson, but it will be for the future health of Dance Celebration ("Dances proffer politics and art," Jan. 17). Bring another group or two with no dance and (apparently hidden) political agendas, and watch the subscriber base shrink even further when renewal time rolls around.

The Miami heat these Herrera pieces brought belonged in a political statement venue or comedy club. While some of the music was entertaining, it's the dance that draws the audience.

|Ted Laws, Radnor, tlaws@chicagobooth.edu

ISSUE | ENTITLEMENTS

U.S. home of the corporate welfare state

Wait, George Will claims I am on welfare because I receive Social Security benefits and because I am on Medicare ("Changing a nation's character," Jan. 23)? I paid into Social Security for 40 before retiring - mostly at the maximum rate. How is that welfare?

If Will wants to discuss America's character, let him first examine corporate welfare. He should look into payments, subsidies, delayed or no taxation, and the like for both corporations and individuals at the highest income levels.

|Jim Kempner, Holland

ISSUE | 'AMERICAN SNIPER'

Warrior's lethal assignment was honorable

As a Navy SEAL sniper, Chris Kyle put his life on the line to defend freedoms that Americans, including a recent letter writer, seem to have come to take for granted ("Sharpshooter's service in the crosshairs," Jan. 21). Kyle was not a murderer, but rather a soldier protecting fellow soldiers and, in the end, protecting fellow Americans from monsters who respected no limits to their behavior.

|Steve Heitner, Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., stephenheitner7@gmail.com

ISSUE | FIRST RESPONDERS

Stretched resources? Call for volunteers

As we've done many times, New Jersey's emergency medical services volunteers jumped to the aid of their northern neighbors in mid-January during an ice storm that overwhelmed New York City's 911 system. Volunteers from several New Jersey State First Aid Council-affiliated squads spent hours answering calls, while emergency responders struggled to keep up with demand. The 86-year-old nonprofit council, which I serve as president, represents more than 20,000 volunteers affiliated with 300 squads.

We've done this many times, particularly in New York and Pennsylvania, when disasters inundated responder resources. Indeed, New Jersey homeland security officials have affirmed publicly that, without its strong volunteer EMS base, the state would be unable to provide adequate disaster response.

|Howard Meyer, Summit, NJSFAC@verizon.net