There are some changes needed in the Social Security system, but there are many commonsense suggestions for making it stronger financially, and they will be put into effect, ensuring the system's viability for future generations.
Robert Louis
Glenside
Lead by example on paying for sins
If Burton Caine of Temple Law School ("Nation should pay for antigay sins," Saturday) thinks the taxpayer should be held liable for reparations to gays barred from the military, perhaps he should lead by example and forfeit his entire salary to the cause. In fact, let Temple University lead the charge and forfeit all federal student aid, grants, and subsidies and instead give that money to gays wrongly persecuted at all levels. Lead by example, folks!
Jake Scherrer
Ewing
Tracking misuse of bridge-toll money
The Inquirer is doing a great job of uncovering the Delaware River Port Authority's misuse of our bridge-toll money ("DRPA funneled millions to groups," Monday). Why has no one been fired? Who's in charge here? Where is our "presidential nominee," Gov. Christie, in all of this? He can only bully children, old people, and teachers?
Keep digging, Inquirer. We need more bodies!
Florence Burke
Mount Laurel
Vets, their families, and their sacrifices
Our long occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, seemingly without an end, makes me think of the men and women in our armed forces who carry out these missions. None of this is possible without their participation, their acquiescence, and their sacrifices. And what do they get from the U.S. government when they return? Is it enough?
I think all veterans from these two wars should get free gasoline for the rest of their lives. If they made the ultimate sacrifice, then I think their immediate families should get free gasoline for life. Similarly, if the vets are maimed and unable to drive, their immediate families should receive free gas.
We also need military reform. Soldiers should be able to refuse overseas assignments if no war has been declared by Congress. Soldiers need a labor union, or at least a Congress and a president who do not treat them as the oil industry's company guards.
Tim Kearney
Philadelphia
kearney172@gmail.com
Violent video games should be restricted
A letter writer claims that parents, not the law, should decide whether or not youngsters should watch violent video games because, according to statistics, the majority of parents watches those games with their children (Inquirer, Thursday). I'm not swayed by that logic. We have laws that make it unlawful to provide cigarettes to minors, although their parents derive pleasure from smoking. Some parents like to relax with a beer or a glass of wine after a stressful day at the office or the shop, but that isn't sufficient reason to make the selling of intoxicating beverages to the underaged legal.
Lamentably, we are already experiencing an inordinate amount of violence. Anything that tends to ennoble it and make it look like innocent fun, rather than condemns it outright, should, for the sake of society, be prohibited.
Anthony Marquez
Bear
raton711@verizon.net
Pelosi needs to step aside
Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, has steadfastly decided that she wants to be elected House minority leader for the Democratic Party when the new Congress convenes in January ("Pelosi works deal to give key party post to Clyburn," Sunday.) Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, helped steamroll the extremely unpopular Obamacare bill through Congress, and she has blamed the continued high unemployment rate for her party's upcoming minority status in the House.
Pelosi needs to look in the mirror. She is one of the main reasons her party lost so many House seats on Nov. 2. The best thing she could do for her party and the United States is to step aside gracefully and retire with the pension and health-care benefits that most Americans will never have.
David M. Levin
Vineland
Show courage and address deficit
After reading the deficit reduction commission's report ("An honest blueprint," Friday), which puts everything on the table, it is time for legislators to put up or shut up. The recent election spewed so much rhetoric, but let us hope that legislators have the courage, wisdom, and fortitude to get something accomplished. That may be too much to ask.
David Krahn
Wynnewood
