Carol A. Pasquarello
Philadelphia
Politicians serving themselves
Mayor Nutter's reference to retiring Council President Anna Verna as a
public servant turns my stomach ("Council chief says this is it," Tuesday). The terms
servant and
public servant are 180 degrees apart. With most politicians, the only people being served are themselves.
Andrew J. Anderson
Blackwood
Beware 'A' rating from Cato Institute
In extolling Minnesota's former governor as a model for Gov. Corbett, Kevin Ferris cites what he considers laudable examples of Tim Pawlenty's fiscal discipline: He faced down not only those awful tax-and-spend Democrats, but unions. Ferris also informs us that Pawlenty was one of only four governors to receive an A rating in the Cato Institute's fiscal report card.
If the Cato Institute gave Pawlenty an A in any category, he is certain to be A-rated by other astute and unbiased commentators such as Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and the National Rifle Association. Sarah Palin too (unless they bump heads in the Republican primary).
John J. Donohue Jr.
Philadelphia
jjdonoh@aol.com
17th Amendment hurt the states
Leonard Boasberg is very much mistaken when he dismisses the efforts to repeal the 17th Amendment, which changed the selection of senators from state legislators to voters ("A funny way of showing it," Friday). In fact, this amendment eliminated the only means for the states to prevent the overreach of the federal government upon them.
With the direct election of senators, this federal legislative body was uncoupled from state control and we witnessed thereafter a tremendous increase in federal regulations and the imposition of unfunded federal mandates upon the 50 states. Repeal of the 17th Amendment would go a long way to restoring the balance of power intended by the founders.
Jay Borowsky
Philadelphia
Be skeptical of 'repeal amendment'
In his thoughtful criticism of the proposed "repeal amendment," one point Leonard Boasberg doesn't make is that this amendment would intensify an already problematic feature of our federal system: the imbalance of representation in the Senate, where states with less than 20 percent of the nation's population possess a majority of the 100 votes. Even the two-thirds majority of the state legislatures required under this proposed amendment would still permit states with less than 35 percent of the nation's population to override congressional actions. So we ought to be more than a little skeptical when Rep. Eric Cantor (R., Va.) claims the amendment would get government working "for the people" again.
James Hessinger
Hatboro
jhessinger@verizon.net
Keith Olbermann will be missed
With the resignation of Keith Olbermann from MSNBC, liberals or progressives have lost a powerful advocate ("Olbermann's show ends," Saturday). Sometimes, by his own admission, he went over the top, but mostly he tried to be fair. I am sure the Fox network will start boasting how they forced him off the air, but nothing could be further from the truth. Throughout his career, Olbermann seemed to reach a saturation point. He resigned from ESPN, then went into political coverage, only to resign during the Clinton impeachment because of over saturation. I would expect him to pop up in the sports field for a change of pace. No matter where he goes, he will be missed.
Ron Costello
Warminster
rrncostello@gmail.com
