Every vote counts
Cinnaminson Township voters narrowly approved a bond question for $57 million for our public schools. Out of nearly 3,500 ballots cast, the winning margin was just nine votes — but that doesn’t tell the whole story. What struck me was that in a township with 14,000 registered voters, only about 3,500 people actually took part in the referendum. So to my neighbors: Before you go to township council meetings to complain about your property tax increase, ask yourself if you made your voice heard in this referendum. If you didn’t vote, stay home.
Kenneth Rayca, Cinnaminson
Compassion required
I recently rode a SEPTA bus through one of Philadelphia’s poorest neighborhoods. I am a devoted supporter of public transit. We did not have a car growing up in an urban environment; it’s not so much that we couldn’t afford one, but I suspect my father, a professor of philosophy, thought a car would anchor him too much to everyday aggravations. As a result, I took public transit all over the city and am, to this day, more comfortable traveling this way.
One of the great benefits of bus travel is the opportunity to observe a wide cross-section of the city and reflect on its overall socioeconomic condition. This recent trip brought to life the struggles and suffering of many of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable — those in ill health, those experiencing homelessness, those without proper nutrition. Witnessing humanity trying to cope with life at the bottom of the economy, I felt close to tears at the corrosive cruelty of the current administration in severely cutting social safety net programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It occurred to me that politicians, as a requirement to hold office, should have to take bus trips like this — maybe then they can begin to understand what life is like for many who feel pain and hurt just trying to live their lives.
Allan Irving, Swarthmore
Economic fairness
Reading The Inquirer Editorial Board’s series about how the president has, shall we say, expanded his wealth in the White House reminded me that the grifters have been here since way before the Trumps. The rich and powerful have long used the words communism and socialism to convince people they will lose their freedom if they vote for Democrats. The right wing says if people only listen to and vote for Republicans, their wealth will trickle down.
Well, it hasn’t happened yet. Every year, the right wing has dismantled more rights granted by our Constitution and diminished other laws created by the government of the people. Now the right wing owns many of our financial institutions, much of our news media, utilities, healthcare, and so on.
The path that led to a family of right-wing grifters gaining so much influence can’t be denied — but we can do something about the future. When you vote this year, remember that it’s about creating economic fairness and the sharing of power. Let’s hope we can vote our way into a more equitable future.
Mardys Leeper, Bryn Mawr
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