Letters to the Editor | Jan. 19, 2024

In June of 1971, President Richard Nixon declared a “war on drugs.” Yet it was never a war on drugs, but rather a war on people who use drugs, people with the disease of addiction. The war on drugs, the lock ‘em up strategy, hasn’t worked for 50 years. Seeking to address the crisis with the same old playbook and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. What is needed are new, progressive, aggressive strategies and urgency to deal with the crisis. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is looking for “data-driven and researched-based approaches,” yet rejects supervised consumption sites, also known as overdose prevention centers, as a means of harm reduction and saving lives.

Internationally, there are over 20 years of data-driven results regarding overdose prevention centers. No one has ever died at one. There is successful engagement with clients to have them seek treatment and change their lives. People with opioid use disorder will find places to use. Prior to an overdose prevention center opening in New York, the city’s Sanitation Department collected 13,000 used needles each month in a park across the street. Once the center opened, they collected 1,000 needles per month. Overdose prevention centers will keep users away from schools, churches, libraries, and businesses. Safehouse Philly has it right.

Dave Humes, Wilmington

Not everyone is eligible to be president. According to the Constitution, there are three requirements: the candidate must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen of the U.S., and must have lived in the country for at least 14 years. It is not necessary for a candidate to be convicted of a crime to be barred. If the Constitution says you’re not eligible, you’re not. A 19-year-old recent high school graduate is not eligible due to age. Arnold Schwarzenegger, once floated as a presidential candidate, is not a natural-born citizen, so he wasn’t eligible. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that no person who engaged in or supported an insurrection shall hold any office. It is an absolute bar to holding office, and the sole remedy is a vote of two-thirds of each house of Congress. All this talk of a criminal conviction is a red herring by the MAGA crowd to promote their perfect candidate. And it has already been determined in a court that the perfect candidate engaged in an insurrection.

Alfred Abel, Jenkintown

Columnist Kyle Sammin criticizes efforts to disqualify Donald Trump as a presidential candidate this year, in as much as he has not yet been convicted of a crime connected with the events of Jan. 6, 2021. This same argument was found unpersuasive during recent litigation in New Mexico involving Couy Griffin, founder of Cowboys for Trump. The trial court’s conclusion, upheld by the state’s Supreme Court, was that Griffin violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution by participating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Consequently, he forfeited his office as county commissioner and was barred for life from holding any public office. Griffin’s argument that he could not be constitutionally disqualified since he was not prosecuted for insurrection was flatly rejected. The court, citing precedent, stated, “Neither the courts nor Congress have ever required a criminal conviction for a person to be disqualified under Section 3.” While there may be sound legal arguments to justify keeping Trump on the 2024 presidential ballot, the need for a prerequisite insurrection conviction is not one of them.

Patrick J. Hagan, Ardmore

Article 3 of the 14th Amendment was adopted by Congress after the Civil War to prevent anyone who participated in trying to overthrow the government from holding public office. Simple. I’m sure they never envisioned the acting president and some members of Congress would be the ones who tried to overthrow the will of the people and nullify their votes.

A recent editorial points to several other politicians who are unfit to serve: U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, and State Sen. Doug Mastriano. Menendez is charged with taking bribes and acting as a foreign agent. Perry and Mastriano were involved with the insurrection, sending false electors to Washington to support Donald Trump and subvert the will of the people. There are numerous Trump supporters and political allies who participated in the insurrection and pushed for fake electors to overthrow a free and fair election and install Trump. No one has talked about this issue. Why?

Now, officials in Colorado and Maine have taken steps to remove Trump’s name from the ballot in accordance with the Constitution. Trump, of course, has appealed the ruling to a friendly U.S. Supreme Court. You would think that it would be obvious that Trump violated Article 3 and the court should rule accordingly. However, when you read Will Bunch’s recent column about the current Supreme Court, I’m not so sure how it will vote. Will the court uphold the Constitution’s rule of law or side with politics?

Patrick Thompson, Media

Many years ago, on the day we first brought our son to Brandeis University, the parents were told there would be a special assembly for them. After listening to the school’s president and her promises of what Brandeis would do for our children, she introduced the guest speaker: Abba Eban. A rustle of delight went through the auditorium.

Eban — who in a long, distinguished career served as Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. — delivered an insightful, often humorous, speech about Israel and its unique relationship to the United States and with American Jews. We all felt fortunate to have heard him speak. One thing he said has stuck with me: He said that American Jews had a unique responsibility to criticize Israel when its government did something that did not reflect the values on which it was founded. He said we were not to behave like his Jewish mother who felt he could do no wrong.

I am an American Jew, and when I hear or read of a gentile criticizing the government of Israel (not a difficult thing to do these days), I do not think that what is being said or written is antisemitic. After all, 85% percent of the Israeli population doesn’t want Benjamin Netanyahu to continue leading the government. We need to be careful and not equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

Meridyth M. Senes, Burlington

The letter to the editor by Daniel H. Grace, secretary-treasurer for Teamsters Local 830, against Philadelphia’s soda tax is so biased and self-serving that it is almost humorous. He states (as the Teamsters have all along) that people drove out of the city to get their sodas. There is no data that shows that. Grace continues with a comment that the tax did not lead to “health gains for children.” The purpose of the tax was to raise funds for early childhood education, which it has definitely done. Those of us who supported and continue to support this tax did not do it to improve children’s health. If that happens, it is a nice benefit. Shortsighted thinking about only what benefits a union is not the way to go.

Barbara Gold, Philadelphia

Corporations have convinced some voters that regulations are bad. Businesses must ensure products are safe, a choice between their profits and our welfare. A good example is what happened when a piece of fuselage blew out from a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. Passengers could have been sucked out of the plane. Spirit AeroSystems, who made the defective part, allegedly ignored regulations. A lawsuit claims an employee was demoted when he reported defects and was asked to obscure quality problems. Though 346 people died in deadly 737 crashes, blamed in part on an “improper manufacturing process,” some politicians continue to push for deregulation. Over the last four years, Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing have spent $65 million on lobbying and political contributions. President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13771, requiring two regulations to be cut for any new one implemented. More than 100 environmental rules were rolled back under Trump, including some for mercury pollution, particularly dangerous for children. Either we have regulations to protect us or deregulation to allow corporations to increase their profits at our expense.

Sandra Folzer, Philadelphia

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of a letter about former President Donald Trump misidentified the government officials in Maine who have taken steps to remove his name from the state’s primary ballot. It was Secretary of State Shenna Bellows not members of the state’s Supreme Court.

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