To the Editor:
In response to Richard DiGiacomo, Wikipedia's definitions of "totalitarianism" and "socialism" aside, I must note he is rather vague on how President Obama represents either of these political ideologies ("Dual isms," March 5).
Concerning Mr. DiGiacomo's assertion the current administration is some new, radical government attempting to regulate all facets of public life, I must cite the past eight years under the Bush administration. The United States just confined to its past the most totalitarian regime in its history. In fact, in the first eight weeks of his presidency, Obama has made leaps and bounds in unraveling the fascist regulations and policies of the former president, which range from torture and imprisonment without legal representation to ignoring the will of the legislature (i.e. Bush's signing statements).
Moving to the next implication Obama is a socialist, I would note while, indeed, some of his legislation has socialist characteristics, Mr. DiGiacomo's broad use of the word hardly captures what that term represents. Socialism has its roots in the working-class struggle against the overbearing and greedy aristocracy, who, in today's world, have mismanaged the market into the current recession. With what is happening in the financial industry, many economists agree some socialism is needed right now through banking bailouts and stimulus bills. Just because our bills or programs have socialist characteristics does not mean they are totally socialist. Cases in point would be Medicare and Medicaid.
Mr. DiGiacomo claims the lower and middle classes will pay if the tax burden is shifted to the wealthy, but he fails to explain how he arrived at this conclusion and cites some marginally hypothetical example. While I appreciate his sentiments, he should have focused on the alternative minimum tax or the failure of trickle-down economics as the root of lower and middle class difficulties. Instead, he blames Obama for economic policies required to repair the damage and problems inherited from Bush, touting Bush's business-loving ideologies that led the United States to its current economic crisis.
To the Editor:
Does anyone in our government know what in the hell they are doing? City, state and federal officials just seem not to have a clue as to what is going on or any knowledge at all how to fix any of it. I find it disgraceful and terrifying to think where their lack of leadership skills has put our country and the dreadful position we find ourselves in, with a hole that is becoming deeper and deeper. Anyone with half a brain knows how they sat back and allowed the oil companies to cripple our country and the world's economy, and no one could ever convince me otherwise as to how blatantly obvious it was. The worst part is they are set to raise more problems.
With so many people out of work and trying to survive, the Delaware River Port Authority decided to raise bridge tolls, not to mention highway tolls. Where is the logic of taking more from people who have no more to give?
Despite all of the money granted to General Motors via the huge stimulus package and the 10,000 auto workers they laid off, they are now crying for more. Are we supposed to save every business from collapse because of their stupidity, greed and don't-give-a-damn attitude?
Every city and state has run out of money and is taking expected and necessary services from the people. Who caused all of this confusion? It did not happen overnight. There were signs, but our game-playing leaders thought it best not to inform their constituents openly, reaching decisions behind closed doors. This is democracy? Who runs this country? Is it us, the huddled captive masses? Or the pompous and self-serving figures we elected to look out for us?
Just take a long, hard look at what we are stuck with and how it desperately cries out for change to capability and integrity, which seems to have gotten lost.
An open letter to Mayor Michael Nutter and the Philadelphia Streets Department:
I'm writing to ask for help in raising the issue of a street cleaning program in South Philly. Or should I say the lack of street cleaning in South Philly?
Article:
Change in scenery
Article:
The night Izzie died
Article:
South Philly landmarks
Article:
The corner hangers’ club
Article:
Cheers to The Capistrano
Article:
Prize-worthy pupils
Article:
Just sayin’
Article:
Mother’s Day 2012
1. Jeff A said... on Mar 26, 2009 at 11:40AM
“RE:Trashy Image I agree with Mr. Parretta. The city needs to step up and make an effort like they do in Center City. They are more concerned with image the produce for visitors but do not seem to be concerned with what there own residence see.”
2. btriolo said... on Mar 26, 2009 at 01:47PM
“I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Antonio Parretta ("Trashy Image") that a plan needs to be made to clean up the trash in South Philadelphia. Although I believe the trash belongs to the people and it is their responsibility to clean it up, there are exceptions like on certain streets such as the abandoned commercial building on 12th between Jackson and Snyder where there seems to be five years of accumulated trash and sludge. It is totally depressing. On my own street , I regularly clean up the block and the three sewers at my intersection but I am ready to give it up due to the continued poor behavior of citizens who think the sewers are their own personal trash receptacles for dog poop that they try to smash between the grates. I recently tracked a woman who left dog poop on my property twice. I caught her and asked her to pick it up. She said,"She's a dog." I said, "Well, let her poop on your property." She replied, "This is ridiculous." Hello, we don't all think your dog poop is as cute as you do!" I have her on video camera, one week later depositing dog poop on my sidewalk and she didn't have a dog with her !! She took it out of an orange shopping bag. Yes, I am waiting for you to come by even though you were in disguise. As a high school teacher, I know that students with serious infractions are given a Saturday detention. I have found out from them that a "Saturday detention" runs from 8:30 a.m until 12:00 noon but you can arrive whenever and leave whenever. The detention consists of playing basketball and being given free junk food. What a great idea to give these students community service, which is being promoted by the mayor, instead of them kicking it free style. The taxpayers may feel they are getting their money's worth too. Maybe they will think twice before acting obnoxious or committing vandalism if they know they will be wearing bright orange vests and cleaning up the neighborhood. It will be a much more appropriate use of their time and a better use of energy than playing basketball. Barbara Triolo”
3. Jeff A said... on Mar 26, 2009 at 04:01PM
“I will be adding a section on my website www.insouthphilly.com addressing these issues so check it out in about a week.”
4. Richard DeMarco said... on Mar 27, 2009 at 05:30AM
“Three cheers for Patrick Fitzmaurice! Welcome to South Philly Review! Please write more often.”
5. fitzmauj said... on Mar 27, 2009 at 01:23PM
“Thank you, Mr. DeMarco”
6. Bob said... on Mar 27, 2009 at 01:54PM
“Anyone catch the fact that Treasury Secretary Geithner wants to take over private institutions that he may deem as a threat to the economy? Hmm, that sounds like socialism to me but what do I know? We have seen the great job Congress has done with the AIG debacle so lets go ahead and let the government take over more private institutions that "may" cause a threat to the economy. Socialism? You bet ya.”
7. fitzmauj said... on Mar 27, 2009 at 02:03PM
“Disregarding the fact that the article allows that there is socialism at play, I believe you are misconstruing the facts. To my knowledge, Geithner is proposing allowing the government to seize at-risk, non-bank financial institutions. This is to stop things like the AIG fiasco from occuring again- at-risk banks are seized by the FDIC, but because no legislation to allow non-bank seizures was in effect, AIG needed to be propped up. So in effect, by noting AIG, you are supporting Geithner's point-of-view. Also, I'm not sure he is requiring the power to be vested in him, but some government department, much like the FDIC. If you want to attack this, then you would simultaneously be attacking the body which insures the money in your bank account, has been around since the Great Depression, and was arguably a key piece of the New Deal.”
8. Bob said... on Mar 27, 2009 at 05:16PM
“The AIG reference was the reason the government needs to stop this insane takeover of these banking institutions and insurance companies. Congress dropped the ball on the AIG bonuses, they dont know what they are doing, they need to stop these takeovers of these institutions. Chris Dodd put the provision in for the bonuses, another screw up by Congress. Geithner knew of these bonuses a week befoe it happened and he was the architect of the AIG bailout back in December. Geithner wants power over any institution he deems a threat to the economy, so he and the treasury will decide on what institutions need takeovers, I'm sure that will work out great. This is where the socialism comes into play, the government getting involved with private enterprises. Something I am against, no more takeovers, this crap has gone on long enough.”
9. chaloots said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 06:31AM
“Anyone catch that the Republicans, don't have anything to offer to help the financial situation or any other problem that America faces? Just Dog-Whistle Politics of scare and fear.Conservatives are just waiting and hoping for Obama to fail! They are the Party of No and No-thing to offer! Seems they, like Rush, would rather America fail! ”
10. NJA said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 09:23AM
“If BO would suspend all income taxes for 1 year, the economy would skyrocket. BO and is idiotic policies are not about stimulating the economy; they are about stimulating the demoncat party….”
11. Bob said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 10:22AM
“Hmm, lets see they offered the alternative stimulus plan that cost half the price of the socialist bill and would have created more jobs, they offered a blueprint of their new budget and they will becoming out with the specifics soon. They probably won't even get it to a vote because Nancy Pelosi changed the rules of the house making it harder for the Republicans to offer their bills and amendments. They are saying no to trillion dollar deficits, trillions of dollars of debt and to Socialism. They should have said no to socialism back when Bush was President and stop the billion dollar deficits but the Obama administration has made the Bush deficit look laughable. Just another broken campaign promise from the President. There is too many to keep track off.”
12. fitzmauj said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 10:53AM
“And how would anything the nation does be paid for?”
13. fitzmauj said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 10:57AM
“Now you're addressing Congress? You are flip-flopping your accusations between two completely different parts of the federal government that are quite at odds. There haven't been any takeovers because they lack the authority to do so. And once again, I do not believe Geithner wants the power for himself, just some government agency like the FDIC. I appreciate your anger over the handling of AIG, but that is not a license to twist facts and unleash blanket accusations. ”
14. fitzmauj said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 11:02AM
“As you note, their budget lacks specifics, so for now, lets not compare apples and imaginary oranges. And looking back at how the Republicans used the 1994 take-over and the unified government that they had during Bush's first term, I think your accusations of Democrats use of power now is a bit hypocritical. Furthermore, they weren't saying no to the deficits during the Republican power years in the beginning of the decade. I offer this question to you, what is wrong with some socialism? As the above article offers, two of the governments most lauded programs, Medicare and Medicaid, are, in fact, socialist. I would appreciate your criticisms of those programs. ”
15. NJA said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 03:01PM
“Why are you so worried about the government? I am more worried about myself. If I earn $100, I would like to take home $100, not $65. ”
16. Bob said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 06:38PM
“I am addressing the government as a whole, none of them should be taking over or getting involved in any institutions and the reason is because they mess everything up. No flip-flopping, I am speaking of the government in general, you may think it is a good idea for the government to have this power even if it isn't just for Geithner but I don't, if you like Socialism that's fine but I don't approve of these so called "plans" to help our economy.”
17. Bob said... on Mar 28, 2009 at 06:44PM
“Apples and imaginary oranges? President Obama's plan includes 634 billion on a down payment for healthcare that is not specific enough. How about Medicare and Medicaid are both going bankrupt? That is one problem with them and why because they are run by the government, there needs to be an overhaul of these programs. I don't want my nation to have socialized medicine, it hasn't worked and will never work. As for Medicaid and Medicare I do believe they need bad reform and we need to work at getting more people off of Medicaid so they are able to pay for their own insurance. If you can name a socialist country that has done better than the US over the past 60 years then we will move to socialism. As I said you can have socialism if you want, just move to France or Canada, I still want to retain my liberty and live in a free society.”
18. chaloots said... on Mar 29, 2009 at 04:03AM
“For those who believe that socialized medicine doesn't work please watch the Documentary "Sicko" by Michael Moore. You will be outraged by the lies the Repugs perpetrate that disallows Health Care for ALL AMERICANS! HMO'S are evil, their origins come from the Nixon administration, who's main goal was to give less service for more money. Just like the Conservatives, in favor of Big Business over what favors the American People. Socialize Medicine DOES work in Canada and France and even in Cuba. For almost 50 million AMERICANS without Health Care, I would say that America's Health Care is a failure. And using the Dog Whistle (socialism) isn't going to help those without Health Care that needs medical attention.”
19. Bob said... on Mar 29, 2009 at 08:33AM
“Wow, do you realize that people wait months for MRI's in Canada, a story just came that people died because the conditions in a British hospital were a disaster. As for Michael Moore his propaganda has been debunked. The little shot at cuba with the "free medicine," that was the good part of Cuba's medical care. He didn't show you the bad part where there is no medicine left in any of the stores or there is not enough beds for people to be tended too. It is Universal RATIONED care, it won't be for everyone. In the socialist bill, there is a provision that essentially would ration care it doesn't sound like a good plan to me. As for the 50 million number, most of those people are illegal immigrants, qualify for medicare and medicaid but didnt apply or they just don't choose all together to purchase healthcare. As for the people who are without any healthcare because they plain out just can't afford it, we need a targeted plan to help those people.”
20. chaloots said... on Mar 29, 2009 at 12:13PM
“47 Million Human Beings,in America, ALL Americans, under the age of 65 don't have Health Insurance. When do they get their rationing ? Health Insurance for ALL, not just the fortunate! In the first two months since Obama been in office, over 2200 people died because they didn't have health insurance. The injustice outrages me!”
21. Richard DeMarco said... on Mar 31, 2009 at 06:06AM
“Thank god Barack Obama is now president and has signed the SCHIP expansion bill which Bush vetoed several times. Now, the portion of the 47 million uninsured who are children will be able to get insurance. It just goes to show you the power of an election-and the difference in priorities of the republican and democratic party. Bush would rather spend money on bombing Iraq into submission, Democrats would rather provide health insurance for children whose parents cannot afford it.”
22. KDM said... on Mar 31, 2009 at 09:14AM
“What does it mean to be a Catholic? Well according to Our Catholic High School it means to always pay school tuition on time or they will charge you a late fee in addition to your school tuition. Our children are told they can not attend Proms, purchase school rings for graduation or graduate. I question how fair this is to our children. It is not their fault this world is in a recession and their parents struggle week to week to pay their mortgage, health insurance and other major bills. Must they punish our children. I'm sure every parent has experienced this throughout their children's education. We are trying our best to be up to date on Tuition payments, does the school honestly believe we want our children to suffer. I speak for most parents asking the Archdiocese to give us a break during this recession we are trying to do our Best and still give our children the Catholic Education they deserve.”
23. Bob said... on Mar 31, 2009 at 04:15PM
“Rich, I want everyone to have health care, its hard to believe that us mean conservatives would want all people to be healthy and be able to afford health insurance but there are some problems with the SCHIP. First the President broke a campaign promise to us because he said that he would not raise anyones taxes over 250000 dollars, well SCHIP is going to be paid for by rasing tax on tabacco products. This tax does not make sense either, the government needs people to smoke more in order to get the revenue to pay for SCHIP, its counterintutive to tax tabacco knowing that it will depend on more people smoking when our goal is to get people to stop smoking. Second the SCHIP in some cases covers children whos families make over 80,000 dollars when they already have insurance, this could cause other problems. We all want people to have healthcare, I just don't want the government to be controlling it as much as they are and eventually will be. I don't think it is fair to categorize Republicans as a party who would rather bomb countries then provide healthcare to its kids, but your entitled to your opinion.”
24. Bob said... on Mar 31, 2009 at 04:18PM
“KDM, I know how you feel, my parents and I had to deal with my Catholic school more specifically my pastor in regards to tuition, one of the reasons was because I did not go to Church every week and tithe. Im glad im in college now and not have to deal with this, unfortunately my brother is still in grade school and has to put up with this along with my parents.”