Letters to the Editor | Feb. 20, 2025

So I can’t click on a website to buy a pair of socks without having to acknowledge the website’s privacy policy, and click on seven different options to limit its use and storage of my private information — like my very secret sock size — but Elon Musk can roll around in the private information of American citizens, like my Social Security number, address, income, tax payments, bank information, etc., just because he’s the president’s buddy? Not to mention his federal contracts mean he makes $8 million a day of my tax money in the bargain. This has to stop.

Linda Falcao, North Wales

I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or an independent. I don’t care who you voted for. I don’t care about your ethnicity, your gender, your religion, or lack thereof. You deserve to receive your Social Security and Medicare. You worked for it, you earned it, it’s your money. You deserve to be able to rely on Medicaid to support your loved one in nursing home care. You deserve to have affordable health insurance as approved by Congress under the Affordable Care Act. You deserve to have a public school system that will educate and support every child, no matter their physical or mental ability, race, gender, religion, or financial status.

You deserve to have a full staff of qualified career civil service employees working every day to keep our government operating efficiently. You deserve to have national parks fully staffed so you can enjoy your family vacation. You deserve to have the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, the CIA, the FBI, and the EPA fully staffed and functional, protecting our health, national security, airways, highways, environment, and aiding when disasters strike. These are not partisan issues. These are programs we all rely on, approved and appropriated by Congress. Call your representatives and tell them to stand for you.

Anne J. Allen, Quakertown

As a person who had polio 70 years ago and has visible aftereffects, I have been approached by children who ask what’s wrong with my legs. The first time this happened, I was nonplussed. However, believing in telling children the truth, I told the child I had a disease at age 5 that caused my legs not to work properly. When that child looked horrified, I realized he was concerned he could get that same disease. I assured him he received a vaccine against that disease when he was very young, so he would not get it. He looked relieved. I have responded that way for years, but what do I do now when asked that question? With an anti-vaxxer now in charge of U.S. health policy, how do I reassure any child they are safe?

Gail Guterl, West Chester

It has been eight months since the University of the Arts shuttered its doors. The abrupt closing in June left students, faculty, and staff scrambling about what to do next. Many students and families put down hard-earned money to secure their place for the fall semester of 2024 that never happened. We were one of those families. We have reached out to UArts via email and by phone multiple times, but the only response has been silence.

Peter Tobia, Philadelphia

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