Tilted table
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is making it more difficult for immigrants to register to vote.
Several years ago, I went to a naturalization ceremony at Pennsbury Manor museum in Bucks County, welcoming more than 50 new Americans. Joy and hope danced in the air. As we left, I was thrilled to see volunteers at a nonpartisan League of Women Voters table helping our new citizens register to vote.
What a dirty shame to learn that recently, USCIS announced that nonpartisan organizations and their volunteers are no longer allowed to register new citizens to vote after ceremonies — even though the work of those organizations is crucial in states like Pennsylvania, with no automatic or same-day voter registration.
Lynne Waymon, Newtown
A former aide faces charges
Earlier this month, Natalie Greene, a former aide in the office of New Jersey Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, was charged with faking a politically motivated attack on herself.
Greene said that three men slashed her and wrote “Trump Whore” across her stomach before leaving her zip-tied in the woods in Egg Harbor Township.
But prosecutors said that it was all a lie, that Greene paid a scarification artist to cut her — and that they even had a receipt and a signed consent form (including a copy of Greene’s driver’s license) from the artist to prove it.
It is not known if Greene remained employed as an aide to Van Drew during the four-month period between when she said the attack occurred on July 23 and when the criminal complaint was filed against her on Nov. 14.
It is not known when Van Drew — who has not been accused of any wrongdoing — was informed of this situation.
Quite frankly, not much is known besides the facts in the criminal complaint because Rep. Van Drew has mostly been silent.
After the charges were announced, members of Van Drew’s team put out a statement offering “thoughts and prayers” and saying they “hope she’s getting the care she needs.” But no one has heard much else.
And, strangely enough, Van Drew isn’t even mentioned by name in the criminal complaint — he’s only referred to as “Federal Official 1.”
Rep. Van Drew’s constituents want to hear from him. The congressman often talks about transparency — this is his chance to be transparent.
Michael J. Makara, Mays Landing, N.J.
ACA enhanced subsidies
A recent editorial states that subsidies are for Americans who earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level. However, the enhanced subsidies, which are due to expire, have no income limit. They are designed to keep the cost to an individual at no more than 8.5% of income. Consider this example: a single 60-year-old millionaire with $150,000 income. If the insurance company charges $1,300 per month ($15,600 per year), the ACA currently will subsidize this individual by $2,850 = $15,600 – 0.085 x $150,000. Whether such a person should receive government subsidies is debatable.
Tom Muench, Ridley Park
Brew safer than water
As one who is fond of the malty brew, a former home brewer, and a student of history, I read with great interest the recent article about the role of tavern life in shaping the American Revolution. I enjoyed it and am certain it enlightened many of your readers, but there was one major oversight. While the Founding Fathers certainly enjoyed their brews and other beverages, there was, I think, another reason for imbibing so much not only in Philadelphia but throughout colonial and revolutionary America: the water. Even well water was usually extremely unhealthy to drink. The water of the period was often highly contaminated and the bearer of diseases, many fatal. People knew this. Beer, wine, hard cider, and distilled liquors like whiskey, consisting of a certain amount of alcohol and brewed and distilled often with heated water, were far safer than water and even milk. It was not unusual for “small beer” (beer with a lower alcohol content) to be imbibed even by children (small amounts) and with breakfast. I’m disappointed this was overlooked by the author.
Kenneth J. Wissler, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Forgotten American hero
Ken Burns deserves great credit for producing the magnificent six-part PBS series documenting The American Revolution. But there is no mention of any Jews who helped win the nation’s freedom, which is a major oversight. Many Jews fought on the side of the patriots — perhaps none more selflessly than Haym Salomon.
The British arrested Salomon for revolutionary activities in New York City in 1778. He was sentenced to be executed, escaped from prison, fled to Philadelphia, and became a prominent member of Congregation Mikveh Israel, Philadelphia’s oldest synagogue. He is most remembered for financing George Washington’s Yorktown campaign, the decisive battle of the American Revolution. Washington believed that without Salomon’s financing to provide salaries and supplies, much of the Continental Army would have deserted with catastrophic consequences. Salomon died destitute at age 44. He is buried in Mikveh Israel Cemetery.
In 1975, the United States issued a commemorative stamp honoring Salomon as the “Financial Hero” of the American Revolution. A 1939 film, Sons of Liberty, depicts his life; Salomon is played by Claude Rains. The movie won an Academy Award for best short film.
At a time when antisemitism is once again raging in America, Haym Salomon’s life deserves to be remembered.
Jacob Daniel Kanofsky, Philadelphia
Right side of history
Assuming civility and sanity return and American democracy survives, I would love to be here a hundred years from now to read historical accounts of what’s happening in America today. If the reporting is reliable and factual, Will Bunch’s recent column, “The night America’s doomed ruling class gorged on lamb, blood, and oil,” should definitely be included. Sure, it’s an opinion column, but he paints a truthful overview that will serve historians well.
Jacques Gordon, Devon
Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.
