[Lancaster Online]

[Artie See]

Judging by the Letters to the Editor which are published every week, it would appear that a significant portion of the attention paid to the Sunday News by the public - along with the revenue that it generates - is a direct result of Gil Smart's writing.

Whether you agree with him or not, Gil Smart does make people think. Given the deep divisions in our society which have developed over the last decade and a half, this is a good thing.

[sandyinholtwood]

Nice LTE Deb. Glad you are continuing to fight the pigeon shoots!

[skeptic2]

Read one of the two letters on the 10th amendment. Here is somebody who would roll back anti-discrimination laws in order to maintain the sanctity of the undelegated powers going to the states. At some point you have to acknowledge that federal oversight of some industries and that some federal programs like social security indeed violate the 10th amendment, but are a good thing.

[Lisa Armellino]

Creating criminals

It is appalling, the increase of crime in Lancaster. It warrants the question: What are our city officials doing to combat this issue? I hear them argue over curbs and new cameras, but have not heard a single solution for the problem itself.

As an ex-convict, I have seen a gap in the system that is getting bigger. This I offer free: No matter how many laws you create, it does not stop [crime]. It only creates another influx of inmates, which in turn makes more ex-convicts who have no chance of getting a job.

So how about we train [people] to be productive, not by punishment, but guidance and structure? Crazy as it sounds, most repeat offenders are not bad [but] just had no choice. It took me a year to find work upon release. [If I were] a man with no family to support, I would have resorted to the same life of crime.

For our benefit and for Lancaster's survival, I urge you to stop the petty bickering. The way things are going, we will all be convicts sooner or later.

-Ramon Cordero, Lancaster

Well said Ramon. I am so sad that most laws on the books violate god-given rights, and create political prisoners.

[justplainjoe]

I have been amazed by Christians, especially from Third World countries, who powerfully model the healing ministry of Jesus in ways that transcend the public versus private debate. Is there not a challenge here for the church to become so inspired by its own scriptures that new life and hope are breathed into this polarizing issue?

The man considered "the father of Medicare in Canada" was evangelical Baptist preacher Tommy Douglas. He insisted that the Gospel has to make a difference in how society treats its most vulnerable citizens, including the sick.

-Ken Landis Funk, Christiana

yes the church should be inspired but it probably won't be. jesus did his healing by bringing forth from within the halt and the lame and the withered, that which was latent within them. to those who had no faith he could do nothing. the healing comes from within.
the church can't get a grasp on this, despite what their gospels say.
jesus plainly stated that everything he did could be done by anyone and everyone. in fact he said we could do more.

[stanwills]

Post your thoughts and comments about this article.
Don't blame mayor
This goes out as a question to residents of Lancaster city: Why are all the problems being blamed on the mayor?

People should take a look at what this city has. We have people who blare their music, as if everyone wants to hear it. We have people with mufflers that make you go deaf. And we have people who are just generally disrespectful to everyone and everything. I don't really see where the mayor has anything to do with how people chose to live.

If people would change, I think this could be a city like it was when I was growing up.

The only way you will ever get these people to change, is for the police to really start cracking down on them.
I know the police have more important things to do but, this would be a start to make Lancaster a better place, IMO.