The American dream

To the editor:

The Economist of March 7-13 is reporting that the percentage of American patents awarded to Chinese and Indian nationals working in this country tripled between the years 2000 and 2004, and that by 2005, 40 percent of Intel’s patents went to those two groups. Americans are receiving fewer and fewer science and technology patents over time.

I bring this to your attention because March is NCAA time, and the two topics are related. In 2008, for example, UConn’s men’s basketball graduation rate was 22 percent. Just over one in five players at that great ball school graduated. Other perennial top contenders’ graduation rates vary but are still shockingly low.

But imagine how proud we would be if one of our own were in the Big Dance. Here he is, almost 30 years old, about to age out of college ball but without enough credits to graduate. Go straight to Wal-Mart, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

The dream of sports at Delaware Valley High School: Tom, Jay and Al, we love you.

The appearance of impropriety

To the editor:

I am troubled that the Pike County Director of Elections, Yolanda Goldsack, will be administering an upcoming election in which her spouse, Bob Goldsack, is a candidate for school board. This is a potentially serious conflict of interest.

If you recall, there was public outrage when Mrs. Goldsack, a Republican Party activist, was appointed to her position by two Republican commissioners during the vacation of the third Democratic commissioner. An editorial by The River Reporter at the time said, “When it comes to something as important as our votes, election officials ought to be, like Caesar’s wife, above suspicion.” The same sentiment applies to the current circumstance.

I raised this issue to both commissioner Harry Forbes and Mrs. Goldsack, who were receptive, but certain that it was practically impossible for the director to manipulate the outcome of an election. While this may be true, it sidesteps the problem. What should be of concern is the appearance of impropriety, which exists when an ordinary person, with no specialized knowledge, has reason to believe that something is inappropriate or in violation of the law. I personally make no accusation against Mrs. Goldsack. But the legitimacy of an election depends upon public confidence, and is severely undermined by such a conflict of interest regardless of whether wrongdoing actually occurs.

The need for trust is why the law prohibits judges in Pennsylvania from actions that might even suggest unlawful or unethical activity. Unfortunately, no such regulation exists for election administrators. Further, the state ethics commission is not concerned, as the Goldsacks do not have an obvious financial stake.

But while the law might be silent, I hope voters are not. Election regulations need to be amended to prevent situations like these from recurring. In the interim, our county board of elections should fulfill its obligation to preserve the integrity of our elections and take whatever actions are necessary to retain the public’s confidence.

Milford, PA

Thanks to the ambulance corps

To the editor:

We need to get back to the basics! God, family, community and country. If you listen to a scanner, it is sadly obvious that many of the local volunteer ambulance corps are having trouble making their day-time calls and some of their night calls, too. In these hard economic times, the answer is not to further tax the people, but rather to request that the people of each community come forward and volunteer their services, whether it be as an attorney, medical director, bookkeeper, a mechanic, a carpenter, a housekeeper or as a driver or emergency medical technician (EMT). However, most of all, the corps must work together to properly perform the purpose they were created for: to serve the people of their community in their times of greatest need.

Unfortunately, despite all of their basic life support skills, career EMTs only make about $10 to $11 per hour; therefore, several part-time EMTs may cost an

ambulance corps or first aid squad only about $500 per 40 hour work week. Considering that ambulance transports are usually covered by insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, a corps would be able to pay for that EMT in just three to four ambulance calls per week. The rest of the week’s income may be used for the building, rigs and for cool new gear to better serve the community.

In conclusion, I commend all the volunteers and the more recent hybrid corps with both volunteers and paid staff. Thank you for your service.