U.S. Representative Charles Dent seems a thoroughly nice, decent man who is perhaps out of his element in the acid bath that is the U.S. House of Representatives these days. It is natural and understandable that the freshman Congressman should wish to fit in with his associates, even though many of those associates are not, to say the least, people many of us would wish to invite home to dinner. Still, they ARE the people with whom he must spend much of his work time. But
Mr. Dent should be more concerned with meeting the needs of his constituents than with toeing the mark of a party leadership for which the term "barbarous" does not seem too strong.
The people of the 15th tend to be older, retired, less healthy, less wealthy than some. They have paid their dues, and would like a little well-earned security in their old age. They would like their kids and grandkids to take a step up--college, maybe, and better financial prospects than they themselves have had.
In voting for what has so well been called the "reverse Robin Hood" budget recently passed by the House, the Congressman lost track of all those hopes and aspirations, and forgot whose sweat really pays his salary. He came across as somebody who WANTS to sentence those who voted for him to lives of want and desperation. More likely, he is just new enough to be uncertain in his actions.
As I write this, there still is time for him to regain his balance and redeem himself--at least in part--by voting against further tax cuts for the wealthy. Let us hope he does that, at least. Speaking as one of his constituents, it seems to me we can get past his rocky start if he can.

While local elections are over, Bethlehem's war with itself over gaming clearly is not. It should be obvious, though, that "industrial strength" gaming is coming to the Lehigh Valley. That it will bring some increase in social problems cannot be disputed. But it will also bring some benefits. These include jobs, an increase in tax revenues, and--for Bethlehem, at least--a major boost for subsidiary industries, such as the tourism centered upon history and the arts. (Indeed, it is not too much to say that for Bethlehem NOT to get the one slots license that is available for the Valley would be a stark disaster, since it would involve the probable loss of the one-of-a-kind-in-the-world Bethlehem Steel site.)
Now we have the Tropicana people, specifically the Aztar Corp., trotting out their rival to the proposed plan for Bethlehem. This is the proposed Lehigh Valley Tropicana, which--its advocates claim--would bring 3.5 million people a year to the Valley, and generate 1300 jobs. The site is in Allentown--what this writer still persists in calling the Western Electric building, along Union Blvd. This means that anyone seeking vice need only take Lanta's G bus.
If this is the outcome, almost all the economic benefits of the casino will fall to Allentown. The social problems, however, will be pretty much shared across the board. Political boundaries are no protection against such things.
As to Bethlehem, it will therefore have all the problems opponents of gambling say they have been trying to avoid. In addition, it will be effectively dead, except as a bedroom suburb of New York.
There is the choice. This proud community, that once gave shelter to the leadership of a nation fighting to be born, that twice in one century helped provide the arms needed to turn back world tyranny--this place will cease to exist as we know it.
Few of us believe that gambling is the best way to save it; but to many of us it appears, right now, to be the ONLY way to save it.
So now the question is: How many of those with past or present ties to Bethlehem will fight to save it, even at the cost of trying a new road that many might find strange and frightening?
It is time to speak up.

How do I solve the "log-in" problem?

The elections now being over, and a brief vacation being out of the way as well (or, at least, a brief period during which I did not write), it is time for citizens to return to what may be called Ordinary Time.
Anyone who has been following along knows that I cannot possibly be totally satisfied with the outcomes of all the races. I am extremely pleased with the amazing, come-from-behind win of new Northampton County executive John Stoffa; and also (and this might be expected)with that of Bethlehem Councilwoman Jean Belinski. There are those who accuse Belinski of barely squeaking through; but in fact she had a comfortable margin over Republican Jim Follweiler.
Those who would still like to dismiss her as a weak candidate (despite her three wins to none for some of the people they favor) are those who would have liked to make it so. Despite the campaign of smarmy, frantic disinformation that was waged against her by extremists of both parties, Mrs. Belinski managed her win without once sinking to the level of her opponents.
Bethlehem's choice for mayor was both inevitable and regrettable. Lehigh County's choice for County Executive was both foreseeable and regrettable. In both cases, citizens will have to live with the consequences. I consider it my job to point out what those consequences are likely to be, so that we may have some chance of averting them.

Believe it or not, ALL elections really ARE about the future.
Are you unhappy with the current state of affairs in political, social, and civic life? This state of affairs merely is the ghost of all the elections you were too busy to vote in. And it will assuredly only get worse, if you pass up the chance to vote in this one.
Do you want a chance to shape your own future? You'd better. Change is coming, that is certain. Will it be change you have helped choose, or will it be selected for you by the Don Cunninghams, the John Callahans, and the other People with Plans?
Do you want your drinking water and important environmental functions like sewage disposal in the hands of your friends and neighbors, or of giant corporations who revere profit above all else?
Do you want your governments' funds in the hands of young men who have cost their city millions by mismanagement, or in the hands of seasoned administrators?
Do you believe policies should be shaped to reflect the views and beliefs of one particular religious group? Or do you believe they should result from civil discussion involving all groups?
However you have answered these questions, consider going to vote.
If not you, who?
If not now, when?