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The Crescent-News
Time to change political directions
It is time for a change in our government, and for Sherrod Brown to become a U.S. senator. Senator DeWine recently ran ads showing he is a friend to the working man and to fire-fighters. The day the ads first ran, he voted against legislation that would have helped firefighters.
A couple of months ago, the senator flew George Bush into Columbus, where, for a $10,000 contribution to DeWine, certain people could have their picture taken with the president. Few working men had their picture taken with President Bush that night. It is the same good ol’ rich boys’ network. They have done little for the majority of our citizens.
In northwest Ohio we have lost a great many factory jobs and small businesses (Zeller Corp, ConAgra, Dinner Bell, Phillips, Dana Corp, Diehl, Aro, Ohio Art, Dietrich Industries). Northwest Ohio is now competing with other area companies to see who can give the largest tax breaks in order to get some type of manufacturing firm to locate here. It may be good business policy to ship out the jobs of our neighbors so that the company stock goes up, but it is not good public policy for people in the area who would like to work for good wages.
The Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate is Sherrod Brown. He opposed CAFTA, opposed NAFTA and some of the trade policies with China. In the 1990s he wrote a book predicting much of what has happened to northwest Ohio because of these trade agreements. He is not in favor of exporting U.S. jobs.
If you want change, vote for change, and vote for a new senator.
Joe O’Neil
Defiance
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The Crescent-News
Voters don't think elections are fair
I urge The Crescent-News to report about lack of security in electronic voting machines, and Ken Blackwell’s conflict of interest between his legal duties as secretary of state to oversee the Nov. 7 elections and his campaign to win the governor’s seat in that same election.
We live in an era when we voters have lost trust in the fairness of elections, this in a time of great national distress over unconstitutional actions by an extremist president and devastating consequences of a non-deliberative, non-representative Congress. If the president does not perform with the will of the people, as this one does not, and if the Congress does not represent the people, as this one does not, the essence of our democracy no longer exists.
Our nation is in a crisis. The basis of that crisis is unfair, inaccurate, corruptible elections. We the people require the election process to be transparent and fair by Nov. 7. There is great work to be done by then. We must have faith in the election process.
Congress could pass emergency legislation, Let America Vote Act, an emergency paper ballot mandate: "Emergency paper ballots shall be made available at every voting jurisdiction in the United States during the Nov. 7, 2006, general election. These paper ballots shall be available in sufficient numbers for optional use by voters who prefer to use them, and by all voters in the event of voting machine failure or unavailability. These paper ballots are not to be provisional ballots, but regular paper ballots that shall be counted immediately upon the close of polls on election night along with all other votes cast by properly registered voters."
A government put into palce without fair elections is not a democracy.
Sarah Maxwell
Archbold
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The Crescent-News
September 7, 2005
Taft is not fit to be governor
I wish to comment on the Aug. 29 article entitled, "Taft takes medicine with public appearances."
I am not a political scientist. I am a constituent who thinks that the governor is being extremely contemptuous of his exalted position in the state and showing total disregard for the electors of the state of Ohio.
Gov. Robert Taft is a disgrace to his political family legacy. He is putting himself and his pocketbook before service to the state of Ohio. He only apologized when he got caught. He was deceitful to his staff. And, last but not least, Gov. Taft is an embarrassment to the Republican Party.
No one bothered to poll me. But I wish to make it know that I very strongly feel that Gov. Robert Taft should step down for the greater good of the state of Ohio and the entire state electorate.
Someone should tell John McCleland, a spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party, that the governor is not doing the right thing by putting the past couple of weeks behind him and getting back to doing what he should be doing as governor. What does he mean the past couple of weeks? How about the past few years? Just how stupid does John McCleland think the residents of the great state of Ohio are?
Bob Taft has no credibility and he is no longer capable of leading the state, if indeed he ever was.
Ruth Cook
Hicksville
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The Crescent-News
August 31, 2005
Blessed are the peacemakers
It is regrettable that there are those who think our preemptive war with Iraq was justifiable. I am grateful that we as Americans can openly disagree with our current leadership and those who support them.
It seems that our current culture can only find peace by acting in a war-like manner. I was taught war is wrong and that its use is only a last resort. Some would say our incursion into Iraq was "the last resort." However, I believe it was not, and our presence there has only created more heartache, suffering and hatred and it has put Americans, "coalition friends," Iraqis and the world at large more at risk for terrorist attacks.
Some say that nonviolent solutions and direct peaceful intervention does not work. I beg to differ. As human beings, we are quick to dismiss peaceful means in favor of strong-arm methods. This is a sad commentary, but it seems that our nation believes that killing those who hate us is the best means to achieve peace and harmony. We must not allow such thinking to direct this nation and its people.
Building more weapons systems and using violent force or the threat of military power only perpetrates more hatred and encourages an endless response of retribution.
A very important figure once said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." Therefore, we must engage in the public witness for peace. As Americans, living in this culture, where violence is at the core of even our entertainment, we must present peaceful alternatives to the violent craziness that seems to have swept over us.
Bob McNamara
Defiance
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The Crescent-News
August 31, 2005
Taft's behavior has been hypocritical
The words from one Republican public office-holder about what he thinks the standard should be when it comes to Bob Taft's recent conviction on ethics violations are powerful:
"Public employees should follow both the letter and spirit of the ethics laws. That is the standard I expect for all state employees. I would not tolerate these actions by a person reporting directly to me.
"Few things are more important to me ... than demonstrating to the public that state government is conducted in accordance with the strictest ethical guidelines." ... State employees cannot solicit or accept "anything of value" from those doing business with the state, "including but not limited to money, gifts, food or beverages, social event tickets and expenses, travel expenses, golf outings, consulting fees, compensation or employment.
"Public employees can enjoy entertainment, such as golf or dining out, with persons working for a regulated company, or one doing business with the state, only if they fully pay their own way. ... When dealing with public officials and employees, please keep the following tips in mind: Thank you notes beat thank you gifts, gifts to public employees are strictly limited and the safest course of action is to not give any."
Were these the words of the Republican state representative and state senator who are calling for Taft's resignation? Are these the words of the two northwest Ohio Republican County chairmen whom the Columbus Dispatch quotes as saying grassroots support for Taft staying in office is nil?
No. These are the words of Bob Taft himself. And, therein lies Bob's problem -- when others in his administration have committed the same violations, Taft has called for their resignations. Yet what is good for the goose is not apparently good for the lame duck.
Chad Baus
Wauseon
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The Crescent-News
August 28, 2005
Lies are told about SS
In a recent letter dated Aug. 21, a reader stated that Democrats have harmed Social Security and are destroying America. He also says our future depends on us "not being brainwashed, to search for facts and vote accordingly, and we must separate facts from lies." Well, okay, let's do that.
Lie number one: Social Security was to be voluntary, deductible and non-taxable. Persons working in jobs covered by Social Security are subject to FICA payroll taxes. Like all taxes, this has never been voluntary. There was never any provision to make Social Security taxes deductible. In fact, the 1935 law expressly forbids this. Originally, Social Security taxes were not taxable income, though this was not a provision in the law or anything Roosevelt could have promised. It was the result of rulings issued by the Treasury Department in the early years of the program.
Lie number two: Clinton imposed heavy taxes on Social Security. The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of amendments in 1983. President Reagan (a Republican) signed these into law in April 1983.
Lie number three: President Johnson abolished the trust fund. The Social Security trust fund was created in 1939 as part of amendments enacted that year. The trust fund has always worked the same way. The Social Security trust fund has never been put into a general fund.
Lie number four: President Carter gave Social Security to immigrants if they are 65, even though they never paid in. Neither immigrants nor anyone else is able to collect Social Security without paying into the payroll system. SSI, however, is a federal welfare program and no conditions, from immigrants or citizens, is required. The SSI program was initiated and signed into law by President Nixon (a Republican) on Oct. 30, 1972.
These facts can all be verified at www.ssa.gov/history. This is the Social Security Administration's own website. Where did Mr. Mastin get his "facts," Rush Limbaugh or some Fox puppet correspondent? He, like most right-wing radicals, like to spew lies and hatred without backing them up. So, I also say, don't be brainwashed, search for facts, separate facts from lies and vote accordingly.
Janet Beardsley
rural Defiance
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The Crescent-News
August 20, 2005
Wanted: School Board Members
I would like to encourage any civic-minded, public servant, who holds the best interest of kids first, to take out a petition and run for one of two nonpartisan seats on the Defiance City Board of Education that are up for Election this November 8th.
The deadline for filing a petition is by 4:00 pm on August 25, 2005. For more information on filing you can call the Board of Elections at 419-782-2906.
If rumors hold true, there might be at least one open-seat that needs to be filled on the school board in this year?s election. What this means is that an incumbent school board member might decide against running for reelection. If this happens this leaves an open seat with no incumbent challenger for a new petitioner running for a school board seat, to run against. This enhances the chance of a newcomer getting elected to a four-year term on the school board.
As a former school board member, I feel it is important to recruit candidates for the school board who will unselfishly give their time and effort to the educational needs of the students in our school district.
In finding good candidates to serve, there are a number of common characteristics that effective school board members share which they oftentimes did not possess upon being elected to office.
These qualities are usually acquired through the experience of service and are important to consider in deciding who will make a good school board member. They are: a conviction that public education is important, the ability to make decisions, loyalty to the democratic process, time and energy to devote to board business, ability to accept the will of the majority, courage, professional respect for district staff and the ability to communicate well with others.
In my opinion, if you are willing to serve for the right reasons and if you are willing to acquire the characteristics needed to become a good school board member, I would encourage you to take out a petition and run. Our schools need good leaders, willing to build great schools that make Defiance a great place to live.
Joe Eureste
918 Wayne Ave.
Defiance, Ohio 43512
419-782-6175
[Ed. note: Joe Eureste is running in the upcoming election for a second term as a member of Defiance City Council]