Politicians should have a chance to work for wages

Politicians should have a chance to work for wages
EDITOR:
Some local politicians are about to face a dilemma. As most people know, elected officials decide policy by what will garner the most votes in the next election.
Now we have a steel company complaining that if it can't import cheap foreign slabs to turn into American flat-roll products, we could lose 500 jobs. Our representatives must now decide whether these 500 people or the people who produce American slabs at American companies represent the most voters in their district. Then they will know how to handle their media sound bites.
This problem exists because instead of public service it is now self service. If anyone wonders why people would spend two or three times the annual salary to hold onto or switch to another trough when term limits put them out of the ones they're wallowing in, just look at the benefits and pension plan. Elected officials receive pensions as high as 10 times what the average blue-collar worker receives from Social Security.
The solution is simple. Pay officeholders a very good salary and pay them Social Security just like common working people. Many of the officeholders recently proved crooked and forced from office are now or will be collecting a much fatter pension than I or most people I know. Even judges in prison. You will never get these people to give up their generous salary and overly generous pension and benefit plans willingly.
The working people must take it away from them at the ballot box. Maybe someday it will again be possible that a candidate will run because he believes he can help the public and not just to advance his political career. Until then, never re-elect. Let them serve one term and then go back to work where wages and benefits are paid on merit.
ROBERT J. HUSTED
New Springfield
Problems in Girard could have been avoided
EDITOR:
I am writing in concern to laid-off city workers in Girard. From what I understand an unnecessarily extravagant $5 million city building/jail was built, and the cost was largely under-estimated.
Are we now laying off tax-paying city workers who reside and spend money in Girard to comfortably house non-working, non-tax paying prisoners?
Let me now assume I will see a new tax levy to get these city workers back on the job.
Is it their fault? No.
Is it my fault? No.
Do I believe we pay enough city taxes and this just became an issue after the new city building was built? Yes.
Maybe they need some more cutbacks in administration before they cut the service jobs.
This past year there was not a street in Girard without a "for sale" sign in the yard. This coming year there probably won't be a block without a "for sale" sign in the yard. Go figure.
VICTORIA PARIDON
Girard
Young children need more help with reading
EDITOR:
After reading your article on "1,000 fourth-graders fail the state reading test," I was deeply saddened by the effort of our state. Even though 96,000 passed the test, 21,000 didn't. That means that nearly 20 percent didn't pass -- not to mention that in the Mahoning Valley, 1,041 failed.
Either the test was too difficult for them to understand or they don't have the necessary information. Either way, the results prove that in the Mahoning Valley we aren't doing our best to prepare them.
If we don't start helping them young, they won't understand in later years. Why don't we all work together to give them a better education? They are worth it.
ASHLEY RUOZZO
Struthers
X Ashley is student in Ralph Sandy's American history class at Struthers High School.