Business could give credit card lessons to Mahoning County commissioners

Business could give credit card lessons to Mahoning County commissioners
EDITOR:
Here we go again. It seems to me that our county Commissioner Vicki Sherlock did not learn anything from the credit card misuse by Youngstown City Council members.
Once again it is the same old politicians story, & quot;I don't remember. & quot;
I travel on business frequently, and let me tell you that my company insists that I have documentation of my travels if I want them to pay my expenses. And if I were to turn in receipts for two motels for the same night, I'm sure they would question me on that one, especially if I drove across the state to get to the second motel.
If she couldn't remember why she was there, then we taxpayers should not foot the bill.
As for the hotel billing her for extra days, maybe she should have checked out when and if she left the hotel, as most business travelers do, so they can catch any errors at that time and get them corrected.
I wonder if Jennings consulted her on this matter.
As for the county, cut up the cards and let them use their personal credit cards for travel, just as many major corporations do today, and we won't be paying for our elected officials memory lapses or party junkets with their boyfriends.
I also feel the commissioners should authorize travel before the trip is taken, not after they return.
I, for one, hope Tom Zamary keeps his eyes open for more misuse by our elected officials, because they won't remember.
MICHAEL BERRY
Youngstown
Patriotism harder to define than writer says
EDITOR:
In l976, the year we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution, newspapers and magazines printed many essays and definitions of patriotism. Reading the recent column by Bill Tammeus brought back an interest in trying to define and nail down just what patriotism is and isn't.
First Tammeus says patriotism is being well informed. That eliminates all of us. It's silly to expect the masses of people to be even reasonably well informed, except to the extent that the government tells us the truth and in time of war & quot;the truth, & quot; is the first casualty.
Tammeus tells us that knowing our history is important and points to the Civil War as an example of something patriotic people should understand. But we can't possibly all agree about the Civil War and are really better off if we stop marching around reenacting its horrible battles and try to forget it as best we can.
Recently, an item appeared in The Vindicator citing a study that showed that even elite students in America's best colleges didn't know much about American history. As long as the American dream is acquisitive rather than spiritual or idealistic, people are going to have a hard time getting together the motivation to study and absorb much American or anyone else's history.
Tammeus chose voting as a second characteristic of a patriot. I certainly agree with this one, but the last time we held a nationwide election, a lot of people were actually denied the vote for no good reason, and a fight over that is still going on in Congress.
Not voting is often excused by non voters who say, "I don't want to encourage the crooks and rascals." Nonvoters might say that staying away is more patriotic that voting.
Another element of patriotism is the criticism and praise of the government and nation by its citizens. Criticism must be constant, and criticism and praise are absolutely essential to maintaining our democratic process and our freedoms. But while the basic ideology of America from the beginning actually, has been the difference of opinion on the subject of the size, strength and role of the government, Bush was really on a roll in instituting his government ideology when the present war began. It has caused him to wield much greater authority than he probably expected to
Number four, according to Tammeus, is being active in your community, and no doubt there are many people supporting charities, schools and neighbors. I would include here trying to support and promote American ideals such as equality under the law and equal opportunity as well as not hesitating to act in support of such things as racial equality and peace. These activities can strengthen our country a great deal.
Tammeus' final category is respecting people in other nations and allowing for their patriotism. But when the list of countries we should respect and allow their own patriotism includes nations that we hate or are afraid of, it almost seems that respecting other's nationalistic tendencies can be unpatriotic.
I would like to add an idea or two to this list of patriotic criteria. Devotion to America's ideals. If we could cast our ideals as a sort of secular religion, we would have a real powerful tool in uniting America, but more, we would have a much greater country and the envy of the world. As long as our national ethos is mostly acquisitive, we're not likely to achieve much of Mr. Tammeus' patriotism.
MYRON GARWIG
Youngstown
Hubbard schools at risk again if levy doesn't pass
EDITOR:
Are we willing to sacrifice our youths' education and future? Ten years ago when the levy did not pass, high school busing and club activities were canceled. Board-funded band and athletics were stopped.
We were at the state minimum for administration, teachers, and support staff. Classes were cut, no updated books or new student desks were purchased. Only emergency repairs were made to the buildings.
Hubbard schools were in state receivership. We lost control of our own school. It took a long time to rebuild to the level we are proud to be at now. There is still much to do and we should continue to go forward and not backslide. Let's learn from our past experience and vote "yes" for the levies.
ELIZABETH SWARTZ
Hubbard
Words and images of the past essential to present
EDITOR:
I would like to respond to the letter by the eighth-grader printed Oct. 25. First of all, I would like to commend her on a letter very well written. She did a great job expressing her feelings. I pray that her fears and anxieties lessen with time.
But to remove all photos of the beautiful New York skyline, showing the World Trade Center's twin towers would deny future generations the opportunity of seeing what once was. Without written words, photo images or drawings from the past there would be no history. After all history is & quot;the events of the past. & quot; We all have to move on in faith to the future and remember things both good and unpleasant.
FRANCES L. SINGLETON
Youngstown