Thursday, December 19, 2002
Politics is like geology: Tension between forceschanges the landscape
EDITOR:
The Trent Lott debate is not a bad thing for our country and our society. The current political spectrum makes the case for a moderate surge in American politics.
First of all, we should ask the question of who has been the power behind Lott's election in his home state. I can imagine that it is people or groups with financial clout and a Republican right wing agenda. The speech Lott made as a tribute to a retiring South Carolina senator is exactly the speech he might make in order to continue to benefit from the endorsement of his financial and philosophical mentors in closet support meetings back in his home state.
Representative politics can be much like plate tectonics in that when opposing forces consolidate there will eventually be an outburst and release of energy to vent the pressure.
Trent Lott will lose out, not because of his statements at that banquet in South Carolina but for promising to rectify the statement by overreaching in favor of the groups that he offended. The right wing guidance system has already pulled the plug on Lott's leadership, not as a result of his unfortunate public statement but for committing himself to the left wing.
This seems to be a victory for Republican moderates more so than Democrats.
WILLIAM ROORBACK
Boardman
Cats live longer inside
EDITOR:
As an animal lover and owner of three cats, two of which were adopted from Angels for Animals, I can sympathize with the woman from Campbell whose cat was run over by a car and had to be humanely destroyed.
However, I must also chastise her for allowing the cat to be an outdoor cat. While an indoor cat can routinely live to 15-20 years of age, an outdoor cat's life expectancy is closer to 5 years. Not only is an outdoor cat subjected to automobiles, but also predators like raccoons, hawks, owls, and a number of other animals. Outdoor cats can be exposed to feline aids and a number of other communicable diseases that are life shortening. Outdoor cats can often cause destruction to people's property.
I sympathize with her loss and understand how a pet can become like a member of the family but she wouldn't let her kids run loose outside and I don't think that pets should be free to roam either. The results can be disastrous.
BILL JOHNSON
Boardman
Commissioners have enough to do without trying to run an airport
EDITOR:
It was disappointing to hear Tom Nolan resign his post at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
Nolan should be thanked for a job well done under the most difficult of circumstances and wished luck. It is hard to soar with eagles when you work for six turkeys.
I was surprised to hear that the airport's board of directors has launched a search for a new director of aviation. If you listen to the Mahoning and Trumbull County commissioners, they should have no trouble filling the post among themselves. They have even gone so far to suggest they have a candidate of sorts. There is gentleman who works in the sanitation department in Mahoning County who Ed Reese thinks could do the job. If he is that hot of a candidate, what is he doing throwin' garbage?
A word of advice to the commissioners: Let the port authority run the airport and you keep track of your travel expenses, and the county's toilet paper and tampons.
THADDEUS M. PRICE
Warren