On balanced-budget effort, senior citizens need to fight

On balanced-budget effort,senior citizens need to fight
EDITOR:
Once again, senior citizens, our nest egg called Social Security is in danger of unfair depleting by the federal government. Remember that Social Security has never caused deficit spending by our government. In fact, the fund has always had a surplus in the billions of dollars.
Now the government once again is going to try passing a balanced budget constitutional amendment. In 1995 the Congress very nearly passed this amendment. Thanks to the senior citizens of American, this was defeated. They saw that this was nothing more than a prelude to once again rape the Social Security Trust Fund. The government says 80 percent of the senior citizens are in favor of this amendment. This is a lie. The National Association to Preserve Social Security and Medicare put on a drive to defeat the amendment in 1995. If this had passed in 1995, the average senior citizen could have lost up to $1,000 per year. Unless the government agrees to protect the Social Security fund, this amendment should not be passed. The Congress is using this strictly as a diversionary tactic to weaken Social Security and Medicare.
If Congress wants to pass this bill, why don't the senators and congressmen take a cut in pay.
As a Steelworker, I along with many other workers had to take concessions. Senators and congressmen had it made: They could vote themselves a raise. Why not change this folly? Senior citizens, please write to your senators and representatives to vote no on this amendment. We as senior citizens can't afford losses in our income. We did it in 1995; let's do again.
BILL DUNLEAVY
New Springfield
Taking appropriate actions can help city thrive again
EDITOR:
I take exception to the writer's opinion that city officials are wasting their time inspecting Youngstown's neighborhoods. It's nice to see hands on management, view the problems, experience the pain of seeing where you grew up turn into a slum. The rebirth of Youngstown has to start here, it involves all of us and you should get involved in a positive way!
Further thoughts for city officials;
1) Cap the city's income tax at $32,000, it will hopefully stop the exit of professionals and jobs from Youngstown.
2) Forget about the convention center. Build four new library/community centers on public/park property in the city. Give community pride back to the youth of Youngstown and its citizens.
3) The safety forces and their unions need to set up volunteer programs. We need the services, but full-time personnel are bleeding resources of the city that need to be directed to the infrastructure improvement.
4) Get involved in the Youngstown 2010. Solicit volunteers. I'm involved and hopefully, we can bring Youngstown back to a viable place to live and work
5) Take the land you purchased by the Mahoning River and develop it into a River Walk Park and Festival Grounds. All the area churches could use it, and it will bring people downtown. This will spur the development of other business. We don't have to be the biggest, but we can be the best.
Finally, you were elected to office by the people, serve them -- not yourself.
F. GENE McCULLOUGH
Poland