What is America doing to keep jobs or create them?

What is America doingto keep jobs or create them?
EDITOR:
Let's pack.
Shoes made in Spain, sweaters made in Italy, blouses and shirts made in Singapore and Taiwan, underclothes made in India and the Philippines, perfumes made in France, leather jackets made in Korea, luggage made in China, etc., etc.
Hey wait a minute!
Doesn't this list of goods tell us something? Isn't anything made in America? And most of all why?
Does big business control the government and laws regarding imports of materials to export of jobs. What happened to the steel industry?
Are we better off because of NAFTA? Are our jobs being exported for the national welfare, or for the bottom line by big business?
Why is it that CEOs of various companies can make millions in salaries and benefits while the work force is fighting for existence?
Our veterans, men and women, put their lives on the line for this country only to find our country is not doing enough to protect their jobs and way of life.
Where are our industries? Where will America's children find decent paying job? We tell our children to stay in school so that they can find a better job. What jobs can they hope to get: fast food, clerking, department stores, and they won't even hire full time because they are afraid of having to pay benefits.
America, where are we going?
Are we going to take care of the veterans who have helped keep this country free?
Are we going to help all our children have a chance at finding decent employment?
Is our Congress really listening to our basic needs -- jobs?
Congress votes raises for itself but turns a blind eye at industries leaving this country.
We can give millions and billions of dollars to foreign countries, but we can't take care of our own by providing jobs that will support a family.
America is still the greatest country in the world, and many countries are jealous of that fact, but if we don't start taking care of our own citizens we could be doomed to mediocrity.
EDWARD P. COSTELLO
Canfield
It's time for accountabilityin McDonald school system
EDITOR:
I am writing in response to a Nov. 7 article written by Mary Smith concerning the involvement of McDonald school employees in the distribution of political campaign fliers. I have a copy of the flier with the names and titles of school officials, administrators, teachers and coaches. In bold capital letters, the flier states, "JOIN US IN VOTING JACK DUGAN FOR MAYOR." I do not have a problem with public employees as private citizens supporting political candidates. I do take issue with public employees using their positions to influence the vote. I have serious concerns with the fliers, the investigation and the involvement of students in the distribution of the fliers.
I am shocked and dismayed that a number of McDonald Board of Education members, teachers and coaches as well as the treasurer, the superintendent, the principal and the athletic director may have allowed their names and titles to be printed on fliers designed to influence the vote. Although the school board president's name and title were first on the list, Bob Jones learned of it after the students delivered the fliers. Whoever is responsible for composition and distribution of the fliers sullied the names and reputations of public school officials and public employees who were unaware their names and titles were part of the content.
After reading the article and speaking with parents who attended the school board meeting, I understand that the superintendent will conduct an investigation. How can anyone connected with the McDonald Board of Education conduct an objective investigation in this matter? Not only is the superintendent's name on the flier, two of the school board members' names and titles are included. The superintendent's contract is dependent on approval of the school board. All of the school officials and employees whose names appear on the flier are witnesses in the investigation!
In response to Mrs. Border's questions regarding the specific school officials' names on the fliers, Ms. Smith's article states, "Village Solicitor and board member William Roux cited a board policy that states the board will not hear public complaints of personnel or school officials in public session." Although Mr. Roux (an experienced attorney) was quick to cite the above rule, he said nothing about inappropriateness of the superintendent or school board conducting this investigation. I strongly believe that an outside entity should conduct this important investigation.
The most egregious act of this scenario: The school guidance counselor, a public employee to whom we entrust our children, enticed students with cash on school time to deliver the campaign fliers. If so, why would the guidance counselor and teachers engage in this sort of activity on the taxpayers' time? As a taxpayer and especially as a mother of children attending the McDonald school system, I want answers and accountability.
KATE HARVEY
McDonald
Killing at George Juniorwarrants death penalty
EDITOR:
The recent case of two escapees from a Mercer County, Pa., detention center has folks asking a lot of questions ("2 had planned to escape, say boys at reform school," Nov. 11). The juveniles, who are charged as adults, allegedly beat and killed a George Junior Republic night supervisor. Should the prosecutor seek the death penalty for the boys, who are 17 and 16?
A national trend has surfaced, as the death penalty has come under fire from those who doubt its effectiveness as a deterrent. Others say that capital punishment simply isn't applied fairly. Illinois declared a statewide moratorium on the death penalty last year, and other states are considering the same.
I feel that the silent majority hasn't spoken on the issue. Most decent, law-abiding citizens may have doubts about the death penalty in general. But what would happen to those doubts if something, God forbid, happened to your own family?
In the case of the George Junior escapees, as The Vindicator article indicated, boys escape from the facility "all the time," without killing or hurting anyone. These two juveniles allegedly chose a different path. Accordingly, their punishment should be harsh.
I believe that the death penalty is appropriate in this case, regardless of the boys' ages. Our society needs to stop worrying so much about what is fair for criminals and start thinking about what is fair for victims.
JASON C. REEHER
Grove City
Isn't there a better wayto put animals to sleep?
EDITOR:
An article in The Vindicator Nov. 8 indicated that the Columbiana pound will increase its fee for adopting dogs. This, I think, is a great idea. Hopefully, as stated in the article, this will reduce the strays, dogs used for fighting, and the dogs that are simply used as a tree ornament.
My concern is the awful way they destroy healthy animals. Isn't gassing barbaric? What era do we live in? Euthanasia by injection is so much more humane. These poor animals already suffered ignorance from the human hand. Why make them suffer their last few breaths of life? Gassing is not instant, it is slow. These animals know, they feel, and they deserve a humane end to their poor (no fault of their own) lives.
Maybe one day all states will be able to say their cities are "no kill." But until that time, let's try to make the ending of our fellow creatures' lives a bit more humane.
ARLIA D. SLAINA
Youngstown