Key lessons from the past offer voting help for future

Key lessons from the pastoffer voting help for future
EDITOR:
I read the letter of July 30 from a "fallen-away Democrat" with some interest. It was a thoughtful and well-written letter, but I would like to respond, if I may.
The writer describes herself as a '60s child and she, like myself, indeed finds "that wisdom comes with age."
I am a senior citizen who remembers well every administration since Franklin Delano Roosevelt's (1933-1945). During these many decades of observing the American political process, I have seen the following social programs forged into law, mostly against formidable political opposition: The Social Security Act of 1935, unemployment compensation for our laid-off workers, Medicare, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Medicaid, and the Head Start program. All these great social advances of the 20th century were born of the efforts and dreams of Democratic administrations and Democratic-led Congress.
And each and every one of those great social advances were opposed and fought tooth and nail by the Republicans with the single exception of the Civil Rights Act. (No politician with a survival instinct dared oppose that).
And lastly, no American president in history has ever started a unilateral war for political gain. Until now, that is.
The point of my letter is this: I agree wholeheartedly with the writer of the July 30 letter that with age comes wisdom. The millions of Americans still alive who remember American history, starting with the Great Depression, should be teaching those history lessons to our younger generations.
Having learned the hard way, this Nov. 2, I am going to vote for honesty, truthfulness, accountability and credibility.
After all, that's always been the American Way.
LEE GUY
Boardman
President Bush does notoppose stem-cell research
EDITOR:
The media has been working overtime lately to sell the idea that breakthroughs in the treatment of disease are being blocked by President Bush's refusal to fund additional embryonic stem-cell research. Don't believe it.
The scientific community is well aware of this sham, well aware that no human clinical trials are being conducted using embryonic stem cells because of their unpredictability and the lack of treatment success when used in animal testing. What's more, such research requires the loss of life, because the embryo -- a tiny human being -- must be destroyed for its cells to be extracted. This is not true in the case of research done using stem cells taken from such sources as the pancreas and the brain. And that type of science, adult stem-cell research, has actually shown great promise in the treatment of scores of debilitating conditions.
Being unwilling to use taxpayers' money to kill human embryos in the name of questionable science does not make conservatives anti-stem-cell research. It makes us committed to the type of stem-cell research most likely to yield the results millions hope for.
GARY PETERSON
North Bloomfield
Rejection of levies pointsto need for drastic changes
EDITOR:
Once again, the voters have rejected school levies.
When will the General Assembly get the message? When will the Legislature find another way to fund our schools? I believe the answer is never!
Until we, the voters, replace the politicians with leaders and statesmen, or stateswomen, our schools will continue to be underfunded and our property taxes will continue to explode. It has been more than a decade since the Ohio Supreme Court decreed that the way we fund schools is unconstitutional. The governor appointed a commission. The General Assembly did nothing.
It's time for a change! It's time for leadership and courage. It's time for results, not excuses.
DON JOHNSON
Hubbard