Seniors need Social Security to work better for them

Seniors need Social Securityto work better for them
EDITOR:
I would like to take this opportunity to voice some concerns regarding Social Security, and the unjust treatment of senior citizens.
I am a 67-year-old American who has worked at the same job for 38 years. I was under the assumption as are most Americans that we work our whole lives to reach the American dream of retirement and the enjoyment of our golden years.
I have finally reached the point in my life where I should be financially secure. I was like most senior citizens shocked to discover that there are some extremely unjust things being done by our government, specifically the system of Social Security.
I know that in my case, after all of the money I have paid into this system of Social Security, I receive roughly $1,000 a month, and that is considerably less once I pay for my doctor bills and my prescription medications.
I know that there must be an alternative way that Social Security can be more beneficial to us senior citizens.
I would like to convey an idea I have developed to help correct some of these injustices. I think that each of the states should have a lottery specifically for Social Security. The money from the proceeds could go to an organized fund that would help seniors pay for their doctor bills and prescriptions. I feel that in doing this, we can eliminate the political rhetoric and confusion.
I don't know the procedures or regulations concerning what avenue to take for my idea to blossom into a reality, but I can assure you I am a very strong woman and that if pointed in the right direction I will do whatever it takes to help seniors achieve a higher quality of life during their retirement years.
I am certain that I am not the only senior citizen who is confused, angry and frustrated over this harrowing situation.
VIRGINIA GOLEC
Austintown
Many original objections to rail plan were on track
EDITOR:
A few years ago, I, along with representatives of Mill Creek Park, Boardman Park, Mahoning County, Boardman Township and several citizens groups objected to reviving the railroad that runs through Youngstown south through Columbiana County. At the time, not only did I doubt that the rail line would encourage economic activity (it has not), I feared that significant state dollars that could have otherwise been delivered to important local projects would be squandered.
It is clear that the economic benefits which Tracy Drake and the Columbiana County Port Authority promised have not appeared. It is also disappointing that the bike trail, which representatives of our parks desired (and obtained funding for from the federal government), was denied the citizens of Youngstown and Boardman.
And now, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the state may be in danger of losing millions of dollars that it poured into this ill-conceived project.
Specifically, when the port authority estimated that it would cost approximately $1 million to rehabilitate the rail line, many objected that the estimate was far too conservative. Four years later, we know that the port authority either miscalculated or misled the public. Over $2.5 million of public money has been spent on this rail line, and it continues to be unsafe and often subject to accidents.
In addition, the Columbiana County Port Authority's business plan to reactivate this rail line with what are called "take or pay agreements" was suspect from the start. I, along with other state representatives, questioned the validity of the agreements, but the Ohio Rail Development Commission ultimately capitulated and accepted the port authority's flimsy rationale. We now know that those agreements were empty promises which have created no benefit and caused economic disaster.
I suppose all of the above may have been easier to swallow if the Columbiana County Port Authority's promises of job creation would have come to fruition. Of course, as residents of Columbiana County are well aware, not a single job has been generated.
We can now only hope that the governor and his appointees to the rail commission do not punish the taxpayers and let the Columbiana County Port Authority off the hook by forgiving the millions of dollars, which will soon be due.
ROBERT F. HAGAN
State senatorYoungstown
Town hall meeting plannedon manufacturing in Ohio
EDITOR:
Ohio manufacturers are challenged by global economic trends. Overseas currency manipulation, competition from low-wage countries (with little regard towards human or environmental issues), scarce investment capital, adverse trade policies, and more have taken a toll on the ranks of many U.S. and Ohio manufacturers. The Northeast Ohio Campaign for American Manufacturing is determined to alert policymakers and political leaders to the crisis in U.S. manufacturing. Our hope is to reverse this alarming trend.
NEOCAM will be holding a town hall meeting on Aug. 26 to address the crisis in American manufacturing. The objective is to convey to the community the importance of manufacturing to the American economy and the importance of preserving our U.S. manufacturing base.
This is not a Democratic or Republican issue. This is an American issue. NEOCAM is comprised of U.S. manufacturers and their employees, as well as trade organizations representing U.S. manufacturers. Many of our members have not been involved in this sort of endeavor before, but we aspire to make a difference in how policy is being formed now. Many of us have put down our monkey wrenches, mandrels, and screw drivers to bring these issues to light.
Anyone interested in the future of northeast Ohio's economy is welcome to join us. The town hall meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, Independence, 6001 Rockside Road at I-77 on Aug. 26 at 5 p.m. For information, check NEOCAM's website at www.neocam.org. Walk-in registrations are welcome.
JACKI ADAMSCleveland
DeWine's anti-drinking actis good old common sense
EDITOR:
Public attention to underage drinking is long overdue. Research shows that teen drinking rates are alarmingly high. In fact, one out of five eighth-graders has been drunk, and those numbers are even higher for older teens. Tragically, three teens die every day when they drink and drive.
Teen-agers are a challenge for parents. Parents need all the help they can get in combating underage drinking and making the teen years safe for their children. A step in the right direction would be a reduction in the excessive amounts of alcohol advertising teens see on television.
We cannot compromise the well-being of children by allowing the alcohol industry to flood our airwaves with its advertising. There is clearly a need for stronger standards to protect youths from overexposure to alcohol advertising. We owe our young people a strong public health message about the risk of alcohol abuse.
The "STOP Underage Drinking Act," as introduced recently by Sen. Mike DeWine and other members of Congress, is a solid first step in addressing this serious problem by calling on the public health service to monitor the amount of advertising that reaches our young people. This is a common sense reform that will go a long way in protecting our youths.
CLIFFORD O. JOHNSON
Warren