Freeing an oppressed people and securing oil isn't bad

Freeing an oppressed people and securing oil isn't bad
EDITOR:
Those who accuse the Bush administration of invading Iraq on the pretext of finding and destroying weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have captured the fancy of major media pundits who also parade the assertion that "its all about oil." I say: So what! Even if the war is focused upon "oil," freeing Iraq's citizenry from Sadam Husein's savagery and introducing its people to a free market economy (certain to bring universal prosperity) will reduce their desire to use WMD (if they exist) and oil revenues will, over time, more than pay for reconstruction.
After Saudi Arabia, Iraq holds the most proven oil reserves. Oil fuels, energizes, and heats many things that drive, electrify, and warm our lives. Is it any wonder that oil has been referred to as black gold?
The Saudi's funded the majority of the 19 terrorists that started the war on Sept. 11, 2001. More direct attacks on our soil would surely have soon followed if we hadn't defended ourselves by striking back. Hopefully we'll secure a more reliable and less costly supply of black gold for the future. Even the most ardent pacifist will continue to focus upon WMD and brush aside our heroic efforts to plant the seeds of freedom in the midst of surrounding despotic states; and yes, collaterally benefit from that wonderful smelly and slippery stuff called oil.
Atty. C.D. RAFOTH
Youngstown
Hubbard mayor is ignoringhealth issues in cell tower
EDITOR:
I am disturbed by Hubbard Mayor Art Magee's willingness to sacrifice "about 100" people to protect & quot;maybe thousands. & quot; In exchange for placing its cellular tower in a Hubbard residential neighborhood, Alltel has offered new emergency communication equipment. However, putting a cell tower in the middle of a residential neighborhood is not Hubbard's ONLY alternative for acquiring emergency equipment.
Contrary to the mayor's claim, the tower does not necessarily have to be put "in somebody's yard." Hubbard has at least one viable nonresidential site, but it would not maximize Alltel's profits, so the company rejected it. Alltel deemed the residential site of Creed Avenue "the best" without considering health risks or property values.
Now, Mr. Magee is publicly demanding that council members "do what's right" and demonstrate "leadership" by reviving the original plan to place the tower on Creed Avenue. It appears that the mayor and some members of council continue to misunderstand their duties. The city government should protect the welfare of all Hubbard residents, not the bottom line of a giant corporation. Mr. Magee equates leadership with dismissing the legitimate concerns of residents whose lives will be most impacted by the tower.
If the government agrees to place the Alltel tower in a residential neighborhood, it will effectively ignore the health and safety concerns raised at a public hearing in December. At that hearing, it was noted that the federal government does not regulate the nonthermal effects of radio frequency (RF) emissions from cell towers. Evidence at the hearing showed numerous studies from around the world linking these nonthermal effects to serious health problems. But apparently these concerns do not matter to some members of the Hubbard city government.
The city officials who are so quick to dismiss these health and safety concerns will not have to live in the tower's shadow and will not be subjected to chronic RF emissions. They are content to accept anecdotes about husbands who have safely worked around radio towers and operated amateur radios to "discredit" clinically documented RF health concerns.
Because the communication equipment should benefit all Hubbard residents, in fairness the costs should also be distributed equally. In contrast, the Alltel deal that Mr. Magee embraces imposes all kinds of costs upon only a small group of Hubbard residents. While that route seems most expedient, opting for it only shows a shocking LACK of leadership.
WILLIAM DOBOSH
Hubbard
Teamwork is needed nowto end the conflict at RTI
EDITOR:
I am responding to a Vindicator article of Jan. 29, "Boeing ends pact with RTI." I am not a union member, however, I am a union "family" member. I have watched the pingpong game between RMI management and RMI union employees since before the lockout. Negotiations have been "sluggish" at best, but not due to the lack of enthusiasm or participation from the union.
The company broke during the holidays to wait for a "succession" of meetings to take place after the first of the year. Unless I am mistaken, one meeting a week does not equal a succession of meetings. What could possibly be more important than negotiating daily to resolve this? But the executives are still receiving full paychecks, bonuses and benefits, so what would be their hurry? Their lives have been uninterrupted!
I am sympathetic to the management people in there working and to their families. They don't want to be there, as much as the union employees do not want to be outside, especially in this inclement weather. RTI President Tim Rupert may want you to believe that things are running smooth as silk, though he doesn't have "another workforce" to do it. Excuse me, Mr. Rupert, but your "other work- force" is your union employees who have worked the daily grind in that plant for years. They are the ones who have kept that plant competitive and viable for you and your shareholders! They are the ones properly trained to do those jobs!
How many of your management people have gotten hurt in there? Do they consider it a minor detail, as you do? How long will you wait until you create an unfortunate circumstance such as a fatality? For the sake of those people in there and their families, I would hope that you are pondering this carefully. Maybe you need to come out of your bubble, take off your suit and tie, put on some thermals and overalls and join your employees in the daily grind.
Also, your comment to the union on finding some way to help them get over their "problem" was surreal! It is not their problem. It is a joint effort between a company management team and a company union team, and it needs to be resolved now. It will not be resolved "now" by your once-in-awhile meetings that fit into your schedule.
CINDY WEDDELL
Niles
XThe writer is the wife of RMI union president Todd Weddell.
Fewer library buildings,but more hours of operation
EDITOR:
Being a library lover, and goer, I've been reading with interest the news that the Library may be closing a couple of branches.
Nowhere have I seen the whole story, which is that should the Library's board of directors decide to close those branches, the total hours of operation throughout Mahoning County will be able to be increased from the current level of 701.50 per week to 793 hours per week ... an increase of service to county residents of 4,758 hours per year!
Seems like that is good news for all of us.
SUZANNE BARBATI
Youngstown