A vote for Dean represents much-needed change in U.S.

A vote for Dean representsmuch-needed change in U.S.
EDITOR:
In his article of Jan. 2, Dan Thomasson states "another troubling aspect to a Dean nomination aside from the fact that he is woefully inexperienced in both domestic and foreign matters."
How much experience did George W. Bush need to get us into a pre-emptive war, take a surplus in our treasury and turn it onto an enormous deficit, attack our civil rights, concentrate on the mythical WMD of Iraq instead of finding the real culprit of the 9/11 attack, and alienate our supporters in the rest of the world?
"Experience" can be obtained in several ways. You can learn from others' experiences (the highest level of intelligence); you can learn only from your own experiences (the medium level of intelligence); or you can learn neither from your own experiences nor the experience of others (the lowest level of intelligence).
Howard Dean opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. He learned from the "experiences" of others in Vietnam and Korean wars.
I have been a Democrat for more than 50 years and voted for every Democrat since Harry Truman. Sometimes I was not overjoyed with my options, but I thought they were still better than the other party nominees.
I will vote for Howard Dean in the primary. He may lose, as predicted by most of the pundits, polls and by the leaders of the Democrat Party. Perhaps any of the other Democrats in the primary would lose in the national elections also. However, I will be satisfied that I have done all that I could to reverse the direction that our country is now traversing.
Our presidents need the intelligence to appoint Cabinet secretaries who have learned from others' experiences. They are the ones who will make decisions that reflect the philosophy of the president. Dean will not appoint the likes of Ashcroft or Rumsfeld as secretaries, or of Supreme Court justices like Scalia or Thomas.
ROBERT C. DUFFORD
Hermitage, Pa.
Man who found credit cardgave a great Christmas gift
EDITOR:
This was a very heart-warming experience for a newcomer to the Valley.
It was just a few days before Christmas and in all the running around to get last-minute gifts, I decided to stop and fill up the tank. I don't usually do this; my husband does, but we were to be driving to our daughter's in Pennsylvania after I returned home. I was in the shower when I heard the phone ring and later asked my husband who it was. He said a man who found my credit card on the ground at the station.
I was startled and asked how he knew where to call us and where were we to meet him. He was coming straight to the house to return the card. When he arrived minutes later, he told us he was a native of Columbiana and was glad we were enjoying living here. He would not accept any money, but I gave him a plateful of homemade cookies.
Knowing the stress losing that credit card would have put me through, I am very grateful and thankful there are people living by us with kind, trusting hearts.
JANICE VELIE
Columbiana
Cal isn't a religion writer, he's a common sense writer
EDITOR:
I am writing in response to a letter recently published. The writer stated that Cal Thomas should be moved to the religion column. This paper is not owned by the government, so why should Cal be restricted to the religion section of the paper? It seems that people are willing to accord just about everyone their first amendment rights unless they are Christian.
I find Thomas' common sense refreshing and the fact that he has a Christian standpoint makes my support of his views stronger. He sends a good message to those who don't care for "Bible thumpers."
SHAUNA McCOY
Youngstown