Even if they don't show it, people still need compassion

Even if they don't show it,people still need compassion
EDITOR:
I was touched by the letter stating how the woman's attitude toward people changed from "mean and uncompassionate" to "helpful" once she began using her cane.
Most people will be helpful if they have a visual clue that a person is having difficulty. A cane or wheelchair brings assistance and patience. In earlier times, an arm band or a particular type of clothing would signal a person was in mourning and bring compassion from others. A person perched on a bridge ready to jump brings out all the emergency resources of a community to save the life of someone who has lost hope.
What if we were to respond to each person we meet with some show of patience, compassion or encouragement even if there is no visible sign of need?
Visible or invisible, the need is there.
AGNES MARTINKO
Youngstown
U.S. economy and its world standing are weakened
EDITOR:
As I laboriously attempt to craft this letter in a way that will not ruffle too many feathers amongst the gullible members of the G.O.P. regarding the ineptitude of the present administration in Washington, D.C., forgive me if I offend any of you! I do however, attempt to act as an organ for the poor and downtrodden.
I am not impressed by our illustrious president's attempts to garner votes for his upcoming re-election attempt this fall. The largely conservative press is working overtime to aid him in his endeavor. I am especially impressed with the number of oxymoronic terms that I have seen lately, such as "Bush's jobless economy." What a kick in the head!
When the administration economists release unemployment statistics they use figures relating to the number of individuals collecting unemployment benefits. After an individual's benefits are exhausted and that individual no longer collects unemployment benefits, that person is no longer counted as unemployed. In my judgment that should project the true unemployment statistics to far more than the governments reported total. This "creative bookkeeping" works well for whatever party happens to wield the power at the moment. Since the G.O.P. dominates the administration, the House and the Senate, the party of the blue collar worker does not have a chance! President Bush now has more than $125 million in his campaign war chest. The Democrats have less than half that amount amongst all seven of them.
I must concede that there are pockets of economy in the U.S.A. that are doing quite well currently. This area is not one of them! The auditor listed several pages of The Vindicator of land owners who are delinquent in payment of their property taxes. I was alarmed to see how many names appeared on those pages! If a large majority of those entities are foreclosed, Mahoning County will be the largest land owner. At the rate homes are being razed, Mahoning County will be a vast farmland.
Our nation under Bush is in a financial quagmire. We have fell from favor in much of the world. He proclaimed himself an educational president. The states are in trouble and state governments keep losing funding due to cutbacks by the federal government. More and more states are resorting to state lotteries to help support educational demands. As evidenced in Ohio and several other states, the lotteries are not the answer to finance education.
President Bush's tax-cutting polices are destroying the economy. "Dubya" has said he's for a strong American dollar. If you believe that I will sell you a share of a bridge in New York City. His polices have left him with two choices: raise taxes and/or devalue the dollar. He cannot raise taxes by his own admission, The second option has already been implemented. The Euro dollar was worth less than the U.S. dollar about a year ago. Today, the U.S. dollar is worth 25 percent less than the Euro dollar. I would advise anyone with a desire to preserve their wealth to buy precious metals, i.e. silver, gold and platinum which is climbing in value at a record rate.
BEN PAULSEY
Warren