Fact or fiction?

Fact or fiction?
EDITOR:
During the recent election we in Ohio were visited frequently by Hollywood actors urging us to "take back Ohio" by casting our vote for John Kerry.
During a TV interview with actress Julian Margolis from "E.R." while visiting YSU, she stated she had spoken to a lot of people who were "on the fence" as far as voting decisions, but after she "gave them the facts" they had decided to vote for Mr. Kerry. I can't understand what makes these people think they are better educated and more informed than the people of Ohio or any other state for that matter.
I am so grateful that the great citizens of Ohio were able to make their voting decisions for themselves and didn't listen to Hollywood and their version of the facts.
CATHERINE MARINECZ
Youngstown
Blame technology, not Bush,for increasing job losses
EDITOR:
We have all heard President Bush being blamed for job losses during his presidency. Your subscribers should read the September Reader's Digest article, "The Job Snatchers," by Sasha Zimmerman.
With advances in software technology, computers have gradually taken over thousands of jobs. Between 1995 and 2002, the United States lost 11 percent of its manufacturing jobs; now high speed computer technology is affecting the service sector.
Using computers instead of people is a trend that's here to stay. One startling example: In 1972, telecommunications companies and other businesses employed 394,000 telephone operators. Today that number is 52,000, an 87 percent job loss. Other examples, self-service gas stations, ATMs, even subway lines are being driven by computers instead of operators.
Office jobs are among the hardest hit by computerization. Word processors and typists will lose about 93,000 jobs over the next few years, while some 57,000 secretarial jobs will vanish. Blame the PC. Even toll booth collectors are being replaced by EZ Pass machines. No one can work as cheaply as a chip.
Let's put the blame where it belongs. The president is not responsible for the above mentioned changes. He is not responsible for our computer technology.
ROBERT JOHNSON
Boardman
Somewhere the sun is shining, but not in Ohio
EDITOR:
The election of 2004 is over and my candidate, Sen. John Kerry, is not President John Kerry.
We lost a great man, someone who would have led us out of the despair that covers our land. This division will certainly prevail for many years.
The devastation of defeat can never be understood unless you have experienced it yourself. I'm reminded of a poem that deals with defeat. The following are the last few lines of "Casey at the Bat":
"Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light:
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout.
But there is no joy in Mudville -- mighty Casey has struck out."
I don't mean to imply the senator struck out, he didn't. We, especially the Democrats of Ohio, let him down.
Sen. Kerry should be thanked for all his time and effort trying to help his fellow Americans. I'm of the opinion some people can never be helped. With Sen. Kerry's experience and knowledge, I thought he really knew how devious his opponent was.
PATRICIA COLLINS
Youngstown