What's wrong with wanting America to be normal again?

What's wrong with wanting America to be normal again?
EDITOR:
I'm writing to respond to an Oct. 26 letter regarding Sen. Kerry's view on the "War on Terror."
The writer ends his diatribe with a question to which my response is, yes, I do want America brought back to a sense of normalcy, not a nation under siege.
Grow up, folks. There is NO way to ever achieve 100 percent security. To reduce terrorism to a nuisance doesn't mean we'll stop taking the fight to them; it means we won't be consumed with it.
We train and outfit more special ops forces to send in smaller numbers to take out important terror cells.
Most urgent is training more foreign speaking personnel to get caught up on the enormous backlog of intelligence already gathered, and we use the info to bring the fight to where we are sure the enemy really is.
Again, I implore you to wake up. Iraq is a mess and as the Iraqis have access to huge amounts of money, having the second largest oil fields in the world. Let them remake their country as they see fit with their money.
We need money here in the United States for schools, roads, prescription drug issues etc. Why waste it building a new country for an ungrateful conglomeration of tribes who hate us!
Bring our troops home by Christmas and keep them here. Redeploy some on our side of a border with Mexico. Give them all a raise ... and some rest.
Who knows, we might need them in a real war in Iran or North Korea. God help us. But what good are we doing now, and I'm not sure we can afford four more years of the cowboy way.
RICHARD ARKWRIGHT
Columbiana
A president deserves respect
EDITOR:
The bar of respect for a sitting president has been sadly lowered by our local radio talk show hosts.
Referring to our president using the words liar, stupid or other nasty names is teaching our young people a new lower standard of respect. It wrongly tells them that cutting down the man in charge can make a person feel important.
Having served in World War II as Lt. (jg) in the U.S. Navy, I cringe when three of our grandchildren are home from military service and have to endure the disrespectful terms our radio talk show hosts use about their commander-in-chief. My granddaughter's carrier is at this moment headed toward Iraq.
As a child my parents taught me to respect our country's leader even if they voted against them.
Regardless of whether President Bush or Senator Kerry wisn the coming election. I will show the utmost respect for the man and the office. It's time to put aside the harsh and disrespectful rhetoric so common on the airways today. We should come together as citizens of the greatest country in the world and support the elected president of this wonderful country!
CHARLES J. BUTLER
Youngstown
Hubbard residents invest in city by voting for tax
EDITOR:
City of Hubbard residents have been asked to make an investment in our community Nov. 2 by supporting Issue 2, the 0.5 percent city income tax increase. Like many residents, the city has also fallen on difficult times-interest rates are extremely low yielding meager investment returns, the cost of service delivery continues to rise, and General Fund revenue received from the State of Ohio continues to be reduced as the state attempts to balance its own budget on the backs of local governments.
Despite the income reduction, the administration has trimmed expenditures as far as possible. Although many people continue to argue that private industry is able to reduce its workforce through layoffs when the economy is slow. Municipal government is different. Regardless of economic conditions, the city must continue to plow snow, provide police and fire protection, pick up brush and leaves, provide parks and recreation, and deliver utility services -- services the public expects regardless of economic conditions.
The city is now at a critical crossroad, attempting to sustain the critical everyday services that we receive while seeking opportunities to make long-term capital improvements, including a new police facility, infrastructure projects, and storm water management programs
No one likes paying more tax. However, our local income tax is different -- the proceeds remain in our community for the benefit of all of us. Issue 2 is an investment in our community not only to meet the demands of today, but to ensure a continued path of improvement for future generations.
MICHAEL C. VILLANO
Auditor of City of Hubbard
The answer to the four-year question: Kerry's better plan
EDITOR:
Sen. John Kerry has a plan for America's energy independence so that current and future U.S. soldiers won't have to be killed or wounded fighting over Middle East oil. John Kerry will fight for improved health care at a lower cost by standing up to drug and insurance companies. John Kerry will strengthen our port and airline cargo security and conduct a real war on terror that hunts down Osama bin Laden once and for all.
When Ronald Reagan was running for President in 1980 he asked a now famous question -- & quot;Are you better off than you were four years ago? & quot; Ask yourself that question this year and consider the facts:
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the nationwide average price this week for regular gas is $2.03. When George W. Bush was inaugurated in January 2001, the average price for regular gas was $1.45. This increase of 58 cents per gallon represents a 40 percent rise in the price paid by you and me. A typical driver who buys 500 gallons of gas in a year is paying about $300 more per year to the oil industry friends of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, senior citizens were paying $50 per month in Medicare Part B premiums in 2001. After four years of President Bush's support of drug and insurance company interests, the Medicare Part B premium has skyrocketed to $78.20 as of January 1. This 56 percent increase under George W. Bush means that older Americans are paying $340 more per year without even taking into account increased deductibles and increased costs under Part A.
Before voting, please ask yourself the question that Ronald Reagan posed, plus one more: & quot;Is the United States of America better off than it was four years ago? & quot;
BILL ADAMS
Austintown
America is losing its way
EDITOR:
There has been a commercial airing that sites President Bush cannot be told he is wrong on a number of issues, including the war in Iraq. If that's the case, he's not the only one suffering from this malady.
The moral issues that are at the core of the United States' self destruction are being masqueraded as rights.
Christians are getting the bad rap of trying to enforce church teachings on politics. This is a grand deception, because many people are morally sound who do not practice any form of religious belief.
With all the opportunity for higher education in this country, it's a shame when people have succumbed to not knowing right from wrong and refuse to accept the truth, even if it means total ruination.
BRENDA KENJEVARI
Youngstown