Knowledge-based economy, demands more from council

Knowledge-based economy, demands more from council
EDITOR:
Once again, I find it difficult to believe that Youngstown's elected officials are working in the best interest of our city. For example, the recent comments by Second Ward Councilman Rufus Hudson in which he boasts of the jobs that city council has secured for Youngstown and opines that he has been unfairly criticized by the president of the Regional Chamber are laughable. The jobs that Mr. Hudson brags about require no post-secondary education and fail to revitalize our city's stagnant economy. Based on the incompetence of city council, the "new and exciting" programs that Mr. Hudson promises will more than likely fail to materialize. Look no further than the debacle surrounding the Convocation Center and we are reminded that our elected officials often act like children fighting over a candy bar.
While I applaud Mr. Hudson's optimism regarding the future of our city, the bottom line is that until city officials accept that we live in a knowledge-based economy, and as a corollary, require a college education for success, students like myself will continue to search outside of Youngstown for opportunities upon graduation. During the summer, I had the opportunity to work with the Regional Chamber on From Steel to Scholars, an initiative that is working to improve the quality of the education in our public schools. Much to my chagrin, and hopefully Mr. Hudson's, the Youngstown City School District ranked at the bottom of the approximately 50 school districts in our Valley. Instead of assailing one of the few catalysts of change in the Valley, Mr. Hudson should work with the Regional Chamber to attract meaningful business development and improve the quality of education in Youngstown.
The consequences of inaction are dire; the city has reached a junction where we can either commit ourselves to overhauling a broken system, or accepting defeat. While I have chosen the former, I await to see the decision of the city's politicians. The future of our Valley hinges on a pro-business and pro-education platform, and I am confident that cooperation between city officials and the Regional Chamber will result in our Valley rising from the ashes in the years to come.
RICHARD L. McCARTHY
Youngstown
X The writer is a student at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., who has worked at the Regional Chamber and with Youngstown 2010.
United Nations isn't worthy of United States' support
EDITOR:
I must agree with Cal Thomas.
For nearly 60 years, the United Nations has marched relentlessly toward its vision of a socialistic government, all the while being financed by the United States. It has no purpose other than restraining the United States from doing what it cannot find the courage to do, as shown by recent feet dragging, taking no action against Iraq.
Most Americans have had enough of the United States inaction against tyranny, while the petty dictators are serving at the expense of our economy. The United States has contributed one-fourth of the U.N. budget since its inception, but yet it yells for more from us. The United Nations continues its attacks on U.S. interests and sovereignty, while we continue to pay the bills. We need to put a stop to this nonsense. The United States should terminate any participation in the United Nations.
WILLIAM MORRIS
Boardman
Look who won medals
EDITOR:
What was the reason America invaded Iraq? I can find but one answer. President Bush's ego and his legacy. He thought as president of the United States he could steamroll world leaders to a war in Iraq. These world leaders rejected Bush's claim of weapons of mass destruction and would not support the United States in this war.
The nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was awarded to former C.I.A. Director George J. Tenet, retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks and L. Paul Bremer III, the former top civilian administrator in Iraq. The attacks of 9/11 occurred on the former C.I.A. director's watch. Gen. Franks help lead the Army to war in Iraq, he showed his leadership by leaving a mess in Iraq. Bremer would hold his news conference to cover up the mistakes of this administration.
Defense secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Alberto Gonzales bear the responsibility for the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and what qualified as torture. These two should also receive the Presidential medal of Freedom. President Bush censored showing the return of coffins of soldiers killed in his war in Iraq. These coffins represent this administration's mistakes.
JOSEPH KUN Sr.
Youngstown