No free parking in parks

No free parking in parks
EDITOR:
This letter is in response to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and its decision to create a parking fee in Ohio state parks.
We really enjoy living in Ohio and could not dream of living anywhere else. We live here, we work here, and we used to play here.
My husband and I have this hobby. We load up our bikes, and our two-year-old son's bike trailer and we hit the park. Any park. We like the several choices this area provides. We go to Mill Creek, Berlin, Milton or the area bike trails. We pack a lunch and spend the day. We stop at swings and slides and once our son started to walk, we went straight to the park to share our favorite places and sights with him.
Thank you, ODNR, for taking our only pastime away from us. We don't have the money to go to a movie, or an amusement park, or even batting cages and mini golf. Now, we don't have the money to go to the park.
What exactly do you suggest we do now that you have taken our family time, our bonding time, and our playtime away from us? When every single company, service and family in the state has had to cut back, this is how you manage your budget? I understand "trickle down" economics, but this is ridiculous. You are hitting those of us who can least afford it way below the belt.
I am afraid that the days of watching a toddler feed the ducks, old men playing checkers at picnic tables, and moms strolling for "the health of it" will be gone.
We have decided to take our "visitor dollars" to another state. If we have to spend money to go to the park, then out of protest we will put it in our gas tank and drive to Pennsylvania.
CHERISH S. BOWMAN
Austintown
Gambling, greed and destruction go hand in hand
EDITOR:
You can hold a dollar bill so close to your eyes that you can't see the sun. Such are those who believe in the death culture, that you can solve problems by killing people, or that you support the work of government by promoting vice. Recent letters and articles reveal some who suffer from such blindness; sadly even some elected officials. They approve and promote policies that kill 5,000 unborn babies each day. They are not worthy of public office.
To the same cult belong those who propose the promotion of vice, organized and syndicated, as the means of paying for government services. Gambling does not solve problems. It creates them. The history of this area is a monumental saga of blind men, hands greased with gambling money ending in prison, or dead because they ignore the moral law.
It is not only the moral law they ignore. They are blind to the economic fact that gambling makes nothing. It takes money from the poor and gives it to the rich. It adds nothing to the Gross National Product. It produces nothing. A casino is a huge suction machine, a vacuum that empties the pockets of local people and fattens the endemic moguls. The toll on the community is devastating. Robbery, embezzlement, and bankruptcies rise, foreclosures soar, alcoholism with domestic and child abuse increases, and often suicide, even as abortion, feeds the death culture.
Gambling breeds on greed and feeds the death culture. It solves problems by killing people, if not physically, then spiritually by the ethical minimalism it promots.
"But gambling money helps to pay for education." Indeed, it does more. It educates the younger generation to expect "big money" without having to work. It's an addiction that squanders time that should be put into getting an education or to helping others or to improving the community. It breeds on greed, it grows on greed, and destroys the greedy.
For politicians to promote expanded gambling as the answer to fiscal problems, is to blackmail the citizenry. "Unless you vote for the gambling expansion we will raise taxes." That's blackmail.
Father WILLIAM J. WITT
Youngstown
Taking a broader view of life
EDITOR:
I am cynical of the public discourse by pro-life proponents.
What is reprehensible is that persons who vociferously denounce abortion do little after the child is born. The Institute of Medicine reported recently that 18,000 Americans die every year from lack of health coverage. There are 45 million Americans without health care. Among that group are 3.5 million pregnant women.
The elderly are no less affected. Many cannot afford the cost of their prescription drugs. The U.S. House of Representatives voted twice against the importation of less expensive drugs from Canada. The reason, ostensibly, is that they are unsafe. Surely our representatives realize that Pfizer, for example, has 16 drug manufacturing plants abroad. These same plants that ship drugs to Canada also ship those same brand drugs to the U.S.
On an equally important issue, President Bush and Congress have refused to endorse gun legislation to control even assault weapons. While thousands of our children die from these weapons, the president refused even to re-enact the Reagan-supported Brady Bill.
Why aren't the pro-life clergy denouncing these conditions? Where are those who carry protest placards at abortion clinics? Why aren't they marching in front of congressional offices and the White House over health care, prescription drugs, and gun control? Where is the general public? Congress will soon approve the president's most recent request for an additional $82 billion for Iraq, for a total of over $300 billion. Obviously, we can forget fiscal conservatism and essential programs for the welfare of Americans.
LOUIS RAZZANO
Grove City
Bring on the casinos
EDITOR:
Why such a big controversy over opening casinos in Ohio? OK, you don't want gambling in Ohio -- good. Stop the lottery, stop the horse races, stop bingo. Seems like the religious groups are doing all the complaining. Funny, you don't hear them complain about bingo, do you? What about the lottery? Wasn't this created to help out our schools? What a laugh. How many schools have closed due to lack of funds? And the people line up for blocks when the stakes are high. I bet 9 out of 10 are church leaders and church goers standing there too.
Take a trip to Mountaineer casino in West Virginia. I'll bet eight out of 10 license plates are from Ohio. How about Ontario? How many bus loads from Ohio? Quite a few, I bet.If you're going to gamble, you're going to gamble. No matter where you have to go.
I think we should be more concerned about the jobs that will be created. How many jobs have been lost in this area? You know, it only stands to reason, if you work and bring in a paycheck, you will spend. More homes, cars, furniture, etc. No job, no pay, no spend.
Let's vote yes for casinos. This is our chance. Don't lose it.
Bring it to Ohio. Go Shawnees.
MILLIE PACURIAN
Cortland
Hickory Inn done wrong
EDITOR:
The article regarding the historic home in Kinsman on March 6 was very insulting to my father, Si Perkins and my mother, Ruth Perkins, the previous owners of the Hickory Tree Inn. I was very upset and wanted you to be aware of the maybe unintentional description of the words express by the writer of this article.
My father, Si Perkins, was a prominent and well known citizen of the community. His wife, Ruth, also. In the 20 years they owned the home, it was tastefully and elegantly furnished throughout all the rooms. The front parlor had a Gulbranson organ and an antique player piano, which mom played professionally. The rooms echoed with wonderful sounds of family and friends during many occasions celebrated over the years.
I'm sure many Kinsman residents and family were all shocked of the unkind words distastefully used in this article regarding the endeavor of my parents to make the home one of regal and elegant heritage.
MARY LOU PERKINS ROBINSON
Kinsman