Beware of smokescreens

Beware of smokescreens
EDITOR:
What's wrong with this picture? The president and the GOP driven Congress passed a budget bill that cuts billions from Medicaid which pays for senior care in nursing homes and medical benefits for the poor. Within a few days after passage, a special session of Congress was convened to save one individual who has been deemed brain dead by countless doctors and courts for over a decade. Not to minimize the life of Mrs. Schiavo, but during the past couple of weeks, a six- month-old boy's breathing tube was removed, against his mother's objections, by an order enacted in Texas when "W" was governor.
According to the 9/11 Commission, President Bush and his cabinet were warned Aug. 6, 2001, that Al-Qaida was planning possible attacks on American soil. He didn't find it necessary to interrupt his vacation in Crawford, Texas, but had no problem flying to D.C. in the middle of the night to sign a bill concerning one person. Doesn't this raise any red flags about where his priorities lie? Well, maybe he's learned his lesson about paying attention to the important government issues.
Right to life and pro life are political footballs to garner votes. The GOP wants people to believe they're caring and interested in saving lives. The abortion issue is a huge political advantage tool, yet Medicaid is cut to give health care to babies. "Thou shalt not kill," yet America advocates the death penalty. It's not a question of for or against the death penalty or abortion, it's a matter of government officials speaking out of both sides of their mouths for political gain. Many who made it back to Congress from their Easter break to vote on the Schiavo issue, on both sides of the aisle, were concerned about the 2006 election. Many Democrats rolled over again and voted for the bill because they didn't want to be considered murderers. This case should never have been brought before Congress. Has anyone considered future cases this opens the door to for their vegetative loved ones? How many will have the advantage of Jeb and George Bush to bring attention to their cases?
Last weekend was the two year anniversary of the illegal invasion of Iraq. It's a fact that the news media is owned and controlled by a few large conglomerates who contribute heavily to the GOP. We hear so much about the liberal media but where were they last weekend as the life of one individual caused the news media to be hijacked while hundreds of thousands of protesters were ignored, not to mention the many being killed and wounded in Iraq? Little mention was made of the thousands killed and wounded in the past two years because 99 percent of the news was diverted to airing the plight of one woman and her loved ones' agony.
JANET WALLS
Youngstown
Parking fee is unjust
EDITOR:
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be charging people $5 daily per vehicle or you may purchase an annual pass for $25 for use of the state parks in Ohio. The ODNR's primary goal is to provide front-line service to the 55 million yearly visitors of Ohio state parks. The division's top priority is to provide excellent customer service with diverse recreational offerings, well maintained facilities and value-added amenities.
Director Sam Speck and Gov. Bob Taft are once again taking freedom away from the general public who would like to use these parks free of charge. Funds are already collected from 7,723 dock owners, 461 picnic areas, fishermen, hunters, rentals from jet skis and boats usage, and from our collected tax dollars from being a resident in the state of Ohio. To have consumers pay for use of the state park facilities is unconstitutional, unjust and unethical.
JERI THOMPSON
Lake Milton