It's hard to understand people who take pleasure in misfortune of others

It's hard to understand people who take pleasurein misfortune of others
EDITOR:
I can somewhat understand that a business would view its employees only in the light of what they can do for the profit line. However I am saddened by the response of a lot of individuals in the community who have called talk shows and written letters bashing the employees at Delphi and General Motors. I hope they are never in the same situation.
These individuals cite the laziness of the employees as the cause of Delphi's demise. Yes, there are slackers at any business. I would guess if there were three employees at a business one would do less than the other two. Who do you think would be the most angry about that? The manager or the two employees that were doing their job diligently and getting paid the same as the slacker? Whose responsibility would it be to get rid of the employee who wasn't fulfilling his obligations? The manager or the other two employees?
I wonder why the people who call or write negative things didn't apply for a job at Lordstown or Delphi. They had the same opportunity as the people who did. Maybe they didn't want to clock in at 6 a.m. every day of their lives and chase an assembly line around for 25 years so that they could be on dayturn so as to be available for their kids. Maybe they didn't want to get up at 4 a.m. and have to drive on icy unplowed roads to get there. Maybe they were worried about repetitive motion injuries or being exposed to hazardous fumes and chemicals. Or maybe they were just too lazy.
And they should remember this when they are wishing ill will on the workers. The trickle down effect is very real.
I also wonder at the wisdom of publicly condoning the obvious lack of loyalty and morality of the company involved. This business entered into a legal agreement with its workers and now it wants to walk away with no consequences or obligations what so ever. The company was responsible for investing its money to assure its obligations could be met. That includes the pension fund that it agreed to.
I do not understand the small minded, selfish, jealous commentary. Have these people considered what would happen to them if Social Security filed bankruptcy after they have paid into it for 30 years? Have they considered what they will do if Medicare is not there for them when they need it? I think not. I think the only emotion they have is glee that someone else is being pulled down to their level. How sad.
KATHY AARON
Boardman
One man can't rebuild city
EDITOR:
As a Youngstown resident, voter, and African-American, I truly would like to applaud and congratulate Jay Williams on his historic election as the next mayor of Youngstown.
I believe it is not just up to Jay Williams, to make the city of Youngstown cleaner safer and united over the next four years. I believe that is up to all of us, as Youngstown residents, voters, politicians, school board members, judges, law enforcement, religious community, social and business leaders.
I believe all Youngstown residents -- black, white and Hispanic; Christian, Muslim and Jewish -- regardless of how we voted, cannot afford now to relax and put the burden on Jay Williams alone to improve the city.
I believe the real burdens must be placed on all of our shoulders in Youngstown. As stakeholders, we must make Youngstown cleaner, safer, united and better the next four years.
WILLIE JAMES RICHARDS
Youngstown
Cartoon insults the French
EDITOR:
Your use of a Nov. 11 editorial cartoon (in which one character says, "Makes you feel better about the French not helping us with Iraq") shows a deep lack of sensitivity toward an agonizing French problem conveyed to me in a telephone call from a friend in France. It also shows an abysmal lack of knowledge on the part of the creator of the "cartoon. & quot;
LEONARD J. SAINATO
Warren