Friday, October 21, 2005
Sometimes the court hasreason to speak anew
EDITOR:
The letter "The Court has Spoken" on the subject of abortion was published Monday. Being only 17 years old I may not be extensively familiar with this topic, but it seemed to me that this article contained a number of erroneous and offensive statements.
In response to the writer's first statement that outlawing abortion would make all the women who had abortions and the doctors who performed them criminals; this is just wrong. In Article 1 Section 10 of the Constitution of the United States, it clearly states that an ex post facto cannot be established. This means that someone cannot be punished or considered a criminal for an act committed before the act was outlawed. The writer of "The Court has Spoken" also went on to say that the Supreme Court should not overturn one of its own rulings because this law has been in place for 32 years. Thirty-two years ago would place us in the year 1973, a time that was most certainly not as technologically advanced as we are now. There is new evidence and research on the medical effects of this procedure. Would you not let a death row inmate go free if newly discovered evidence clearly proved his innocence? Or would you keep him there because you would not want a ruling to be overturned?
In response to your bashing of right wing conservative groups, just remember "King George" kept this country together in its time of need. Instead of showing up for photo-ops, he went to work devising a plan to prevent future attacks instead of following misguided popular opinion.
JONATHAN MASON
Youngstown
America must act quickly to save oil or repent at leisure
EDITOR:
The results of recent hurricane disaster vividly demonstrated the tragic chaos brought on by lack of human preparation. Are we to continue the same mistakes with our energy crisis? Have no doubt we are in an ever worsening energy crisis. More and more demand on an oil supply that becomes less capable of meeting the demand, and in the not too distant future will become totally incapable.
In the meantime, idle time-consuming rhetoric regarding alternate sources of energy is replacing effective action. We must not delay another day in the development and use of an alternate energy source.
All rhetoric and no action causes me to question the motives of the big oil interests that are suspect as obstacles to hydrogen and other energy source development. Hydrogen is the ultimate energy source. It is extracted from water, and upon use returns to water (unlimited supply), no pollution; ideal situation. Furthermore, automobiles can run efficiently on hydrogen. Hydrogen can be extracted from water by electrolysis, a process that uses an electric current. Huge electrolysis plants could be built next to power plants powered by waterfalls, providing the electric power and the water source. The hydrogen extracted could be safely piped to various locations, and distributed for use; as a bonus useful oxygen is also extracted.
This huge project would necessarily involve the government; similar to the building of a dam. Naturally there would be obstacles to overcome as the process is perfected. All development must begin with an active and effective first step. That step is long overdue. If we move in the right direction oil will be obsolete before it is depleted.
FRANK SOHAIBY
Youngstown
Let's compare injuries
EDITOR:
We have local radio talk show hosts who blast all union workers, though they were union at one time. Now Delphi Packard is in trouble and they are putting negative output about Delphi and GM. Do these talk show hosts realize that Packard and GM workers have the highest rate of cancer and heart problems, besides torn up arms and back problems from doing repetitive motion work all these years? We gave up our bodies to earn decent wages while these companies were reaping big profits.The only injury these talk show hosts get are hemorrhoids from sitting on their butts and running their mouths all day.
ANDY PAPPAGALLO Sr.
Mineral Ridge