People have to speak up before it is too late

People have to speak up before it is too late
EDITOR:
The countries of China and India have taken the lead in the world economy and are selling us everything from TVs to automobiles. They have changed the demographics of their countries to represent manufacturing power houses in the world, eliminating America's dominance in steel, textiles, appliances and any other manufacturing product that they choose to build.
Both countries population are 4 times larger then the United States and the environment laws, pensions, benefits programs of America are totally absent there, leaving an imbalance that gives them competitive advantages. If our federal government doesn't pass trade equalization tariffs, then the middle income workers are a thing of the past. No longer can you just graduate from high school/trade school and expect to obtain employment in a life time position.
If the pressures of taking care of your aging parents (as well as boomerang children coming home, some with grandchildren) isn't enough, now we have local government raising taxes, heating fuels and gasoline costs being raised monthly during a mild winter. Meanwhile the middle income wages, benefits and pensions/401Ks are being reduced or eliminated (witness Delphi, GM, IBM and Alcoa).
Lobbyists working for big business and special interest are buying the government, which is supposed to represent we the people. There is a solution. Activists, noise makers people who are willing to register and to vote must call, write and send e-mails daily to your representatives stating that we are tired of the inaction by our government from the local level to the federal bureaucracy.
You need to get off your duff and get active. The silent ones (nonvoters) have sat back and just absorbed the cost of federal, state and local actions or inaction. Business after business have left the area and borders are wide open, allowing illegals to come take construction, service and the few manufacturing jobs that are left. Large businesses avoid paying the standard cost, while taxpayers carry the hidden burden of family health, schooling and welfare support.
It is no longer easy to not be affected by the decline that is occurring daily in this country. If it continues unchecked there will be a class structure of haves and have-nots.
JOHN BREZINSKI
Boardman
An answer to curb speeding: increase the speed limits
EDITOR:
I am an 18-year-old Senior at Jackson-Milton High School and a licensed driver of the state of Ohio. Although my time on the road has been brief, I have noticed that most people do not obey speed limits. I feel that the reason behind this problem is that speed limits are too slow for today's technology and safety standards. I also feel that in order to correct this problem, speed limits should be raised.
The purpose of a speed limit is to inform the driver of the greatest speed considered to be safe and reasonable under favorable driving conditions. I myself obey the posted speed limit, but am often tailgated or passed for my adherence to the law. Be it within city limits, a small residential neighborhood, or a bustling highway such as Interstate 76, most drivers choose to drive at speeds they feel to be safe for that particular roadway, and more often than not, those speeds exceed the posted speed limit. I believe that this problem can be fixed by increasing speed limits by five to 10 miles per hour on residential roads, and ten to fifteen miles per hour on highways.
Some may suggest that the solution is to lower or maintain the current speed limits, but enforce them more strictly. However, studies show that lowering speed limits actually increased the number of speed violations and had little to no effect on how fast people drive. Studies also show that when speed limits are raised people do not drive five or ten miles per hour over the new posted limit. Raising the speed limit actually increases compliance and dramatically reduces the number of speed violations.
Increasing speed limits by small increments on a broad scale has proven effective in fighting the number of motorists with heavy feet. I feel that taking this course of action will significantly decrease the amount of motorists who do not obey the posted speed limits.
THOMAS THORESEN
Lake Milton