A new level of arrogance

A new level of arrogance
EDITOR:
Never in the history of American governance have we witnessed a level arrogance, contempt for Congress and the will of the people as that demonstrated by our present leader, and I use the word "leader" with enormous trepidation.
From stealth nominations of arrogant and incompetent sycophants to FEMA, U.N. ambassadorships, Supreme Court nominations and leadership positions with the FDA, this president has clearly demonstrated his contempt for constitutionally mandated separation of powers and the American public, both of which he's taken a solemn oath to serve.
But on Feb. 6, this man exceeded even his own standards of arrogance and contempt for the public good. While Americans were giving their attention to the Abramoff scandal, John Boehner's ascension to the GOP's leadership ranks, Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales' Kafkaesque wiretapping testimony before the Senate Judiciary committee, Muslim insanity in Europe and the Middle East, the Super Bowl and Coretta King's eulogies, this man did the unthinkable. He, with absolutely no fanfare or consultation with anyone whatsoever, stuck a Social Security privatization plan in the federal budget proposal for 2007. His "plan" would let people set up "private accounts" starting in 2010, ultimately diverting more than $700 billion of Social Security tax revenues to pay for them.
Without consultation with Congress, without consultation or conversation with the American public, without even a single public announcement, the most incompetent president in the history of the American Republic has taken it upon himself to fiddle with America's last safety net -- Social Security!
How many more times must this incompetent, contemptuous boob be allowed to spit upon the Constitution and the welfare of the American public before we demand his removal from office?
AL BLAZO
Youngstown
Campbell playing with fire
EDITOR:
Campbell City Council has voted to look for surrounding fire departments to contract the fire services to. How many can honestly say, "we don't worry about having a fire department in our city, just call them and they will show up?"
What happened a few months ago when a Campbell firefighter was fighting a fire by himself on Reed Avenue? He called for mutual aid from Coitsville. The transmission over Coitsville's fire radio was, "can someone give us directions to that location?" I, as a former part-time firefighter in the city, have extreme concern about council's decision. Conduct a poll from surrounding fire departments and see how many know where the streets are in Campbell and how to get to them the fastest. And when you do pull up, are you sure the hydrant that you just passed is working? Which one will need an adapter to accommodate the hose?
In a matter of minutes, a small grease fire on the stove can turn into a fully involved structure fire. Those minutes are what council should consider, those few extra minutes could save a life. So the citizens of Campbell have spoken and turned down the levies, the firefighters were laid off, and basically, the financially-strapped city will soon farm out its firefighting. Remember Campbell, "you don't really need us till you really need us!"
KEITH YEROPOLI
Campbell
Watch out for the hogs
EDITOR:
Your Jan. 26 story describes Hubbard Councilman Gilliland's vigorous defense of the public treasury.
Promises made prior to the income tax increase of 2004 seem to have faded from his colleagues' memories. The public trough has gotten a bit deeper and the scent of money is in the air. The greedier political hogs have the scent.
Beware, Mr. Councilman, hungry hogs are persistent and can be dangerous.
WILLIAM CLARK
Hubbard