Your beliefs are yours; don't force them on others

Your beliefs are yours; don't force them on others
EDITOR:
I don't believe abortions are right, but I believe that it is my choice not to have one. It is not right for me to force people to stop having abortions because I believe they are wrong.
There are religions that don't believe that prescription medicines should be used. They believe that God will heal those that were meant to heal. It is their option not to use prescription drugs. It is not right for them to ban prescription medicines from those who do not believe what they believe. On Feb. 22, the South Dakota legislature passed a law outlawing virtually all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest. Planned Parenthood is fighting for the rights of women and their families to make their own decision. Planned Parenthood is suing the state and is prepared to go all the way to the Supreme Court.
Instead of fighting, we should work together to educate our youth on all sides of the issue. If they know about natural family planning, condoms, and all their options, we can prevent unwanted pregnancies and stop the spread of STDs.
ELIZABETH WAUGH
Austintown
Keep the turnpike ours
EDITOR:
The plan by Kenneth Blackwell, candidate for governor, to lease the operation of the Ohio Turnpike to private foreign investors is a bad idea. The proposal is taken from Indiana's plan to lease its money-losing turnpike system (which lost money five out of seven years) to a group of foreign multinational investors. Blackwell feels the long-term lease of 99 years (with money paid up front) will generate billions of dollars that he can spend on special projects.
The Ohio Turnpike is a first-class, well-run operation, which costs taxpayers nothing. It operates only on its own revenues. You pay for it only if you use it. Its fees are modest, and a significant part of its income is generated by traffic from outside of Ohio.
If the turnpike's operation were leased to foreign investors, many jobs would be lost or downgraded in order to be more "efficient." Tolls would be raised in order to maintain profitability. Maintenance and services would decline. Even with the proposed cap on tolls, a yearly increase could be a reality. Why turn this important part of Ohio's infrastructure over to a foreign "for profit" company? Where will the proceeds go? Australia? Spain? United Arab Emirates?
Foreign competition in the private sector is part of the free market system, but it hurts when companies close factories and businesses here and have to move out of the country. Should we also farm out work in the public sector to foreign companies so they can reap the profits? The Ohio Turnpike has a good track record and has done well. Why throw that away? If it's not broke, don't fix it. Give the world a message ... Ohio is not for sale. America is not for sale.
WILLIAM KOCH
North Royalton
Nowhere to go? No way
EDITOR:
Recently we went to see Tom Tiratto at Stambaugh Auditorium. What a class act.
It was like a reunion, seeing people we haven't seen for years. It was just as it was years ago, when downtown was the center and the place to be -- and still can be.
We can't complain about there being no place to go, between the Chevrolet Centre, Powers and Stambaugh. We have first class treasures that rival those in Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
The sound system and the renovation of Stambaugh was impressive.
If these treasures can get the proper acts to play the, there will be no reason to go out of town. Spend your money here. Let's take pride in all we have here, instead of going elsewhere.
LOUIS YAWORSKY
Canfield