Sowell sees nothing but prosperity and progress

Sowell sees nothing but prosperity and progress

EDITOR:

It was with much interest that I read Thomas Sowell’s column “No Economic Downturn or Recession” in which he accuses the media of misleading Americans into believing there’s a recession in spite of all the “prosperity and progress” in the United States (Mr. Sowell’s words).

I would like to know if the media misled the American public into believing that mortgage foreclosures are the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930’s?

I would like to know if the media had anything to do with $4+ per gallon of gasoline?

I would like to know if the media had anything to do with the escalating price of food and other dairy necessities?

I would like to know if the media had anything to do with the mass layoffs and firings of hundreds of thousands of American workers and their replacement by part-time workers making minimum wage? Some of those fired workers don’t even have enough money to put gas in the tank of their car to look for other work.

And how about companies and large corporations firing older, highly skilled and experienced workers and replacing them with much younger workers starting at minimum wage and usually part-time? Is the media (or out-of-control greed) responsible for this?

Is the media responsible for the outrageous increase in the cost of medical care and health insurance over the past decade, to the point where some seniors have to choose between eating or taking medications?

My answer to Mr. Sowell in regards to the above six questions is: No, No, No, No, No, and No. The true answer is the utterly outrageous greed of large corporations, oil companies, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and the banking and finance industry. The media only reports the sad and frightening truth.

Mr. Sowell is right about one thing, however: there is no economic downturn or recession in America-for the super rich.

LEE GUY

Boardman

Please remember: East is East

EDITOR:

I am writing regarding your article requesting a name change for the East Side Library.

“Friends of the East Library” attended the library board meeting June 12. I would like to thank the board president Dr. Richie for giving us the opportunity to speak. We were not informed prior to the meeting that a request to address the board had to be received ten days before the meeting, had we known we certainly would have been more prepared to present our opposition to the change.

Two people who spoke for the change were well prepared with written presentations. They feel that Mr. McGuffey has not been well recognized for his accomplishments, although we have McGuffey Road, Mall and Centre. The new library is in close proximity to East High School which has retained its name.

I also do not agree with the statement that people from the Coitsville area will be the ones most likely to use the library.

Regardless of the name approved by the board we will need everyone’s participation in keeping the new library viable.

OLLA L. TATE, member

Friends of East Library

Youngstown