Give people a lift to work

Give people a lift to work

EDITOR:

I am the executive director of Burdman Group Inc., a community service agency that has served the Mahoning Valley for over 37 years — providing behavioral health, employment and job retention and Sojourner House domestic violence services. I am providing this background so that you understand why I am writing this letter.

I am writing to urge the voters of Mahoning County to give strong consideration to Issue 1, the 1‚Ñ4 percent sales tax in that will support public transportation services throughout Mahoning County. This service will provide individuals an opportunity to meet their important travel needs of getting to work, medical care services, to school and for shopping. It will provide our senior citizens with independence by supplying reliable transportation that will enhance their quality of life. It will assist Mahoning County businesses by providing a means to assist their workers to get to work on time and provide a reliable means of transportation.

Recently, dozens individuals served by our agency and others lost their employment because they lost their only means of transportation. These individuals loved their work and took pride in the fact that they were becoming self-sufficient. Further, others who are seeking to work are limited to the employment opportunities that are within walking distance, which are not plentiful.

In all, it is a good investment into the future of Mahoning County. I ask that we — as a community — support Issue 1, which will provide countywide transportation services that will help everyone, including our senior citizens, persons with disabilities and those on a fixed and low income.

JOSEPH F. CARUSO

Youngstown

It’s Youngstown’s job

EDITOR:

I agree with Mayor Smith of Sebring: the WRTA should be supported by the city of Youngstown, not Mahoning County.

I do not know why the Mahoning County commissioners put this on the ballot. They should be for all of Mahoning County, not just Youngstown.

Mahoning County had to bail out the city on Mill Creek Park and the airport and the state on Lake Milton. I think it is time they pay their own way.

I suggest that any person who lives outside of Youngtown vote no.

GARY BRANT

Austintown

Beware the Obama doctrine

EDITOR:

One of the positions of Sen. Obama is to possibly reintroduce the fairness doctrine. Forcing radio stations to broadcast shows that few will listen to in the guise of fairness is just plain old fascism. The left labels talk radio as a bunch of haters because of a differing political opinion. Air America had a chance, but few listened. If I am against gay marriage, I am a homophobe. If I am against affirmative action, then I must be a racist. Apparently the left believes in free speech as long as they deem it appropriate. It was like that in the ’60s and remains the same today.

I would like to remind the left that the evil twin sisters of modern liberalism, communism and socialism were responsible for the deaths of approximately 150 million individuals in the 20th century. But, hey, why let a few facts interfere with one’s beliefs. FDR, who remains an important American icon, was a great war time president. However his economic policies were an abysmal failure. While the rest of the world economies were recovering from the Great Depression in the later half of the 1930’s, the United States, thanks to the National Recovery Act and other policies, remained mired in the Depression. Unemployment was greater in 1938 than in 1932. Americans should remember this when they cede more power to the federal government.

JIM McCLOSKEY

Boardman

Take a deep breath

EDITOR:

The old politics has the stench of an un-deodorized armpit. The intelligent Hillary Clinton intensified the stench by slyly dragging her feet and not releasing her tax return for public scrutiny.

The intelligent Barack Obama trusts his supporters and trusts Hillary Clinton’s supporters: he released a copy of his tax return for public inspection on April 15, 2007.

Like the fair-minded young people, like the struggling middle class and like the dedicated worker terminated by NAFTA, I will vote for the unifying candidate March 4. In this election, there is no need for me to have a clothes pin on my nose.

Thank you, Barack Obama, for resuscitating an old man’s faith and hope about the leadership and future of our great nation.

CHARLES KERSHAW

Youngstown

For war or against it?

EDITOR:

I find it interesting that Sen. Barack Obama tells people that he is against the war in Iraq and that he did not think that President Bush should have go to war there. Yet, about three months ago in an interview with two different news groups in the same week he made two statements that would lead to war in Pakistan if he were elected president.

First he said that if he were president and he knew where in Pakistan Osama bin Laden was he would send in U.S. troops to get him without asking the Pakistan government for permission. The second statement was that if he knew where bin Laden was and could not send troops in, he would bomb him. These are not statements a future president should be saying lightly. And if Sen. Obama was so against the war with Iraq why would he make statements like these? Or is he just saying what people want to hear?

JAMES D. VAUGHN II

Youngstown

An amazing performance

EDITOR:

I watched in utter amazement as the Valley, including labor groups cuddled up nice and cozy to Sen. Clinton as she visited the Valley. I initially thought she was making a joke when she declared that she was the candidate who could “get tough” on the Chinese, only to realize that she was serious. Was she going to suddenly quit taking their money? After two Clinton presidential generations of red carpet treatment, were they to consider themselves on notice? “No more secrets for sale to you!”

She was surrounded by the labor unions who are in constant protest of Wal-Mart, an empire she helped build as a board member.

Most of the Clinton legacy is sealed for a reason. Sandy Burger robbed the national archives of documents relating to the lead up to 9-11 for a reason. If we elect this woman we will surely be reminded of that reason.

RICK KALEDA

Youngstown