Strike the tattered flag

Strike the tattered flag

EDITOR:

What is the price to honor our American flag?

I recently drove by a Struthers business and was shocked to see the condition of the tattered remains of an American flag at the top of the flag pole. I looked up the phone number and spoke with a gentleman who identified himself as the owner. I told him of my concerns about the condition of the flag and that being a veteran wonder if he was aware of the disrespect it conveys. He replied, “the rope is stuck and I’m not paying $60 for a boom truck to get it down until later in the spring.” He said he’d tried to get it down with a ladder but did not have one long enough.

It’s a shame that $60 is too much to pay in light of all the blood that has been shed for the freedom to fly our flag.

DALE CHAMBERS

Youngstown

Bush worked with Democrats

EDITOR:

I would like to comment on Bertram de Souza’s column of Feb. 24. I am not writing to support any candidate.

He said Bush tried to bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans and failed. I disagree. What about the Kennedy plan, No Child Left Behind, McCain/Finegold bill, the vote to go into Iraq, Medicare part D and the immigration policy attempt. Bush is a moderate Republican who has been working and continues to work with Democrats. We now have McCain, another moderate Republican, who will probably be the Republican nominee for president. It seems Bush helped create McCain.

Also, Mr. de Souza compares Obama with Traficant. I strongly disagree. Traficant is a criminal. Obama has presented himself as honest and forthright. I don’t think there is a comparison for Obama at this point. He is in a class by himself. Give him a chance.

NANCY THOMPSON

Ellwood City, Pa.

There has to be a better way to fund Ohio schools

EDITOR:

I have paid property taxes in this state since I was 23 years old, I am now 78, so, if my math is correct, that is 55 years. For that 55 years I have been burdened with a school tax that all and sundry, including the Ohio Supreme Court, have determined to be illegal and inequitable on more than one occasion. Technically, we should not pay an illegal tax. (Of course, if you did that, you would be fined/taken to court/hassled, etc.)

Our current governor, Ted Strickland, claimed in his campaign that this inequity would be handled. I wonder what century he was talking about.

I have long advocated a flat income tax for schools. I was told by one legislator 10-12 years ago that this was a political hot potato and nobody wanted to handle it. I suggested that he get a pair of oven mitts and get busy.

A flat tax would bring in more money than the property tax does in that it would catch all of the people who do not pay it now. When you have several people working in a home, only one is taxed, the home owner, the working kids and spouse are free. People living in apartments pay a portion that the landlord includes in his rental fees, so essentially he is not paying either.

Then we get to the matter of “No child left behind” and other idiotic rules and regulation set down by the federal and state governments.” They don’t have to make them work or pay for them all, they expect you to do that. No matter how stupid the edict is, the teachers and school districts are expected to conform.

It is common practice to demand that schools include this and that in the curriculum without saying how it is going to be paid for. My property tax at work.

It is my fervent hope that someone has the money, time and inclination to say enough is enough and refuse to pay what is an illegal tax.

Baring that, I hope the electorate will have the guts to down every levy that is put up for passage.

DOROTHY BALLUCK

New Springfield

Reaping what you sow

EDITOR:

To all the Boardman residents who turned down the tax levy last fall: I am guessing as to what your remarks will be now. “Why don’t they fix that pothole in front of my house.” “Shucks, I have to find another way now to dispose of my leaves.” “They haven’t plowed the snow from my street yet and I have to go to work”.

You can buy a $100,000 house in a nice residential area such as Boardman, but can’t afford to pay a couple nickels more on your taxes. For shame.

LEROY LOZANO

Youngstown

Love Buckley or hate him, you couldn’t understand him

EDITOR:

William F. Buckley Jr. was a perfect example of an aristocrat. He spoke and wrote and no one knew exactly what he was talking about.

Because no one could understand, Buckley the nation of conservatism has been infiltrated by the likes of Limbaugh, Savage, Boortz, Buchanan and Hannity — a rogues gallery of conservative advocates who didn’t understand Buckley anymore than he understood himself.

The fellows mentioned practice nothing but sensational journalism in the name of conservatism because talk radio — 3000 stations — control the air waves.

The one thing I remember of Buckley is that he was an advocate for legalizing marijuana.

To all the conservatives above. Do you renounce and reject Buckley as a good conservative because of his advocacy to legalize drugs or are you fellows for legalizing drugs?

There is nothing wrong with a good Democrat investigating the powerful conservatives.

STEVE KOPA

Weirton, W.Va.