Take the money and smile; not to would be crazy

Take the money and smile; not to would be crazy

EDITOR:

I can’t believe The Vindicator is questioning the use of stimulus money in the Valley. Articles April 3 and April 5 questioned why federal stimulus money was being used to update two federal courthouses in Youngstown, one of which was built as recently as 2002.

I understand The Vindicator and writer David Skolnick are trying to expose government waste, but there has to be better examples of government waste than this. These two projects will make two buildings in the Mahoning Valley even more energy efficient than they are now. That will save money for the federal government in the long run by reducing waste. When YSU updated its buildings to make them energy efficient, everyone applauded. Why is there a double standard?

These two projects will also add or save jobs in the Mahoning Valley, which will add income tax revenue to the city. I don’t know how this is not a win-win situation for the Mahoning Valley and the city of Youngstown. As for comparing this project to the need for a new municipal court, the money being provided is federal stimulus money. It is being used for federal projects, not municipal projects.

The Mahoning Valley residents and The Vindicator complain and act like victims every time we are passed over for any type of federal or other government funding. Now we are getting the money, and we are complaining about how it is going to be used. Are we crazy? We should just accept the money and the jobs and long-term benefits that go with these projects, and be happy we weren’t passed over again.

PERRY PHIEL

Hubbard

A money grab under the guise of campaign reform

EDITOR:

The boys are at it again. They want another round of campaign finance reform, and they want you to pay for it. That’s right. If you would only pay for their campaigns, they would promise not to be corrupt. Sounds like protection money. You pay me, and I promise not to throw a brick through your store window.

I got a better idea. Instead of them writing a check using our money, we will write a law using our common sense. It would be a simple law that says that only people who can vote for a candidate can give money to that candidate. Any candidate who accepted funds from any other source, would go to jail, no exceptions. It is Simple, Absolute, Fair and Effective — SAFE.

The politicians would never pass such a law — you say. You may be right, but we don’t need the politicians. In Ohio, we can pass it ourselves. All we need to do is organize and then place it on the ballot. And from Ohio, it can spread across the nation all the way to Washington, D.C.

So if you are tired of complaining about corporations, PACs, special interests and lobbyists buying candidates (Republican and Democrat), you can do something about it. Go to Safelaws.com to get more details on this law.

THOMAS MASKELL

Poland