LETTERS || An agreement for the ages; Christmas isn’t just for the cute

An agreement for the ages

I was quite impressed with two letters that appeared in Sunday’s Vindicator, one from a YSU student and another from a fellow senior citizen, both containing reasoned arguments concerning why voters, particularly young voters, don’t bother to vote (and who can blame them?). I get the feeling there may be more agreement between young and old than we might have imagined. The negative campaigns, while unsettling, at least tend to show that politicians mainly run for office for their own reasons — many because they need the attention and/or ego strokes; others because they crave a job with better pay and benefits than they can get in the private sector — all with little regard for issues, much less constituents.

I think if we keep in mind that voting is not about electing candidates to office, but voting them out (or preventing them from gaining office in the first place), it can make the whole process a bit more palatable. I’ll be the first to admit when you’re trying to choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee, it can get challenging. Even more unsettling than their campaigning is what politicians do after gaining office, particularly those who gather en masse in our nation’s Capitol with harebrained schemes they suspect won’t work — but, hey, we have to do something (why?).

I suspect we who are older and continue to vote do so out of habit, a sense of duty, and nostalgia for the “good old days.” I know my father and grandfather said the same, and we’d all admit after a glass of wine or two that some of our good old days weren’t all that good, but remembering them as such is more fun. I’d still like to encourage young people to vote, although it may be none of my business since I’ll likely be gone before feeling the consequences of their (your) actions or inactions. In a democracy, at least the shreds of which I believe we still have, voting is a right and a duty. I urge you to focus mainly on the duty part of it. We not only need to preserve our rights but we have a duty as a citizenry to do so. If we as citizens don’t, who will? Certainly not politicians.

John Zedaker, Poland

Christmas isn’t just for the cute

As we approach the Christ- mas holidays, I can remember many a happy time and celebration around the tree. However, there is one thing that makes me angry that traditionally happens near this time of the year.

Every day, I am bombarded with messages calling for the “holiday spirit,” namely helping the disadvantaged, donating to Toys for Tots, and so on. However, as far as help for children is concerned, this aid seems aimed at those under the age of 12. Are the disadvantaged teens and tweens even considered?

I am pretty sure — and would wager most of my fingers if I were a betting man — that those who govern the allocation of holiday aid have never awakened to find absolutely nothing under the tree. I have. It is a terrible feeling, knowing that you will get nothing because the parents can’t afford to do so — and no one else cares. No wonder teens and tweens, especially those who come from disadvantaged families, have many confidence and discipline problems, especially around this time of the year.

I find it very shameful that, thus far, this problem has been allowed to continue unresolved. If the teenagers are truly the future workers and leaders of the world, this is tantamount to disrespect of the highest degree. Teens follow the example that they have been provided by society. Disrespect only breeds disrespect. Christmas is supposed to be a time of love and caring. I urge all those who read this to take action to help the disadvantaged teens now. Otherwise, those agencies that are supposed to furnish help to the needy are little more than a bunch of hypocritical Scrooges.

Cody Brasier, Farrell

Not ready for a coronation

Before anyone anoints Jim Graham the next mayor of Warren, can we at least get out of denial about his GM legacy? During his tenure at Lordstown, GM market share has dropped from 48 percent in the ’60s to 19 percent of the current U.S. auto market. The Valley has lost about 25,000 GM jobs or 80 percent of what was once here.

Prior to the recent bankruptcy filing, GM had a negative net worth of $90 billion with the re-organization wiping out about $77 billion of that. GM’s recent profit reporting is the direct result of the “shafting” of shareholders, bond holders, unsecured creditors and non-union pensioners. Covering the companies huge obligations to the Ohio workers comp and unemployment comp funds will be a huge burden to the state and unfortunately other surviving employers. General Motors has huge unfunded pension obligations also to deal with that were part of unrealistic contracts negotiated.

Together, the UAW/GM management combo in following the greedy playbook of big steel in the ’70s has managed to all but destroy another U.S. industry. As a “key player” Mr. Graham shares in the blame. GM-Lordstown is not exempt from contributing to the mess of the mother ship. For decades the small cars produced there were not profitable. The facility under Mr. Graham’s leadership supported national contracts that were not competitive in a global economy. Jobs were lost, not created. If this is a legacy, a resume builder, I shudder to think of what Warren will look like under his leadership.

As with most of our elected leaders, Mr. Graham has to my knowledge never personally created one job or met one payroll. He manages a not-for-profit organization that receives its income from mandatory dues collected from its members. His answer to solving the problems of Warren is to stop the decay. The decay will only end when the jobs return.

The real story that goes unreported is that the jobs that are coming back are at non-union facilities — hardly a Jim Graham strong point.

Before the trashing of Mayor O’Brien begins and the giddiness for Graham starts, look at the GM record and the mess it has left for the rest of us still here.

Tim Ryan, Newton Falls

Misplaced educational priorities

Education is essential to our society. However, we do not put a premium on providing quality education to our young people. We spent billions on bailing out companies because they were too big to fail. Meanwhile, we are failing our young people and complain about the salaries of teachers. Teachers are required to teach, counsel students, and continue their own education.

The mean salary for a kindergarten teacher was $47,530 in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the people teaching our children the building blocks of life. Kindergarten is the most important grade for students, the very foundation of a student’s education.

Beginning in kindergarten, children bring their problems from home to school. These problems must be addressed before the children can be prepared to learn. Teachers have no choice but to be involved in their students’ home life. Counselors earn a mean salary of $50,590; teachers take on the role of this occupation in their own.

In Ohio new teachers are required to not only earn a bachelor’s degree but also a master’s degree in addition to their continuing education. The requirements for teachers continue to expand, while the benefits and support are not .

Teachers have all holidays off, as well as summers; it seems like a charmed life. However, most teachers spend nights grading papers, preparing lessons, and supporting their school. All of that is after they spent the day teaching students.

The amount of time and effort required to be teachers far exceeds the wages they are paid — especially in comparison to other careers that require similar education. We need to invest more in our future, and thus our education system. With everything expected of teachers, they are not paid nearly enough.

Holly M. Headley, Ashtabula