There’s nothing to fear but losing

There’s nothing to fear but losing

A May 29 headline asked, “Do casinos cause crime?” If casinos are given a “bad rap” as places that cause crime, then should an equal “bad rap” be given to places where crime has taken place such as schools, churches, stores, restaurants, the workplace, homes, streets — and every other place where there are people?

Crimes are caused by people who do not obey or respect the law. They don’t respect the rights or welfare of others, and sadly have no respect for themselves, their reputation, or well being.

Casinos are buildings with gambling equipment for people to gamble and use for their entertainment and fun.

In my opinion, people who gamble with money they cannot afford to lose are committing a crime against themselves because they are robbing themselves of money that is needed for necessities to live.

It’s a well known fact that the house is always favored, and money that is won is money that I and others like myself have lost and vice versa.

I cannot think of any place more deserving than the Mahoning County to have a casino.

Casinos do not cause crime. Criminals cause crime, and unfortunately in the real world they will always be among us.

Just like every bird must make its own nest, every person must practice being alert, aware, cautious, and use common sense and self-control.

All the cameras and security that casinos provide for people’s safety disqualifies them for causing crimes.

Mary Lou Jurina, Youngstown

Kasich’s casino talk is cheap

Ohio Gov. JohN Kasich’s re- cent visit to the Valley was a joke. Ever since he became governor, he has been abusing communities like the Youngstown-Warren area with cutbacks. He then pays us a token visit to try to make it look good. I noticed he has really aged since becoming governor. I suspect it might be from his guilty conscience.

His main topic with the local news media recently was all the racetracks and gambling casinos that he says he wants to help us get in the area. Supposedly there are about three to four projects on the board for this region, and he says he is 120 percent behind them. Whatever.

These projects have been on the board now for years and every couple of months we here talk, talk, talk, talk. Even the project that is supposed to be on the board near New Castle, Pa., is talk, talk, talk. Other job expansions going on in the local area are not the result of Kasich. But he acts as if he started them all. Keep on talking, governor. But remember, talk is cheap.

Gary Gergel, Youngstown

Ryan scares seniors about S.S.

I read all 505 words of Rep. Tim Ryan’s commentary on the Republicans’ plan to save Social Security titled, “Promise to seniors is sacred.” Rep Ryan explains the history of Social Security, the basics of the program, the Republican plans to change it and the supposed impact it will have on the Valley’s seniors. The only thing I couldn’t find in Rep. Ryan’s 505 words was one word on how to solve the problem ... not one.

Rep. Ryan’s desire to scare seniors in the Valley that the Republicans are out to deprive them of their just due is blatantly false. Rep. Ryan fails to point out that most economists, without a political bent, agree that the system needs revamped to keep it solvent for the not-so-distant future.

The facts are these: 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring every day in America, and anyone who sees that, with current and possible bleak employment outlooks, there is no way for the money going into the system can handle those huge numbers of aging Americans.

I know there is a “trust fund” but more monies will still be needed for Social Security to run properly. The Republican plan does not affect anyone currently 55 or older and tries to use common-sense approaches to save the troubled system.

Typical of most Democrats in Congress, Rep. Ryan offers no solution, just scare tactics in hopes that Valley Democrats will vote to keep him in his $174,000-a- year job. Sadly, it will probably work.

Billy Frease, Youngstown

YSU employees don’t feel the pain

The recent announcement of a tuition increase at YSU by President Cynthia Anderson has me stunned. I believe the president said it’s a 31/2 percent increase and won’t affect many people.

Well, it won’t affect the YSU President or any employee, or their immediate family, because they can attend there for free and have been able to do so by contract for many years. So who will the increase affect? Every middle class individual who wants to attend, struggling with an increasing financial burden, and other harsh economic realities and has to pay for it themselves. My question is why the increase now? Have these people seen the job figures for the tri-county area? The struggling by average citizens to do things?

Along with the staggering high unemployment, there’s certainly the current (and apparently true) questioning of the value of a college education in today’s market. I think more research needs to be done by college administrators before a tuition increase is allowed. It seems to me that this is just another example of upper class decision makers being out of touch with the middle class. I certainly don’t believe that those voting for an increased tuition should have the benefit of never having to pay for it themselves.

David M. Bernat Sr., Canfield

Let banks set an example for YSU

Editor Todd Franko’s arti- cle (“YSU 101: There’s always money” from June 19) exposes seemingly excessive compensation for many of Youngstown State University’s staff and suggests that instead of tuition hikes, salary cuts would place the burden more fairly on those not suffering in times of budget squeezes and high unemployment. It makes sense.

However, Mr. Franko and The Vindicator should really expand their point of view to include compensation cuts for bank officers, stockbrokers and insurance executives who haven’t suffered financial loss, even in light of their unwise business practices that led to bankruptcies, international economic disaster and huge bailouts at taxpayers’ expense.

The fact is that YSU isn’t bankrupt, nor is it seeking government bailout monies. When the bankers, stockbrokers and insurance execs (among many others) bring their overwhelming financial packages more in line with the majority of the rest of us Americans, then YSU execs can follow their sterling example.

Ron Barron, Poland

Thank goodness for our founders

Last Sunday’s telecast of the U.S. Open golf tournament showed elementary students saying the Pledge of Allegiance. The words “under God” were omitted when they flashed to a scene of the American flag.

Someone important at NBC made a decision to delete “under God” from the pledge, and that scares me. Evidently, the word “God” scares some in the media. Thank goodness that our Founding Fathers did not run away from using the words God and Creator.

Ron Belak, Warren