Turnabout is fair play

Turnabout is fair play

The recent election cycle has inspired me to propose a new campaign rule. I came home the day before the election to find a long, garbled and slightly incoherent message on my answering machine. It was from the Ohio Treasurer of State, Josh Mandel, trying to persuade me how to vote on Ohio Issue 3.

Since the “do not call” rules conveniently exempt politicians and allow them to waste my time and clutter my answering machine, I think they should also have to leave their home telephone numbers, so that citizens may call them back to express their points of view. It’s only fair, right? I suppose my main question for Mr. Mandel would be, why don’t you try to help clean up the Ohio Department of Taxation, before you branch out into matters beyond your expertise?

Rick Firestone, Columbiana

Creating a new elite class

Those who opposed issue 2 and supported the repeal of SB 5 have defined the new middle class. The middle class is now the state worker or the teacher or the township employee.

Which Democratic politician, which defender of the middle class, which champion of the poor will now introduce legislation to raise the minimum wage to that of the average state worker? Will Capri Cafaro, whose state paychecks totaled $91,000 in 2010, demand health care and pensions for every Ohio worker or just those who work for government?

Of course, the answer is none of them will consider any such law. Compensating private sector employees at the level of those in government is unsustainable and would devastate the state’s economy. Is the government worker the new middle class or the new elite?

Don Johnson, Hubbard