Sunday, April 22, 2012
A lot hasn’t happened in a decade
Remember those good old days way back in 2002? Oh. how things have changed in just 10 short years. In 2002 you could get a gallon of gas for less than $2 and an ounce of gold for less than $400. “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Friends” were still churning out new shows week after week. There wasn’t any Facebook creeping or Tweeting. And for goodness sake, Pluto was still a planet.
Despite all the changes, there is one thing in particular that has stood the test of time. On Dec. 11, 2002, the Ohio Supreme Court declared the state education finance system unconstitutional, again. Sure, those in Columbus have been “trying” since the initial 1997 ruling to change the flawed features of the education finance system, but it takes more than “trying”. It takes political will. You see, under the current system there is a reliance on local property taxes, which by nature are levied at the local level. So, by default the local school districts are forced to play the role of big bad tax man, not the two parties in Columbus.
This brings me to Sen. Joe Schiavoni who, at the March 29 ACTION meeting, promised community members he would pursue changing the formula for funding public schools by next year. The senator went so far as to call the current formula criminal. While I don’t question the senator’s assessment or intentions, I do question the chances of anything changing. Why should I believe he and his colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, are any different than those who have come before them promising to overhaul a flawed system and abide by a Supreme Court ruling? Maybe his youth and short time in politics will benefit him in this fight. I wish him the best of luck.
Bill Hegarty, Poland
The Democrats’ new math
Only a Democrat could see $400 million in the checking account while holding a $2.3 billion bill to be paid to the federal government for borrowed unemployment monies and see a surplus. On top of which they want to turn over the phantom surplus to those in part responsible for running the ship in to the ground.
The only thing crazier thing I’ve heard lately is a local talk show host that thinks Social Security has all the money it needs despite the fact we have a $16 trillion dollar national debt.
Tim Ryan, Newton Falls
Living together like it’s 1955
When are we going to be United States again? For three years and three months we’ve become divided and hating each other more than ever. We are all Americans, it doesn’t matter where our ancestors came from. When you are born here and become a citizen of this great country you are an American. It doesn’t matter what color you are, you are an American.
We need to stop judging and calling people racists. It is sad that all these young men and women are dying on our streets because of hate toward each other. This needs to stop. Americans should love one another and help each other.
Just like what happened in February in Florida between Trayvon and Zimmerman. We need to learn what really happened first.
We need to stop the decay; our country is dying every day. When I was growing up in the ’50s, neighbors helped each other. Now the government wants to do everything for you. This is wrong. All they want is to control us.
We the people need to be united again to stop the hate between us. Divided the country will fall into the wrong hands. We will not be free Americans.
Lena Fox, New Middletown
YSU: Spruce up around the courts
I have been a season YSU foot- ball ticket holder for many years and attend most of their home basketball games.
I was happy to read about the plans to replace the old and somewhat embarrassing basketball scoreboard with an actual video screen. I understand the expense in doing so, but I would also like to suggest to the athletic director some other far less expensive upgrades that I believe can carry the spirit of YSU sports throughout the whole building.
If you walk down the back hallway of the building on the second floor you see nothing to remind you that you are a part of a great university sports tradition or anything that instills a feeling of “Penguin Pride.” Instead, you feel like you’re on your way to the gallows. The walls are blank, except for a couple of pictures of people fencing. The walls are not even painted in the YSU colors.
Add some graphics with the university logo, put some pictures up of former great players and coaches of all the sports on campus, add paintings of Pete and Penny. I am sure the art department could creatively expand this list. Make it a student project.
The four big red pillars within the court could have “YSU” painted down their length. Let people know this is our house.
I would ask the athletic director to walk around all the common areas that the fans walk through when at a game and ask, “what can we do to remind the fans of who and what YSU athletics is all about.” Please don’t stop with the new screen score board.
Steve Cvetkovich, Hubbard