‘Stuck’ isn’t the word for it
‘Stuck’ isn’t the word for it
While driving home from work I saw a bumper sicker on a car that said “Stuck in Ohio” It had a very negative feel about it. I started thinking, where can I get one that says, “Happy to be stuck in Ohio.” We are so fortunate for all the wonderful things we have available to us all over this state. Of the 50 states, Ohio was picked to house the Rock Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Air Force Museum and numerous wonderful schools of higher education including YSU, OSU and the oldest one in Athens, Ohio University. There are so many great things to see in our great state I certainly cannot mention them all.
The people living here are a terrific mix of races, nationalities, religions that make this area such a great place to be.
The weather is another thing people complain about. But we never have hurricanes, rarely have tornadoes or floods. Just when you are tired of winter, spring arrives. When the heat gets to the point of being unbearable in the summer, fall arrives. Sometimes the seasons make a few switches but that’s part of the excitement. It keeps us on our toes. How boring it would be to have the same weather 365 days a year. And what kind of Christmas is it when it’s 75 degrees?
It is wonderful to go on a vacation but isn’t it just the best to come back home? Every time I go away I enjoy my time but I breathe a sigh of relief when the airplane lands at Hopkins or Akron-Canton airports (sometimes I have to use Pittsburgh, I admit).
I for one am glad to be an Ohioan, and plan to be one till I die.
Betty Patterson, Canfield
Pay increases are forever
A recent article on Mahon- ing County receiving pay increases while having to pay more in pension contributions quoted county Auditor Sciortino as describing the deal as a “wash.” Simply put, the statement is not true and not even close. Any pay raise results in the following:
1) Base rate increases
2) Overtime pay increases
3) Holiday pay increases
4) Sick pay increases
5) Work up pay increases
6) Buy out pay increases
7) Pension costs increases
8) Severance pay increases
9) Workers’ Compensation premiums increases
Pension payments result in all of the above remaining unchanged.
Last, but not least, with pay raises, the next pay raise in future years will start from a much higher base resulting in big increases in all categories.
Paying employee pensions is a reasonable method to control costs in government. Auditor Sciortino should take note that his office will be paying future pay plans at an accelerated rate until kingdom come. To really give public employees something that the private sector has, our state representatives should put them under Social Security so when they retire they can collect a pension and Social Security, like those in the “private sector.”
Al DeVengencie, Girard
The writer is a long-time official of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. .
An invitation to shoplifters
Is anybody as outraged as I am over the idiocy and response of Home Depot to the shoplifting incident involving its employee Jean Torres? Is there such a thing as an open invitation to shoplifters?
There may be sound reasons for some of those policies but the Home Depot turns common sense on its head. Mr. Torres should have received a commendation at best and a reprimand at worst — not a termination. I will show my indignation by not shopping at Home Depot.
David C Comstock Sr., Poland
Don’t dismiss John Birch Society
I read with interest the arti- cle in Sunday’s paper about the John Birch Society. I’ve read much of the information regarding JBS and what it stands for: in a nutshell, fighting communism (today totally blended with socialism, progressivism, liberalism — and the Republican Party, too), and maintaining America’s sovereignty, liberty, and freedom. Not bad goals, unless you are under 40 years old and have been schooled in our liberal education/indoctrination system to believe “socialism is good.”
The JBS apparently lost credibility when its leaders accused President Eisenhower of “being a communist agent.” Let’s forget the fact that Eisenhower opposed Gen. Patton’s insistence on pushing the Russians back to their pre-war borders. This led, of course, to the enslavement of the eastern half of Europe for 50 years and the “Cold War.”
Let’s also overlook the fact that Eisenhower allowed American industrial leaders to continue doing business with the USSR and helping the communists advance in many ways). Maybe not a communist agent, in the strictest sense, but obviously not doing all he could to fight communism. Big business loves socialism. Look at all big business has done for Communist China in the name of increased profits in the last few decades. Are we fighting communism? Hardly. We’re embracing it, Americans, just like we’re embracing diversity and “I’m OK, you’re OK” and anything goes.
Donald K. Allen, DVM, Youngstown
I-680 is in a class by itself
The deplorable condition of I-680 has prompted me to write this letter. I have traveled recently on Interstates 11, 71, 76, 82, and the Ohio and Pennsylvania Turnpikes, and none are in the condition of our local freeway from Market Street to past Midlothian, both North and South.
Trying to dodge all the bumpy patchwork is hazardous and ridiculous. Why is this particular few miles so bad? Poor quality blacktop or inferior workmanship. I sure hope that with the overpasses being repaired at present that plans are to redo this section of road. Where is the outcry from the community? This is our tax dollars at work.
Phyllis A. Ricchiuti, Poland
Closing postal facilities is wrong
I read with disgust the Vin- dicator story about the Youngstown Postal facility being scheduled for closure in February 2013. This is a service that affects just about everyone in the United States.
Congress makes them pay a phenomenal contribution to the postal employees retirement fund for 50 years from now, which causes them to lose money. If the Postal Service closes facilities, hundreds of thousands of contributing jobs will be gone.
What pitiful decision making by the Congress can justify spending millions of dollars on a trial for John Edwards and several million more dollars on a trial for Roger Clemens? Will we be better off if either or both of these persons are convicted? The answer is no. Then add to this the 16,000 new IRS employees needed to oversee Obamacare which is an absolute waste of money. Then add to this a president who spends no time at all managing the affairs of the nation, but all his time fund raising, most of the travel being at taxpayer expense, Can we afford this?
George Grim, Boardman
I adore a good story
I read with interest your re- cent articles about Idora Park. One note in particular brought back one of those “when I was little...” stories from my mother, Mary Barley.
Mom’s take on the naming of Idora Park was that a citywide contest was held. She as well as nearly every kid in Youngstown entered. The winner was a little girl whose suggestion was “I adore a Park” — hence Idora Park.
Barbara Huffman, Canfield