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Hillary should be last to be judging Trump

Hillary should be last to be judging Trump

DEAR EDITOR:

To those of you who do not know to whom this refers, let me refresh your memory.

He was the 42nd president, Bill Clinton. Before that, he was the governor of Arkansas, and before that, a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford in England pursuing his law degree.

The reason for his name, no matter what he did or was accused of, he got away with it. Women have accused him of sexual assault since 1969. At Oxford, Ellen Wellstone; a 22-year-old at Yale in 1972; a girl at University of Arkansas. While he was governor, state troopers were assigned to protect Clinton. At least seven women while he was governor said he forced himself on them: Carolyn Moffet, Elizabeth Ward, Sandra Allen James, Christy Zer-cher, to name a few.

I am telling you these names, for Hillary Clinton says today that “all rape victims should be believed,” but these women were not when her husband was governor. See, the Clinton political machine said they were crazy, liars, stalkers, out of their minds or just wanted fame.

While Clinton was campaigning and in office as president, Gennifer Flowers, Kathleen Wiley, Juanita Broadrick and Dolly Browning make you wonder when he had time to do anything else. Paula Corbin Jones brought allegations that he made crude sexual advances, but at first settled with him but was included in the lie later on. But it was Monica Lewinsky who actually came forward, and Mr. Clinton under oath did, in fact, lie about sexual encounters with her and Paula Corbin Jones. He was charged with obstruction of justice, perjury, false and misleading testimony to delay, impede, cover up and conceal evidence. This does not even include the Whitewater investigation, the so-called suicide of Vince Foster and files taken from his office owing for back taxes on this corporation the Clintons were involved with. Clinton was impeached by the House but forgiven by the Senate. Once again, the Clintons got away, with no accountability.

He abused his power while in office. To me, Mr. Clinton is no better than Bill Cosby and has a lot in common with him. This letter is not only about Mr. Clinton but also how Hillary Clinton treated the women who were sexually assaulted by her husband because she accused Donald Trump of sexism. Seems she uses her gender to play the victim and yells there is a war on women. She better look at herself in the mirror first!

Ruth Lilley

Niles

Mainline churches must change

DEAR EDITOR:

The most important reason for people coming to the New World and settling was religious freedom, and so it is no surprise that religious freedom is contained in the First Amendment to the Constitution. Methodists and other mainline religions have taken this religious freedom and subverted it or turned it over to a church hierarchy, which severely limits religious freedom. This action violates both the purpose and the spirit of the First Amendment on religious freedom. We must always remember never to confuse church doctrine with church control, as they are two separate and distinct items. This lack of religious freedom and control of local churches, along with the breakdown of the American family unit, are the biggest reasons for the decline of Christianity in America. United Methodist membership, for example, has dropped every year since 1964, or the last 50-plus years, and continues to do so. This autocratic or absolute control has also given rise to community nondenominational churches that are self-determining and have further eroded our church membership rolls.

Top-down control does not work. It does not work at any level of government, nor does it work in our other institutions, including our churches. Because if people don’t feel part of the process, they feel alienated by it. This is not what democracy and freedom of religion is about. I would also note that control must always rest with those who control the power of the purse (congregations); otherwise, defunding of the church may result.

I make the following suggestions as solutions: eliminate the Methodist book of discipline, which is antiquated and outdated. It should be replaced by a new national constitution that would guarantee individual church sovereignty.

Secondly, eliminate the Methodist Church hierarchy, which would not be necessary, plus it is a financial drain on the system. I advocate for instead of a local return to complete local control by congregations, committees and ministers creating two levels of organizations: the Ohio State Methodist Council and the National Methodist Council. The difference is the legislation that they would consider and that any church member could serve on either council with year and term limits. The National Methodist Council’s first job would be to draw up a new constitution.

Christianity and the mainline churches in America have reached a crisis or turning point, and we must change if we are to survive. It is time that Methodist ministers are chosen by the congregations they serve. It is also time that Methodist ministers have input into this process and that critical or key decisions that affect a congregation be made by that congregation. It is also time that property bought or built and paid for by a congregation be controlled by that congregation. Finally, it is time that Methodist congregations step forward and exercise their First Amendment rights, which include freedom of religion.

Dell L. Cope

Bristol

Wounded Warrior execs went wrong

DEAR EDITOR:

I’m writing this editorial with a very heavy heart. My father, Timothy Liebal, passed Feb. 19, 2014. He was not a soldier, never deployed overseas, never wounded in battle. He was a U.S. Army reservist. His age was a factor in both Korea and Vietnam: Too “young” for one, too “old” for the other.

He was, however, a proud American who respected all soldiers – those lost in battle and those forgotten when they returned.

After all, his father, my “Papap,” fought and was wounded in Iwo Jima. My uncles, Terry and Jerry, fought in Vietnam. All three were able to return home to loving families, children and eventually, grandchildren.

One charity my father held dear was the Wounded Warrior Project. When he passed, our family thought it fitting, in lieu of flowers, to make donations to this charity.

Turns out the CEOs have been caught using donations from our family, as well as thousands of other American families, to stay at five-star hotels and pay for extravagant dinners, conferences and visits to resorts. These people thought their comfort was more important than the soldiers who need a new wheelchair, prosthetic or counseling.

How do these people sleep at night? Worse more, how do we explain to our soldiers, “We love and respect and thank you for your duty, but there are those who don’t care”?

Will there ever be an answer to why some people do these things?

All I know is my grandfather and uncles say, “You’re welcome. It was my job.” And my father, so proud of them and others, said, “Thank you.” Truly.

Kimberly L. Blasko

Warren

Portman should stop blockade of nominee

DEAR EDITOR:

President Barack Obama has nominated Judge Merrick Garland, a well-qualified candidate, to serve as the next Supreme Court justice of the United States. Garland is a brilliant choice and has a strong history as chief justice on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit after being confirmed in 1997 by a bipartisan 76-23 vote.

This nomination would bring the court back to full strength as it weighs key issues facing Americans. But before ever hearing the name of the nominee, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and other Republicans have flatly refused to even meet the nominee – vowing to obstruct the process instead.

The obstruction by Senate Republicans is unprecedented and furthers the continued partisan, broken politics of Congress to impact the highest court in the land, while thousands of Americans await key decisions from cases facing the court.

The Constitution is clear – the Senate has the responsibility to give fair hearings and a timely vote to the president’s nominee. A vast majority of Ohio voters disagree with Sen. Portman’s refusal to consider a new Supreme Court justice.

Ohioans across the political spectrum do not want to see needless obstruction on something as important as filling the Supreme Court. It is disappointing that Sen. Portman has decided to hang with extremists, instead of the voters of Ohio and honor his responsibility to the Constitution.

Kathy DiCristofaro

Niles

Social Security, contracts and heroin

DEAR EDITOR:

Generally, as a rule, if there is something I have a different opinion on, I don’t push it. I just say, “It is what it is.” I am writing this letter now regarding a few things that I’ve been praying about. Hopefully, some readers will pray, too.

First of all, I have a problem with there not being an increase in seniors’ Social Security checks this year because of low gas prices. I wonder if whoever had the authority to make this decision does their own grocery shopping. I asked a well-known grocery store what bologna was on sale. The least expensive was $4.99 a pound. Has anyone priced eggs, cheese or fresh vegetables or fruit? You would think they were lined with gold. And don’t even get me started on the meat department. I would have to hit the lottery for a decent steak or roast. A small pack of pork chops was $12. I can’t speak for all seniors, but I’m sure there’s some who don’t get that excited about low gas prices but do care about food in the house.

Second issue that I’m praying about is $15 million and $19 million contracts for football players a year, and we have men, women and children under bridges, covered with cardboard to keep the cold, wind, rain and snow off them while listening to their stomachs growl because they are so hungry and found nothing that day while Dumpster diving.

Third issue is the talk about heroin addicts being able to shoot up under the supervision of a doctor and / or nurse. Really? I read the letter from the gentleman who said, “Let them die.” That was harsh. I also read the letter in response to his. I, too, always said that person is someone’s son or daughter or brother or sister or loved one. I personally experienced that with my own brother, now deceased. I do have a big problem, however, about what they are proposing to do with the supervised so-called solution to the problem. Cigarette smoking ads are not allowed on TV and not allowed in public places, even where liquor is served where people are putting there lives at risk by damaging their livers. Not to mention drunken driving and the result of maybe ending their lives or the lives of innocent people. But heroin is OK?

To sum it up, those in charge need to get their priorities straight in these three areas – Social Security, football contracts and supervised heroin addicts.

I apologize if I offended anyone reading this letter. That was not my intention. For those I didn’t offend, all prayers are welcome.

Debra M. Starr

Warren

Professionals should decide prescriptions

DEAR EDITOR:

Politicians are trying to resolve the heroin addiction and overdose issue by making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to obtain pain-relieving drugs prescribed to them by their family physicians. If you or a loved one is in continuous pain due to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia or a myriad of other chronic debilitating issues, the new guidelines established by the Governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team is now limiting the use of opioid drugs to combat heroin deaths. For detailed information on the new guidelines, please go to mha.ohio.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=828 and read the reports and what new restrictions have been setup under the opioid-prescribing guidelines.

The government is now strongly suggesting what the physicians can and can’t prescribe to their patients and for how long. They also want the physicians to prescribe pain management to the patients, instead of pain-relieving drugs. That may sound like a great idea, but in actuality, we are dealing with chronic health issues, not temporary pain relief. Chronic pain will never go away; it can only be managed. Because of people misusing and abusing drugs, the people who need relief the most are going to be limited or blocked from access. How fair is that?

There needs to be a balance, and the decision on what to prescribe should be up to medical doctors and medical professionals only, not the politicians or bureaucrats.

I strongly sympathize with all the people who have lost loved ones or have to deal with drug addiction in their households, but to remove or limit pain relief to millions of people who don’t abuse drugs is just wrong. In my observation, those who have chronic conditions take only the medication needed to function on a day-to-day basis. Medications never take all the pain away, but it allows them the ability to perform their daily routines.

You have to ask yourself: If you or someone you love was in constant pain day in day out and the very medication that makes life tolerable is now in danger of being removed just because a minority of people abuse it is it justifiable to allow those who truly need pain relief to suffer because of the criminal minority who abuse it? Where is the compassion for those in pain? Will people with chronic pain now turn to alcohol, illegal drugs or suicide?

A pharmacist once said no one in the U.S. should be in pain today due to the advancements of medicine.

Once again, we may have great advancements in medicine, but if the people who need it are restricted from it, what good does it do?

Tim Santell

Kinsman

Needle editorial

missed the point

DEAR EDITOR:

I’m afraid I have to give you a big ONION for your recent Sunday editorial.

Yes, the needle-swap program does not cure drug addiction, but that’s not the point. Providing clean needles may help prevent disease like HIV and hepatitis C, and that’s the point.

Trudy Houk

Newton Falls

Where’s Trump’s attendance numbers?

DEAR EDITOR:

I could not make it to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport to see Mr. Donald Trump, as I had a prior event to attend. So I looked at the morning’s front page for the coverage.

The other day, the Tribune Chronicle posted the results for Mrs. Hillary Clinton’s visit at about 500 supporters.

On March 15, you reported Mr. John Kasich had about 300 folks show up. Mr. Bernie Sanders had about 1,800 supporters. But for some reason, there was no total listed in the paper for Mr. Trump.

So I went to the TV recording, and they said about 2,500 were in the hangar and that many carloads were turned away, as shown on the video of state Route 193.

So my point is: Do the readers think the Tribune Chronicle is not playing fair and square with the numbers of folks interested in Mr.Trump?

A newspaper will play favorites? Oh, really! Perish the thought. Sign me a “Slightly disgusted reader.”

Elias Vujovich

Southington

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