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Letters to the Editor

We need to elect better people to office

DEAR EDITOR: With the Nov. 4 election approaching, and the mid-terms coming next year, I hope the voters will choose the most qualified candidate. One who will work for all of us. Does the mayor of Youngstown deserve another term? He talks about continuing the good work he’s done, he cheerleads his own talking points, but there’s no substance. The Realty Tower was destroyed, and he acts as if it had not existed, despite its historical significance. Talk to any business owner downtown who will say he is tone deaf and has blocked progress, not facilitated it. No, he doesn’t ...

Let’s have free speech about health care

DEAR EDITOR: “Health Care Free Speech.” That’s the sign I took to the No Kings rally. The hostage-taking of sick people by the Republicans to extort political concessions from the Democrats seems to me unsavory in an America that claims kinship with Western civilization. I wanted to make a statement. I’m sort of sympathetic to the MAGA grassroots folks. I get the alienation. President Trump has done some good things. But, I vote Libertarian and think libertarian in a non-libertarian America. No Kings was sponsored by Democrats, to whom I’m grateful. I put a sticky note ...

No Kings rallies are all about hate

DEAR EDITOR: As I watched some of the No Kings gatherings over this past weekend, I can only come to one conclusion about their cause: there is none, other than hate. What they are hoping for with their vulgar signs, goofy little furry or blow-up costumes and bullhorn shouts is 10 seconds of recognition on some, ANY form of media. Since there is no true “protest” of any kind, it shows me that their attempt at a form of self-esteem is a very poor substitute for self-respect. They remind me of the jerks that 55 years ago disrespected our veteran soldiers who were returning from ...

Social media and the developing mind

DEAR EDITOR: Social media has grown to become a huge aspect in the lives of many across the globe. According to the National Library of Medicine, social media use by youth is nearly universal. Up to 95% of youth ages 13–17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.” (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023) Young people have become the main consumers of social media, which makes them most susceptible to the problems that arise from it. Social media increases risks of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and low ...

Losing faith in the US is the American way

DEAR EDITOR: I’ve been around long enough to experience many social and economic changes here in America, at which time many believed, to quote a 1965 song, we were on the “Eve of Destruction.” Well, many of those concerns have been addressed, yet many remain, and here we are still relying solely on our strong democratic institutions, which enable democracy to function. Our institution ensures government accountability via a framework for decision-making, public participation and a peaceful, constitutional transfer of power. Our legislative bodies, independent judiciaries ...

Sound off!

So, putting a massive addition to the White House which, by the way, is the “people’s house”, not the president’s house. Anyway, the contractor is non-union! Wouldn’t ICE have a field day rounding up illegals? But, oh my, suddenly no agents are allowed near the construction site. — Girard There is an answer to the high school football players who want to fight during and after games. Remove them from the team. Suspend them. If it is the last game and it is a senior, ban them from playing other sports. Maybe this would get the message out there loud and clear. It has ...