Some sobering and sad thoughts to consider

DEAR EDITOR:

I find it incredibly sad to know that:

Not only is racism rampant in our country and accepted by so many, but that it is led first and foremost by our president.

That this administration is working to erase black history and replace it with lies.

Almost 7,000 immigrant children are in detention centers right now.

The number of children killed in these latest wars numbers in the thousands.

Immigrants are being rounded up, thrown to the ground and beaten by thugs who would never let that happen to their own family members, all to satisfy a quota.

Legislation cannot institute intelligent laws regarding gun ownership!

Thousands of people in Ukraine, Palestine, Iran and many more countries are killed because men use wars as measures of power, rather than using intelligence, diplomacy, conversations and talks.

One man can control “seemingly” intelligent adults and have them cower in his presence and falsely praise him.

We have an ineffective “Supreme Court” that has granted such an enormous, almost total, amount of power to a felon.

This administration can blow millions of dollars on war, weapons and totally unnecessary vanity projects, and it can’t help its citizens with health insurance, children with food and the homeless find hope.

This administration won’t tax the ultra wealthy. Really no one needs that amount of money.

The Department of Education is being dismantled by an unqualified appointed head with little respect for the teachers of today who work under trying conditions and have the ‘best interest’ of our children.

All workers, “average” citizens, do not get the respect they deserve, nor the salaries. Without them we would not have services that actually take care of our country.

When will we ever have a decent hourly wage for all?

We have a lunatic as head of our health issues.

We have a president who has criticized Pope Leo, a holy man who is speaking for the common man.

This country, once respected and a leader in world politics, is now ridiculed and is being left behind on the world stage.

Our political parties and politicians can’t come together more peacefully, doing so for the good of our country.

We will probably have this mess for another two-plus years, and when things get worse (they really will), will the cowards still be praising our “illustrious” president, and bowing to the biggest crook of them all?

JEANNE McDERMOTT

Liberty

Gain perspective on America by traveling the world

DEAR EDITOR:

My wife, Jeannette, and I have been fortunate to travel extensively, both before and after we were married. Over the years we have visited Bahrain, El Salvador, Guatemala, China, Romania, Hungary, Vietnam, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia. Those experiences gave us something many people never have the opportunity to gain — perspective.

Traveling through these countries made us appreciate the United States in ways we never could have by simply staying home. Once outside the major tourist destinations and large cities, we witnessed widespread poverty, homes without electricity or running water, and families living with hardships most Americans have never experienced. During my military service, while stationed in Germany, we also found that many everyday conveniences Americans consider ordinary were far less common.

More important than material comforts are the freedoms we enjoy. Several of the countries we visited have lived under communist or authoritarian governments. Seeing firsthand the limits those systems placed on personal freedom, economic opportunity, private property and the ability to openly criticize those in power reinforced our appreciation for the liberties Americans often overlook. In many places around the world, expressing dissent or organizing a public protest can carry serious consequences.

No nation is perfect, and America certainly has its challenges. We should always work to improve our country. But improvement begins with appreciating what we have rather than assuming the alternatives are better.

Many Americans, particularly those who have never experienced life under communist or authoritarian governments, understandably view those systems through textbooks, social media or political rhetoric rather than firsthand experience. Our travels taught us that the reality is often very different from the theory.

Before deciding that America is fundamentally broken, I encourage people to see more of the world — not just the resorts and tourist attractions, but the neighborhoods where ordinary people live and work.

You may return home with a renewed appreciation for the freedoms, opportunities, and quality of life that we often take for granted.

Every trip my wife and I took strengthened our gratitude for the United States and reminded us that while our nation is not perfect, it remains one of the greatest places in the world to live. We are blessed to live in a country where we are free to speak our minds, peacefully disagree, worship according to our beliefs, pursue our dreams, and determine our own future.

Having seen much of the world, those are freedoms we will never take for granted, and they are worth protecting for future generations.

LARRY YORK

Warren

Will a 2.5% saving on property taxes be worth it?

DEAR EDITOR:

The lead article in Thursday’s Tribune Chronicle was about the Trumbull County Commissioners approving a 2.5% property tax reduction. I’m currently paying a little over $4,500 per year. If they reduce that amount by 2.5%, it saves me a whopping $2.19 per week. Not exactly life changing.

However, it’s estimated that the county will lose $2.4 million in annual revenue.

If that reduces emergency services or affects infrastructure upkeep or reduces my home’s value because of a degradation of our school system, that could negatively affect my life.

If a Trumbull County resident had a house fire and the fire department wasn’t able to respond quickly because the loss of revenue caused them to be understaffed, I wonder if the savings of a few dollars a week would offset their loss.

BILL MAJCHER

Cortland

Hardworking Ohioans need relief, not higher taxes

DEAR EDITOR:

Like many Ohioans, I wear more than one hat. I work a full-time job, and because the rising cost of living has made it harder to make ends meet, I also work a second job just to help put groceries on the table. I live with a chronic illness, yet I continue working because that’s what responsible people do.

What I don’t understand is why Washington continues to look to working families when it needs more revenue. My paycheck hasn’t magically grown because prices have. Inflation has driven up the cost of groceries, utilities, insurance, and everyday necessities, while many families are simply trying to stay afloat.

Last year, I volunteered for Sen. Bernie Moreno’s campaign. I knocked on doors, spoke with voters and even stood outside in freezing temperatures to counter-protest because I believed he would fight for Ohio taxpayers. I believed he understood the struggles of working people.

That is why I was disappointed by his support for proposals that would increase the tax burden on Americans. I did not volunteer my time because I wanted government to take more from people who are already struggling. I volunteered because I believed our elected leaders would work to make life more affordable.

Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent, I think most people can agree on one thing: Families are under enough financial pressure already. Before asking taxpayers to send more of their hard-earned money to Washington, lawmakers should focus on controlling spending, encouraging economic growth, and making it easier — not harder — for Americans to get ahead.

Public service is about representing the people who sent you to office. I hope Sen. Moreno remembers the hardworking Ohioans who believed in him and supported his campaign. We need leaders who understand that relief begins by allowing families to keep more of what they earn.

KIMBERLY VINCENT

Niles

Ohio politicians seem to be missing in action

DEAR EDITOR:

OHIO POLITICIANS ARE MISSING!

Where have they gone?

Rumor has it that some of our elected leaders are mysteriously disappearing, those character-lite leaders who denigrate America’s time-honored democratic values of representative democracy, rule of law and election integrity.

Where have all these size “irregular” leaders gone?

Rumors on Google-gossip state that Haitian immigrants are stealing and eating Northeast Ohio’s integrity-impaired political leaders.

Rumor proselytizes that Haitians from Springfield, Ohio have re-migrated to the northeast.

Malicious rumors are now the “coin of the realm” in politics, spread by egos who know better, weaponizing the weird.

It is the “dirty trick” du jour to trump the truth.

Rumor exclaims that errant politicians are at risk of being taken and sauteed.

The citizens in northeastern Ohio counties are urged to report if any duplicitous public officials go missing … or not.

Other Ohio counties have lost their marginally moral politicians to hungry immigrants.

Anyone seen Larry Householder, Bob Young, Brian Kenderes or James Traficant lately?

One Geauga County judge has been supremely grilled in court.

Unsubstantiated rumors have it that immigrants, when dining on inedible, prodigal politicians, enjoy pairing a nice wine or brew with their meal … tenderizes them, you understand.

Rumored Haitian Pairings for Perfidious Politicians:

1. A dry, red wine nicely tenderizes a tough, morally-lite commissioner, prosecutor, or congressperson.

2. A sweet, white wine mitigates a stringy, duplicitous engineer, sheriff, or treasurer.

3. A cheap Lite-beer will sanitize any judge who has gone past their ethical expiration date.

4. O’Doul’s will cover an unappetizing, corrupt clerk of courts, recorder, or mayor.

5. A light Rose sterilizes a dishonest auditor, recorder, or board member.

6. A craft beer will render chewable a gristle-laden, compromised trustee.

Wayward, wandering elected officials of northeastern Ohio, take heed!

If you are out-and-about in public, and have blemished your oath of office and/or betrayed the public’s trust, you do not want to end up in a Haitian immigrant’s Big Green Egg or pizza oven.

If the Haitian immigrants overlook you and you escape their air-fryer, be patient, take heart, but be wary … you are much more likely headed for a much hotter place!

Judge for yourself!

SHELDON FIREM

Chardon