Don't judge people based on their age

8/5/2003

I am sick and tired of blatant age discrimination by our society in general. The recent incident in California in which a person who just happened to be 86 hit and killed people and injured others brings to light something that needs to stop and that is widespread age discrimination.

I have personally experienced it in recent years trying to get employment outside of my past lengthy and quite successful management career of more than 27 years. I work circles around younger people all the time at work, but still, when I searched out other employment I was told I was either overqualified or did not meet standards.

Hog wash! I am not going to take it and I wish more people over age 60 would speak up. Age discrimination is just as wrong as race discrimination. People who drive with cell phones stuck in their ear are more dangerous than the elderly man in California, who might or might not deserve to drive.

Please do not generalize all people based on age but rather on their ability to drive. Driving ability and job performance should be based on performance, not age.

You don't even want me to get started on how age discrimination is rampant in the area of health and medical attention this country gives its elderly.

FRANK SZCZEPANSKI

Maumee

This year's Lucas County Fair was the worst excuse for a public gathering I have ever seen. For an area the size of Lucas County, one would expect a fair better than Monroe County. Attendance is down. Anyone ever wonder why? Could it be that every year, they have tried to make it more of a carnival than a fair?

If it is a matter of economics, then look to the county commissioners for answers. There should be sufficient funds to put on such an event if it is properly run. Like so many other things in the area, there is a lack of proper planning. Lots of people I talked to didn't even know it was fair time, but could tell you it was time for other fairs in the area.

Maybe members of the fair board should earn their keep by going around to the other fairs and seeing what they do right. The worst thing they could do is to let it die out. There are kids who raise animals or do crafts to earn a chance to go. It would be a disgrace to let this die and cheat them. Besides all of this, many adults have good memories of going to the fair. Those good memories should flourish in the kids of today.

They will never have the chance to go to Walbridge Park as we did when we were younger (we all have great memories of going to see the fireworks there). There are other things that the children and teens are missing out on; don't make this one of them. Don't tell me the money wasn't there. If the commissioners were doing their jobs they would see to it that it was there.

STEVE WHITENBURG

Fairview Drive

I just returned from the Lucas County Fair. To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement.

I ran over on my lunch hour and met my husband who had arrived an hour before me. We walked around, grabbed a bite to eat, sat down while we ate, and even had a little more time to walk around some more.

I realize things are tough in these economic times but a fair is a fair and there are certain things you come to expect. Bobo the Clown and his dunking machine were conspicuously absent, as was the guy who did chainsaw carving.

When it was time for me to head back to work, I was going to grab a bag of Kettle Corn on the way out. No Kettle Corn that I could find!

If the Lucas County Fair continues to decline like it has been, I would suggest to the commissioners that they abandon the fair altogether and use the money where it's needed more. I hear the Fulton County Fair and the Wood County Fair are great fairs, and it's not that far a drive. I'm just grateful I went at a time when the admission was free.

JUDY KURTZ

Maumee

The egg and poultry industries have been receiving more news coverage recently than perhaps any time in our history. However, much of this coverage has focused on the problems of one or two farms, leaving most people with only a partial understanding of the egg industry overall. The full story is an interesting one, and an important one to the state of Ohio.

Agriculture is Ohio's leading industry, and poultry and egg producers are an important part of it. In fact, Ohio is the second-largest egg-producing state in the nation, providing more than 8 billion eggs per year. That is equal to about 675 million dozen - enough to provide every person in the state of Ohio with a dozen eggs every week for more than a year.

The total retail value of those eggs is more than $600 million per year, and poultry producers pay nearly $1 million in taxes each year - money that, by and large, remains within the state. Ohio laying hens and pullets consume nearly 35 million bushels of corn per year, most of which is purchased from Ohio farmers.

Because most poultry farmers live in the communities where they operate, they have both a personal and professional interest in environmental and other quality-of-life issues. Today's egg farmers use modern methods that promote a safe environment for both humans and animals and view advancements in technology as a continual opportunity for improvement.

I urge readers to learn more about Ohio's poultry and egg industries, an important economic segment that, as a whole, acts responsibly with the best interests of local communities in mind.

JACK HEAVENRIDGE

Executive Vice President

Ohio Poultry Association

Columbus

Luke Shockman's article on the Medical College of Ohio gave a clear explanation of the financial problems of the college. As a long-time faculty member at MCO, I have observed firsthand the turmoil, disruption, and pain during this current financial crisis. It is not the first time.

However, it is the first one caused by an accounting technique. It is interesting that MCO is the only major state institution accounting for depreciation in a way that creates a deficit of many millions. One thing is certain.

The consultants and finance department at MCO have failed to account for the cost of human depreciation. The costs of the bumping process where workers with more seniority bump into jobs of those with less seniority, empty desks, the replacement of qualified people with less qualified people, and the costs of having faculty do their own secretarial work has not been calculated.

More emphasis on human depreciation and less on replacement costs of objects would be well advised.

ANGELE McGRADY

Sylvania

Commandments largely meaningless

Only two of the Ten Commandments involve the law. These prohibit stealing and killing. The other eight do not involve the law and are largely meaningless in the life of 21st century America.

Millions of Americans flock to the malls and cinema complexes on Sunday to shop and see movies. These Americans are oblivious and indifferent to the third commandment, which admonishes us to keep the Sabbath holy.

The U.S. economy is in trouble. The economy would be in a lot more trouble if these Americans abided by the third commandment. Keep church and state separate.

LEONARD HARGRAVE

North University

C'mon, smokers, roll the dice

How about this deal, smokers? Forget the signatures, City Council lets you put the smoking ban issue on the ballot, and if you lose, you get no concessions.

We can make it an all-or-nothing proposition. C'mon, smokers. Roll the dice so we can prove to you once and for all that this is what Toledo wants.

TY S. MAHAFFEY

Cheltenham Road