Care for people at home first

2/8/2010

It's really great that America, in just a few days, raised so much money to help the victims in Haiti. Too bad America doesn't care as much about the starving children in its own country.

American dollars are spent each year to feed, clothe, and educate people in foreign countries.

Yet people with these same needs here in our backyards go hungry each night and die of ailments that are easily treated or prevented.

Before the United States worries about foreigners, we need to step back and take care of our citizens first.

Crystal Slover

Chase Street

The Blade published recent birth reports that showed five births to unwed men and women compared to four births to married couples.

There are three ways to avoid poverty early in life: Graduate from high school, have children after age 20, and marry before having a child, according to William Galston, who was an assistant to President Clinton.

Michael H. Croke

Sylvania

Your Jan. 27 article "Watchdog says bailout created more risk" noted that Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, wrote in a report: "Even if TARP saved our financial system from driving off a cliff back in 2008, absent meaningful reform, we are still driving on the same winding mountain road, but this time in a faster car."

Considering President Obama's proposed budget, is anyone in government listening?

David D. Georgia

Briarwood Lane

The concern about the federal budget deficit is warranted, given the cost of carrying such debt, which ultimately falls to taxpayers.

However, of equal concern should be any government budget surplus, because it means government has taken more of the taxpayers' money than it needs.

All governments should strive to create budgets that are fiscally responsible and result in neither a surplus nor a deficit.

Kevin Decker

Whitehouse

Your Jan. 18 article "Unused swine flu vaccine is piling up" could have been predicted before the start of the flu season.

Government officials said only a small amount of vaccine would be available, which made the public think there wouldn't be enough vaccine for everyone. Did officials overestimate the need, or was it an easy flu season?

Though Lucas County still offers free swine flu shots, were we prepared for a pandemic situation as described last year? I'm afraid not.

Bob Lubell

Sylvania

The Jan. 14 letter "Rally highlighted Palestinian plight" cited information from the Council for National Interest. Here are some facts about the council.

The council, which includes a separate foundation, is an organization that disseminates demonizing propaganda about Israel.

In an ad in the New York Times published April 22, 2007, the council condemned Israel. The ad avoided any condemnation of terrorism. It called for financing the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Abduraham Alamoudi, then a member of the board of directors of the council's foundation, said at a November, 2000, rally in Washington: "We are all supporters of Hamas. I wish to add that I am also a supporter of Hezbollah."

In contrast to its harsh criticism of Israel, the council defended terror groups that attack Israel, particularly Hamas. The council had several meetings in the Middle East in 2006 with leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Council for National Interest has nothing to do with peace. There are two sides to any dispute. The council tells only one.

Suzanne Dennis

121st Street

I wonder why no one tries to ban alcohol. Many restaurants that have lost business because of the smoking ban are getting liquor licenses, and these are family eating places.

How does this make sense? You cannot pick up a newspaper without reading that someone has been killed by a drunken driver.

Bonnie Purkey

Tecumseh, Mich.

The man a Blade editorial called "the great John C. Calhoun" may have been great for the state of South Carolina, as a proponent of states' rights. But he was not so great for the United States. Calhoun was an advocate of slavery, white men's right to vote, nullification, and secession ("Calhoun's heirs," Feb. 1).

The heirs of John Caldwell Calhoun bombarded Fort Sumter and the "War Between The States" was off and running.

R. C. Burns

Blissfield, Mich.

As a small business owner in downtown Toledo, I can attest that parking is a problem ("City grapples with parking, meter issues," Jan. 31).

We do not have access to free parking, other than from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or after 5 p.m.

I don't believe downtown workers take advantage of free parking, because it is only for three hours.

Because there are not many downtown businesses, the city could urge people to come to our establishments by offering more free street parking.

Anne Boyle

Zen in the District

Yoga Studio

Canton Avenue

Marilou Johanek's Feb. 4 op-ed column, "Sense of superiority drove church to 'help' Haitian children" is presumptuous, and judgmental, and smears all Christians unfairly.

She presumes to know why the missionaries were in Haiti and that they were on a "mission from God," not bound by the laws of Haiti.

She speaks of the "manner of evangelists who sweep in to rescue impoverished nations from themselves" and how "paternalistic posturing seems endemic in the high-and-mighty."

These descriptions are generalizations and an insult to Christians. An apology is due from Ms. Johanek.

She criticized a few members of the Christian faith who were trying to help children, not people who were flying planes into buildings, attempting to blow up a planeload of people with a bomb hidden in his underwear, decapitating journalists, destroying churches, setting fire to girls' schools, or issuing a fatwa of death to the United States and infidels.

Greg Kinney

Adrian, Mich.

Our all-knowing government has taken our money and created a nation of dependents.

Richard M. Reder

Foxcroft Road