Raw deal from alien friends

6/22/2010

The fact that other nations want to charge to help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico should be another wake-up call to our nation (“22 nations offer oil spill cleanup aid to U.S. — for a price,” June 19).

When will we stop being taken advantage of by anyone who asks? We seem to give to any country that has a need, whether it is the result of weather, famine, politics, or war.

Now that we could use some help shutting off this oil — this, by the way, is a world disaster, not just ours — and countries that have received millions from us want money for their help.

America should just take care of itself first and put less emphasis on globalization. We should be tired of getting the short end of the stick.

Jeff Winfrey

Hampton Avenue

Some of our international friends to whom we have given foreign aid have offered to help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf for a price.

Unfortunately, we have a short memory and will give them aid again when they need it. Some of our good friends wanting to help for a price are Britain, Russia, China, and Israel.

Only Mexico offered anything to us for free. Thank you, Mexico.

Frank Ruggiero

Maumee

I know that the oil leak in the Gulf is the fault of BP, but where was the U.S. government agency that was overseeing that site? As I see it, if the governing body had complaints about the site, why was BP not shut down?

Dale R. Pern

Talmadge Road

I am more than disappointed than ever at the U.S. auto industry (“Detroit 3 may speed shift to Mexico plants,” June 10).

The government used our tax dollars to bail out General Motors and Chrysler, and now the auto companies want to move more jobs to Mexico.

Where does it end? Why not move the whole industry there, headquarters and all?

The government should demand all money paid back first.

Jim Markel

Oak Harbor, Ohio

Thanks to op-ed columnist Jack Lessenberry for acknowledging the United Auto Workers and some of the challenges it faces (“New UAW chief needs a touch of Walter Reuther,” June 18).

He refers to the UAW's facility at Black Lake as a recreation complex. As a member of UAW Local 211, I would like to share the proper name of what is commonly called Black Lake.

The Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center is a place Mr. Reuther envisioned for union members and their families to learn about the UAW and unions in a relaxed comfortable environment.

Yes, there are opportunities for recreation, but the reason for meeting at this center is to learn about union history, current events and trends, and other union-related topics.

As for how the new UAW president, Bob King, will lead the UAW, it will be with solidarity.

David Siefker

Defiance, Ohio

In his June 20 op-ed column “TARTA tax plan for better service,” James Gee, executive director of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority, states that “voters will save money by eliminating the property and adopting a transit ales tax.”

Mr. Gee should explain how a new sales tax, which is not deductible for federal income tax purposes, that will generate $8.4 million dollars annually for TARTA will not cost the people of Lucas County more money.

Chuck Hoecherl

Monclova Township

The resolution by the Lucas County commissioners about illegal aliens in Arizona is an abuse of the commissioners' authority (“Commissioners put immigration vote on agenda,” June 20).

Pandering to illegal aliens raises questions of the competency to understand illegal aliens. If you have not been to Arizona and travelled south of I-10, then you don't understand the problem.

The local Mexican union leader really helped his countrymen by forcing the tomato farmers in this area out of business by increased wages.

Raising the cost of tomatoes only sent the business to California. Now you can buy Mexican-grown tomatoes in the local grocery stores.

This county doesn't need anymore political hacks.

Rodney W. Henning

Shoreham Lane

It's distressing to note that taxpayers are on the hook for the mismanagement and bad decision-making by past and present top- level administrators in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (“Tab for taxpayers keeps growing as foreclosures rise,” June 20).

Once again, we are stuck with the bill to clean up a mess not of our making, while no one in the programs nor member of Congress is held accountable for the debacle.

More than 63,000 homes now are owned by us — I mean the two agencies. I can't help but wonder what some creativity could have done to allow some of those displaced homeowners to remain in their homes, even for a short while, while they paid a reduced amount for a set period to see if things changed for them.

Criteria could have been established to implement such a plan, and surely some homeowners would have benefited.

If nothing else, perhaps a short sale could have been attempted in that preforeclosure period, possibly helping the homeowners with their credit score, if successful, and helping us taxpayers as well.

When government officials and Congress are not held responsible or accountable for bad decisions and mundane thinking, it always is us, the taxpayers, who pay the price. In this case, according to Congressional Budget Office projections, that price could be $389 billion. And no one is to blame.

I still don't understand why Fannie and Freddie, two of the worst culprits in the mortgage mess, were excluded from Financial Regulatory Reform Bill.

Joe Giannetti

High Oaks Boulevard

Did Toledo concert promoter Mike Scott think Toledoans would come in large numbers for the band War — a band that is as relevant as an 8-track tape — that hasn't had a hit song since Jimmy Carter was in office (“Crowd in party mood thin at 1st revived rally by river,” June 19)?

It's hard to believe that 1970 was 40 years ago, but you can't get young people to come downtown when you are bringing in bands that their parents don't even listen to anymore.

While I commend Mr. Scott for his effort and risk, I have to question whether his finger is truly on the pulse of this city's music scene.

Next week's metal fest is better suited for a dark, formerly smoky rock and roll club and I bet if you asked 100 men or women under the age of 30 who Pat Travers is, the majority would guess he played for the Cleveland Indians instead of knowing he sang “Boom Boom, Out Go the Lights.”

You better get hip pretty quick, Mr. Scott, or the lights are going to go out on the Rally by the River sooner than later. For that $25 ticket cost, I can buy a heck of lot of 8-track tapes.

Robert Swartz

Elmview Drive