Right-to- work not a panacea

The phrase "right to work" is misleading ("Poll: 54% of Ohio voters like 'right to work,'" Feb. 15). Right-to-work legislation in Ohio does not benefit the working man or woman, but would allow industrialists and corporations to hire workers at lower wages.

Right-to-work laws have no impact on economic growth or influence on employment. They are connected to decreases in wages and benefits of workers. They do not generate more jobs.

Our economy depends on consumer spending. When workers do not make good wages, our economy suffers. Higher wages stimulate consumer spending and help support growth in Ohio's and the nation's economy.

If states enact right-to-work legislation, workers risk lower wages, which would hinder economic recovery.

Nancy Bacon

Dover Township

Right-to-work law would hurt Mich.

Your Feb. 6 article "Right-to-work debate intensifies in Michigan" left me wondering: Do Michigan lawmakers actually listen to their constituents?

Business, industry, voters, and chambers of commerce have been fairly unified in wanting a new Detroit River crossing. A new crossing would help the economy not only of Michigan, but also of the region surrounding it. Right-to-work legislation would guarantee years of wrangling.

If members of the Michigan Legislature want competitive and economic benefits, they should get the Detroit River crossing on track and built.

Thomas Kish

Oregon

Don't be quick to judge Marines

Do not judge the Marines' conduct toward the dead Taliban ("Marines' action indefensible," Readers' Forum, Jan. 28). The only people who may attempt to judge them are those who have walked in their shoes, experienced what they have, lost friends in this unnecessary war as they may have, experienced tension caused by those situations, and wondered whether they would return home in a body bag.

These Marines have seen and read how Americans and friends have been treated by the Taliban. We need to support our soldiers, most of whom are young men and women.

The questionable act here is the action of the individual who took and made available the video of Marines urinating on Taliban corpses.

Guy Ruggiero

Maumee

Soldiers deserve free cell phones

People who are on welfare or have low incomes get free cell phones and minutes from the government, in a program called LifeLine Assistance. But our servicemen and women have to depend on others to turn in their old phones to get one, in a program called Cell Phones for Soldiers.

Those who fight for our freedom have to wait for a donated phone, while those who live off our government get theirs free.

Bonnie Krum

Williston, Ohio