Column enlightening on Issue 2
9/29/2012Thanks to Blade Editor David Kushma for his excellent op-ed column that explained Issue 2, which will be on the Nov. 6 ballot ("Ohioans must vote in their interests -- not pols'," Sept. 23). The passage of Issue 2 will restore democracy to Ohio by having redistricting in the hands of an independent, state-funded citizens' commission.
A prime example of political clout in redistricting is the ludicrous creation of the 9th U.S. House District, which resulted in strong Democrats Marcy Kaptur and Dennis Kucinich pitted against each other. With the elimination of Mr. Kucinich, we lost an important public servant in Washington.
I personally feel a loss because Miss Kaptur, whom I admire and respect, is no longer my representative.
Hurrah for Issue 2. This is the time when our voices can be heard to speak up against political power.
Kay Bahna
Sylvania
Bad grammar, 'boughten' goods
I empathize with the points made by retired Blade editor Tom Walton in his Sept. 24 op-ed column, "On good grammar, short sentences, hazy headlines." In my line of work -- sales -- I frequently hear people say "we was," "ain't no," "ain't got," "gonna," and "done" instead of "did."
I've even heard "tooken" instead of "taken."
My personal peeve is hearing purchases from retailers referred to as "boughten." I want to scream: "There's no such word!" All I can do is shake my head and sigh.
Bruce Krumnow
Genoa, Ohio
Doonesbury woes easily solved
I have a simple solution for those who don't like the comic strip Doonesbury appearing in the newspaper ("Doonesbury's comics spot spurs reader complaints," Sept. 23). Don't read it.
Renee Drew
Temperance
Romney unaware of how others live
Listen carefully to what Mitt Romney has to say about the poor, those who are unemployed, the elderly on Social Security, and anyone who gets help from a government source ("Romney sounds out of touch with Americans' lives," op-ed, Sept. 19).
It's not the coldness with which he says it, or the arrogance. This is how many well-off people, who use every tax loophole they can find, speak to each other when they are having a drink at a country club.
These wealthy folks feel put upon. Someone who makes $20 million a year and doesn't have a job cannot know how the rest of American society lives.
Hal Simon
Maumee
New road pleases ex-Toledoan
When my oldest son, a former resident of Toledo, came to visit me recently from his home in Fort Wayne, Ind., he spoke of his quick and safe arrival thanks to the new U.S. 24 ("New U.S. 24 earns kudos for ODOT," Readers' Forum, Sept. 9). He asked me to thank those who were involved in the project for a job well done.
Dottie McFarland
Smead Avenue
Four more years? Please, no
In response to your readers who say President Obama needs four more years to finish what he has started, I say: Please, no ("Four more years, Obama will fix all," Readers' Forum, Sept. 18). Why would anyone want him for four more years?
Under President Obama, the United States has lost manufacturing jobs, gasoline prices have doubled, 44.7 million people are on food stamps, and unemployment remains over 8 percent.
His administration is attacking religious liberty by attempting to mandate that Catholic institutions provide services that are against the teachings of the church.
This is one voter who will be saying no to four more years.
Patti Savage-McNamara
Monclova Township
Charter, voucher schools need a look
The Blade did a series called "Education Matters" to investigate every aspect of Toledo Public Schools. You failed, however, to give equal attention to charter schools and private schools that accept vouchers.
Those schools receive millions of taxpayer dollars without the same accountability as traditional public schools. It would prove interesting to see their state rankings and how they deal with testing and attendance.
There are great things happening in TPS that the public never knows about. The more supportive the community, the better the school system, which makes for higher property values and more-stable neighborhoods.
Katherine Genzman
Lambertville
Editor's note: The writer is a retired TPS teacher and an adjunct professor of art education at the University of Toledo.