Letters to the Editor
Portman pins stand on bad study
5/3/2013A study of global economics by Harvard professors Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff recently was found to have basic errors in its spreadsheet (“Continuing down the wrong road to economic recovery,” op-ed column, April 30). The errors changed the conclusions significantly.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio quoted this study as part of his rationale for supporting drastic cuts in federal spending.
Now that the study has been discredited, it will be interesting to see Senator Portman’s response. As a past director of the federal Office of Management and Budget, he knows how important it is to base decisions that affect millions of people on sound information.
ROBERT BIGLIN
Carskaddon Avenue
Leaders letvictims down
From Virginia Tech in 2007 to Sandy Hook last December, the time is long overdue for our leaders to put aside special interests and pass meaningful gun reform (“Reloading on violence,” editorial, April 23).
Although most Ohioans support expanding background checks, Senator Portman chose instead to side with one of the most powerful and well-funded lobbying groups in the nation to block even this minimal piece of legislation.
There is no moral, ethical, or constitutional basis for blocking a common-sense requirement to check the background of any person who purchases a deadly weapon. Such a requirement does not infringe on Second Amendment rights.
After each gun tragedy, we shake our heads, express outrage against the perpetrator and sympathy for those killed or maimed, and demand action. Then our leaders let us and the victims down.
SUSAN MATZ
Homerdale Avenue
NRA stands for something else
Instead of supporting the will of the people by implementing additional gun controls, the Senate sided with the NRA — which no longer stands for the National Rifle Association; it now stands for the National Republican Army.
Perhaps we should repeal all gun laws and issue assault rifles with hundred-round magazines to every registered voter in the country. Then maybe the NRA will be satisfied that it has done its job. All that will be left to do is to clean up the bloody mess afterward.
MAURICE BUCKLEY
Orchard Trail
Robinson film a parallel to Obama
The Jackie Robinson story is told in a film now, when we have a president of color (“A home run; ‘42’ delivers an honest portrayal of Jackie Robinson,” April 12).
The crowds who booed Mr. Robinson remind me of the politicians and wealthy men who run this country. They won’t give President Obama a break. They boo him with every good program that he tries to initiate.
President Obama is for common people. The wealthy don’t want to see a black president succeed.
BETTY AGOCS
Perrysburg Township