LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Latta failed to combat extremism
10/21/2013I hope my fellow citizens who found themselves gerrymandered into U.S. Rep. Bob Latta’s 5th Congressional District noticed that he voted to destroy our retirement funds, our 401(k)s, and America’s overall economic strength and reputation (“Latta supporters back vote against compromise,” Oct. 18).
As a Republican, he could have stood up to the extremism that has taken over his party, the way GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio did. But Mr. Latta voted to send our country into default.
Let’s remember that the next time an election comes around.
TOM BARDEN
Kenwood Boulevard
Latta wrongly goes with Tea Party
With the risk of economic disaster looming, Mr. Latta chose to attend a tea party rather than represent the wishes of his district.
The partial government shutdown was a failing tactic to attack the Affordable Care Act. It cost us $24 billion that we can’t get back.
It’s times like these that truly define a person. You are either an American first, willing to have the courage to do the right thing, or a self-centered politician who is trying to impress Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas).
The voters of Ohio’s 5th Congressional District need to mark this one down come Election Day.
TOM SHAW
Perrysburg Township
GOP should stand up to Democrats
When will the Republican Party stand up to the minority? Who believes in the rules of democracy anymore?
BARBARA RAY
Waterville
Are we suckers for politicians?
Our leaders in Washington manufactured a crisis, then scared the American people into believing that if they didn’t fix the calamity they created, the world as we know it would end (“Deal reached in shutdown; Funding approved into 2014,” Oct. 17).
And the day the catastrophic event was to have happened, the ones who produced the problem temporarily fixed the problem.
For those who continue to vote for career politicians and donate money to either party, remember the words credited to showman P.T. Barnum: “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
ROB KEGERREIS
Berkey, Ohio
Boehner shows gamesmanship
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio is justified in his frustration that the government shutdown and pending default were viewed by many as “some damn game” (“No progress on horizon to solve U.S. shutdown,” Oct. 5).
To an ordinary citizen, the speaker appears to excel at Trivial Pursuit, as he peddles the GOP’s elusive, tea-soaked agenda to an increasingly skeptical audience.
Perhaps Mr. Boehner would discover evidence of what the American people really want if he learned to play Clue. But first, he’d have to have one.
REBECCA GERBICH
Petersburg, Mich.