LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Highways, bridges need to improve

2/18/2014

Hats off to The Blade for calling attention to a problem that affects not only the residents of Michigan but also all other Americans: road and bridge conditions (“Beyond Detroit’s auto show,” editorial, Jan. 24).

Our vast transportation network has played a large but often overlooked role in creating the standard of living enjoyed by all citizens. We all need a road system that is in good repair.

Associated Equipment Distributors, which represents approximately 800 heavy-equipment dealers and manufacturers, is urging states such as Michigan to invest in road and bridge improvements. We also urge Congress to address the imminent collapse of the Highway Trust Fund. The fund, which supports 52 percent of annual state transportation projects across the country, will run out of money in 2015 if Congress fails to act.

We agree with The Blade that when it comes to highway and bridge maintenance, motorists are paying for bad roads in vehicle repair costs and lost fuel efficiency. Congress should not make a bad situation worse by failing to save the fund.

BRIAN McGUIRE
President and CEO Associated Equipment Distributors
Oak Brook, Ill.

 

First Lady’s AARP card a joke
The picture of Michelle Obama displaying her AARP card is a joke (“White House dance party celebrates First Lady’s 50th,” Jan. 19). She never will use anything that AARP provides, because politicians have better insurance plans than the working class.

Politicians like Mrs. Obama’s husband like to make rules, as long as they don’t have to play by them.

I thank The Blade for making my day, because I enjoyed a good laugh.

CRAIG BOEHK
Swanton

 

Linking race to scrubbing wrong
The data scrubbing of Toledo Public Schools students who were truant does not indicate any social injustice (“TPS data scrubbing needs examination,” Readers’ Forum, Feb. 2). Expelled students are given due process.

It is wrong for any parents’ association to imply that race played a role in data scrubbing. Who cares which students were scrubbed? Wrong is just wrong.

NAN ZAWISZA
Oregon

 

TFT leader omits need for parents
Kevin Dalton, president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers, left out a major part of the equation in public education in his Feb. 16 Readers’ Forum letter, “Focus on school children, not teachers,” comments. Where is the parental responsibility in his view?

He writes of learning environment, qualified teachers, curriculum, and wraparound services. These buzzwords must include parental responsibility.

BOB HOLUP
Gessner Street