Article published November 11, 2009
A contrast in college leadership
After reading about the generous donation that Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee is giving, I realized why he is a true leader.
His commitment to the educational growth of the students and the future of the school is shown by his donation of the annual bonus awarded to him for his excellent performance. This bonus was earned, but he and his staff decided to donate their bonuses to a scholarship fund. This is a fund that he set up this year with a $1 million personal pledge.
This is a stark contrast to the administration at the University of Toledo. President Lloyd Jacobs was awarded a longevity bonus, which has nothing to do with performance, which he will receive in 2011. When asked if he would consider donating his bonus back to the university, considering tough budget cutbacks and layoffs, he was defensive.
The main difference between these men is leadership, their connection to the university, faculty, and students that they serve. True leadership is shown by example.
M. Robert Johnson
SwantonColumnist has selective memory
In her Oct. 24 column, Rose Russell seems to have selective memory regarding leaders expressing their opinions. She was most upset about former Vice President Dick Cheney expressing his concern in a public forum about the leadership of President Obama. Her statement implying that only Mr. Cheney is guilty of criticizing a new administration is laughable. Perhaps Ms. Russell never watched television or read the newspaper during the eight years of President George W. Bush.
I recall a constant demeaning from the previous administration concerning everything he did. But I don't recall him whining on a daily basis, as does this President.
It's pathetic to watch Mr. Obama criticizing his predecessor at every turn and trying to silence those who disagree. A dissenting point of view is not tolerated by this administration. So much for the Constitution and freedom of speech. Hello, Pravda.
Carol Taylor
Bedford TownshipFederal reps fail the middle class
In 1991, James Carville coined the phrase "It's the economy, stupid" when Bill Clinton ran against George H.W. Bush. It was effective and Mr. Clinton won.
Well, President Obama, "It's jobs, not health care" that is the number one issue on people's minds. Month after month, the media try to get us to believe the economy is getting better as more and more of my friends and family lose jobs.
Washington and the Obama Administration have focused on health care, when more people struggle to pay their mortgages and buy food. How many more need to lose jobs before they get a grip?
By the way, where is our representative who is in the movies, Marcy Kaptur, while all these people lose jobs? Maybe if she were more concerned with the people in her district than making movies we would be in better shape. She has represented us for how many years and each year we fall further behind? Thanks, Marcy and President Obama, for caring about the middle class.
James Moline
Sylvania
Editor's note: The writer is a building contractor.Amid riches, care is costly and poor
Are we prepared as a country to agree that health care is a privilege and not a right? Are we prepared to allow people, young and old, to suffer and die because they can't afford the care they need? Do we agree that only those with sufficient funds are entitled to preventive care and curative care? What exactly do we value as a country?
As a citizen, I am embarrassed by our country's lack of performance in preserving the health and lives of our citizens. The World Health Organization rates our system 37th in the world, yet we're a country of riches even in the midst of a recession. Our health expenditures per capita are the highest in the world.
How long are we willing to live with this situation? We are able but not willing to provide health care for all citizens. I am horrified by our behavior. My support will go only to those who fight for serious reform. The time for reform is overdue. What are we waiting for?
Janet R. Weiden
HollandWere no officials at the gun show?
I read the editorial entitled "The gun show loophole" and was intrigued by the lack of enforcement you so eloquently described. My question is where were the ATF, the FBI, and other enforcement agencies when Mayor Bloomberg's so-called investigators were making illegal gun purchases? The editorial described "straw" sales and sales to people forbidden to buy because they could not pass a background check. Plus, the prima facie intent was to take these guns to a non-contiguous state.
Mayor Bloomberg's investigators should have been arrested and the mayor charged with being an accessory both before the fact and after the fact. But, he is a big city mayor and apparently above the law.
David B. Clark
FindlayWhy don't media cover good news?
On Oct. 22, I attended a beautiful dedication ceremony at Sanger Library. The Toledo Take Back the Night Collective, a group working toward eliminating violence against women, dedicated a beautiful rock as a memorial to those who have experienced deadly violence and a monument to the work being done to educate and prevent such violence for generations to come.
Tina Skeldon Wosniak, who helped set up the monument's placement at the library, gave opening comments. A testimony was given by Patricia Rizzi, whose daughter died at the hands of her husband, followed by beautiful music and poetry inspiring all to do something to eliminate this epidemic of death and violence in our community.
I couldn't help but be frustrated by the lack of media there. It means nothing to the media to sensationalize the stand-off by an abuser when he held his wife hostage at her place of employment. It's news to continue victimizing the woman by repeatedly showing her in a bathrobe running from the building. And every news station asked the question: Why? How could this happen in our community? What can we do to prevent it?
How about by covering the people who are working to prevent, educate, and protect our community?
Patty Miller
WatervilleExplain why dog fee is so high here
Why are we paying $25 for a dog license? The dog park that was promised at the recreation center never happened. People forgot, but I didn't forget. The dog warden said his dog pound didn't need money, so where is the money going? Maybe if the dog license fee was lower, more people could afford to get a dog and so many animals wouldn't be killed. We pay the highest dog license fee in the state. I'd like to know why.
Edith Schwan
MaumeeVaccine delay is fault of makers
A recent letter to TheBlade stated that we should not trust the federal government to expand medical care because the amount of H1N1 vaccine available was only 13 million units and not the promised 120 million.
The failure was not the goverment but the companies that were contracted to produce the the vaccine and were paid about $2 billion.
DENNIS SHAFFER
Oregon
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