Restore Dignity and Courtesy
Just what is it we don’t get about a democratic republic?
We should not confuse the Democrats with a democracy any more than the Republicans with a republic. Both a democracy and a republic embody a representative government, representing all the people in the community. To bring these ideas to fruition requires respect for all, whatever their leanings, and playing fairly. Those who do neither are exposing their lack of mature understanding.
Unfortunately, many of our current role models in government are not embracing or exercising these concepts of caring and generosity. They degrade, rather than support; disrespect, rather than empower; ignore the truth, rather than seek it. They accuse others of the very faults they exhibit themselves. They are, in short, human — but not dealing with the helpful tools of empathy and ethics. For our self-government to succeed, we need respect and fairness.
We Americans must mitigate the boorish behavior that is becoming so prevalent in our society. It’s not only in Washington D.C. It’s not just in publicized demonstrations. It is also here in Geauga County, where we celebrate congeniality. Disrespect and unlawfulness have degraded our community.
Political signs have been stolen. They have been defaced. They have been erected on public township property, which should remain apolitical. These offenses appear to all be done by advocates of one political party, supposedly inspired and justified by ubiquitous examples across the country.
Please, let us not stoop so low. Let us as Ohioans, as Geaugans, show others how well a democracy can and should work. Let us restore dignity and ethics to this hurting country.
Steve Wick
Chardon
Signs, Signs Everywhere
Driving around Geauga County, seeing so many and various campaign signs in support of President Trump gave me pause to consider what they were conveying.
Trump 2020 – Keep America Great: There are more than 200,000 Americans dead from a virus that in February of 2020 the President knew was very dangerous and was going to lead to a pandemic. There are approximately 13.5 million Americans unemployed and facing eviction from their homes, or losing their homes. How great is this?
Veterans for Trump: How can this be justified when a person criticizes a true American hero and veteran, John McCain, and disrespects Gold Star families, and then when the President’s own intelligence community provides information that there was a bounty placed on the lives of our American soldiers and the President seems to feel that there is not enough evidence to investigate the accusation further. This is support?
Trump – Pro-Life: This one is very confusing because pro-life is more than pro-birth. Once a child is born we need to be responsible to feed, educate and nourish. The President has cut programs such as SNAP, Federal Housing Assistance, and the deepest cut to Medicaid which definitely impact a child’s life. Is President Trump pro-life or just pro-birth?
I try to live my life reflecting on the teachings of the Bible, not holding a Bible in my hand for a photo-op!
Debbie Reiter
City of Chardon
Time to Transition
Your coverage of my Restore Ohio Now Bill was misguided — why are we still focusing on the cumulative numbers of COVID as opposed to the current trends?
Cumulative numbers are scary and do not speak for the current progress we’ve made with this virus. If you take a look at our current trends, it tells a different story.
Our hospital capacity for COVID was never more than 15% capacity. For your average Ohioan, the survivability rate of COVID-19 is 99-plus percent. Therefore, there is no basis for an emergency.
If you examine the basis for the emergency, there are more individuals dying from heart attacks, cancers, COPD, influenza, suicides and diabetes.
Ohioans have worked extremely hard and sacrificed so much to get to this point. It is time that we take an honest look at the current state of COVID-19 and begin the responsible transition back into our daily lives.
My legislation to lift the emergency order will provide the initial step toward this direction.
State Rep. Diane Grendell
R-Chester Township
Ohio House District 76
