Letters to the Editor
McArthur is Wrong
I read Nancy McArthur’s letter congratulating the Republican candidates for “a job well done.”
I noticed, too, that all she did was site the percentages of victory.
She complained about “enduring eight years of one of the most leftist and failed administrations in recent history.”
She wrote, “It is truly a time for change and the American people have spoken.” I have to ask, to whom was she listening?
I would not call an administration “failed” that legislated for health insurance companies to compete for customers and covered 20 million Americans who before could not afford coverage. Unemployment is down to 4.9 percent nationally. Incomes are rising for the first time in nearly 15 years. More children are graduating from high school and more girls than ever before are graduating from college. The stock market rose from just under 7,000 points to over 18,000 in less than eight years.
Crime, nationally, in every category is down. The environment was addressed even though American oil production increased, but so did solar and wind energy. Oh, and Bin Ladin is dead, almost forgot.
The pride is understandable, but there were many items missing from her announcement. Not one word or hint of how that Republican victory will “transform” the lives of the American people.
I know Congress has been in session for fewer days in the past six years than ever before and any slightly bi-partisan jobs legislation was left to die in committee. I wonder how long any of us could keep a job if we did it grudgingly and if we only showed up 111 days a year for an average income of over $170,000.
That was the schedule this past year, 111 days. I understand the schedule for the coming year is going to be many more days and the agenda is being discussed.
I do know the Republicans in the Senate have held open many positions. Not only the Supreme Court seat, but federal judge’s, at least 40 ambassador positions and many federal appointments were ignored and have been vacant for a number of years.
They seem determined to put Wall Street back in control of our financial lives with less oversight than ever before. I can hardly wait for the howling to begin when the Democrats play the same obstruction card.
I would not be a bit surprised if McConnell uses the “nuclear option” for confirming Trump’s cabinet appointments. If anyone reading this doesn’t know what that term means, you haven’t been paying attention to mainstream media. It was very well explained when Harry Reid did that for different reasons over three years ago.
I only have a high school education. I graduated in 1968. I don’t read Britebart, watch FOX cable news or listen to Alex Jones or Roger Stone. I read The Columbus Dispatch online. I read The Plain Dealer, The News-Herald and both local publications in print. Also online, I read The Guardian out of Great Britain, Der Speigle out of Germany and Al Jazeera.
Why? They are not concerned with sales or profit margins. It’s unbiased fact-based information.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Power is control and we will find out soon if Republicans are able to control their power.
Hint: Ohio Republicans are planning changes to unemployment benefits.
Do you know what they are and how those changes might affect you?
Therese Juskiewicz
Chardon
Bordering on Malfeasance
I have sent the following letter to the three Commissioners of the Geauga Park District, Ms. Dattore and Messrs. Gertz and Barker.
As a former Park Commissioner who was actively involved in creating Observatory Park, I am astounded that you would consider approving a new program to permit unfettered snowmobiling at Observatory Park.
The park was developed to be an education park with significant world-class scientific instruments, including two large professional telescopes, a first-class planetarium, green buildings and landscaping designed to attract professional and amateur astronomers, and trails to graphically display the relationships of the planets to our galaxy.
The park also includes the headwaters of the Chagrin River.
The uniqueness of its location and the facilities and its mission are the reason it was awarded the Dark Sky Designation by an international organization — one of a handful of properties in the entire U.S. and around the world.
The original vision and mission NEVER included or even contemplated active use of the park for snowmobiling or other motorized vehicles. The original mission was supported by private donors who contributed nearly $2 million to build the park according to that mission.
For you to approve, condone or even experiment with snowmobiling in the park is an affront to the donors and others who worked so hard to protect and conserve the property in its present state.
To permit CLOSING the park for snowmobiling on a daily basis is irresponsible. Exclusive use of the public property by a few people — who have numerous snowmobile trails close by — borders on malfeasance.
I urge you to use your judgment, common sense and reason, and to exercise your Commissioner’s responsibility to stop this proposed program in it tracks — now — and protect Observatory Park and its original mission. Stop snowmobiling altogether.
John D. Leech
Former Geauga Park District Commissioner
Personal Playground
It appears that Executive Director of the Geauga Parks John Oros has a simple formula for reshaping the park district: change the parks into his personal playground.
He’s a National Wild Turkey Federation member, so he’s all about closing a park down so that a few hunters can buy permits to take the turkeys — never mind that he just gave away taxpayers’ opportunity to see said turkeys in the wild … and all for a non-park group to sell for their own profit, no less!
And now he’s demonstrating that he’s way more a snowmobile enthusiast than an astronomy buff, or he wouldn’t be giving exclusive priority park usage at Observatory Park to a few snowmobilers at the expense of all other users.
Yes, that’s what’s happening. Anytime the ‘conditions are right,’ the only allowed use of Observatory Park will be snowmobiling.
There’s a brick with my name on it at Observatory Park. That’s because I wanted to share in the vision of a natural, dark-sky park devoted to astronomy and nature. I wasn’t donating for a snowmobile playground.
So, John Oros, if you want a place where you can share the joys of snowmobiling with fellow enthusiasts, ante up and buy some land for a snowmobile park … and maybe you can hunt turkeys there, too.
You must cease abusing your position to destroy the character of existing parks!
With every donation and tax collection, there is an implied trust that the intended usage will be honored, and you are in violation of that trust!
Bruce Bennett
Claridon Township
