A a Liberty resident, I will not vote for ANY levy for the schools until there is clear evidence that they have a grip on their fiances. Also, I have a serious problem with current or former teachers serving on school boards. Too much conflict of interest and too much union sympathy. I have NO confidence that these people would make the hard decisions necessary when it goes against the union positions or their friends. They serve the taxpayers and NOT the teacher's unions. Also, I would NEVER approve a union contract that requires arbitration. Having closely watching cases that have gone to arbitration in this area for the past years, the arbitrator rarely rules on the side of management even in cases where the management is clearly in the right.
Unfortunately in this area you have a "D" by your name to get elected to anything around here. The local mentality is that they've vote a dead skunk into office if it were a Democrat. Actually, I think that has already happened multiple times. Wonder why all the cities are like crap? They've all been under Democrat control for the past 50 years or more. What does that tell you? There's a reason why this area is LAST in educational abilities in the state. Good luck in your endeavor and unfortunately, this Republican can't vote for you since I live in Trumbull County. I'd invite those with living brain cells and who can think through our problems with an analytical mind and FACTS, they should change parties. Betras is like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Gloria Allred. They would all find a way to get their ugly faces in the last frame of the last roll of film in the last camera on the last day of the planet.
This sorry extortion artist would make sure that he got his ugly face in the last photo, taken by the last camera, on the last day of the planet. Of course, he, Al Sharpton, Nancy Pelosi, and Gloria Allred would all be fighting for the honor. Jackson is a worthless publicity seeker.
Why should unions dictate the size of classrooms? Why should unions dictate that only teachers with the most seniority can be kept, and maybe better teachers laid off? Why should unions dictate to the ELECTED officials how many union members they have to hire? Why should unions stack the money up to get a politician elected who will do their bidding and lick their boots? Why should unions dictate what benefits they will extract from the rest of the taxpayers?
If you think working as a public employee is so bad, find another line of work. I want my elected official being the one who decides these issues, not some union goon bargaining moron who's primary goal is to intimidate and hold the public hostage. I'm tired of the union being the 500 lb maggot in the room continuing to suck the blood out of the nearly dead taxpayer. When the finances continue to be constrained, those who support the defeat of SB5 will in fact be laid off because you are like the greedy, selfish child who is screaming and and throwing a tantrum.
YES on Issue 5. Even FDR warned about the problems with public employee unions. Every state that has financial problems is due to public employee pension funds and their unsustainable costs. I've actually read all of Issue 5. It does NOT prevent collective bargaining. It DOES stop public unions from demanding that a set number of employees be hired. That's the job of the elected officials, NOT the job of the unions. It DOES make senority NOT the only reason to keep employees when lay offs have to be made. Since everyone complains about the quality of teachers, SB5 at least states that seniority cannot be the only reason for retention. It DOES require those public employees who are currently not paying a share of their benefits to do so. It DOES eliminate the issue of minimal class sizes. I never attended a class where there were less than at least 30 to 40 kids in the class. I went to school in the 1960, and the SAT and ACT test scores have never been that high. The modern "educators" have admitted that they have dumbed down the college tests since the 1990s when political "correctness" set in. The gimmick of setting class size has turned into backdoor method that forces school systems to hire more teachers (and union members) than they may need too, can afford, or want to. That IS NOT A UNION'S perogative. My taxes have increase significantly over the past few years, and much has been driven by school levies and the need to keep feeding the public employee maggots on the carcass of the almost dead taxpayer. I will NOT vote for ANY new taxes until I see lead and mean government and school boards on a very strict protein diet.
Good luck to the unit, however there's an error. The 237th, B company is commanded by Capt. Robinson. A captain does NOT command a battalion. A lieutenant colonel is the commander of a battalion. Captains command companies, Colonels command brigades, of which Harris is the brigade commander. I don't know who the battalion commander is. It may seem like a minor point, but us veterans and currently serving, it's important.
Looks like the "Occupy Youngstown" people I saw on TV last night were the normal homeless and derelicts who hang around there anyway. The only difference this week was there there was some free food being dropped of. Oh, yea. Someone brought a guitar. At least I knew where the local losers were hanging out this weekend.
"Theft from the middle class!" What a line of garbage. Even if some people were making a trillion dollars a year it doesn't mean they took it out of your pocket. The American economic pie is essentially infinite if you take advantage of your education, work hard, maybe a little luck, and you have the drive and determination. That's the dream, it hasn't changed. All too many people these days have the wacko idea that the government "owes" them something. Guess what? The only thing the government owes any citizen is national security, and the right to do what you want. Even in Ohio, the only think the constitution requires of a township is to pick up dead bodies. Everything after that is self inflicted. It seems that the 99%, whoever that is supposed to be, because it's not me or my family, are a bunch of whiners who think that Socialism will cure their lot in life and somehow entitle them to more of my pie. Get a life, find a job, get off you butt and get and education, live within your means, and take a long look in the mirror.
God helps those who help themselves. Which states are doing pretty well? Union states, or right to work states? Do you hear workers at the Marysville Honda plant whining about how bad the have it without a union? Nope. They like it. How about the folks who thought they could live the high life on credit cards, buy a house with no money down, no cash, no reserves, couldn't make the payments, no investment? So...just walk away and dump the costs on the rest of us. How about the GREEDY realtors who kept driving the prices of houses higher and higher to reap large profits, knowing that the prices were fake? Yea, some banks screwed over some people, and some bankers walked with obscene bonuses, but the vast majority of the problems were created by at greedy public who refused to live within their means, and wanted more and more stuff. Sooner or later it comes crashing down. It was the perfect financial storm, and a large part of the mortagage problems can be directly tied to the Community Reinvestment Act and Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Fannie Mae, and their ilk. The facts are there, and on Youtube in their own works. They can't deny it when there are caught in their own lies on camera.
The ignorance of many people regarding their knowledge of the tax system and who actually pays is breathtaking. Ever meet a poor person who created a job? Is it "fair" that almost 50% of the people don't pay ANY income taxes, while the top 10% are paying 60% of all income taxes. If you live here, you should pay income taxes, even if it's just a little bit since you are reaping the benefits like everyone else.
What has Liberty ‘Learn’ed?
A a Liberty resident, I will not vote for ANY levy for the schools until there is clear evidence that they have a grip on their fiances. Also, I have a serious problem with current or former teachers serving on school boards. Too much conflict of interest and too much union sympathy. I have NO confidence that these people would make the hard decisions necessary when it goes against the union positions or their friends. They serve the taxpayers and NOT the teacher's unions. Also, I would NEVER approve a union contract that requires arbitration. Having closely watching cases that have gone to arbitration in this area for the past years, the arbitrator rarely rules on the side of management even in cases where the management is clearly in the right.
January 27, 2012 at 1:29 p.m. permalink suggest removal
An injudicious use of ‘coward’
Unfortunately in this area you have a "D" by your name to get elected to anything around here. The local mentality is that they've vote a dead skunk into office if it were a Democrat. Actually, I think that has already happened multiple times. Wonder why all the cities are like crap? They've all been under Democrat control for the past 50 years or more. What does that tell you? There's a reason why this area is LAST in educational abilities in the state. Good luck in your endeavor and unfortunately, this Republican can't vote for you since I live in Trumbull County. I'd invite those with living brain cells and who can think through our problems with an analytical mind and FACTS, they should change parties. Betras is like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Gloria Allred. They would all find a way to get their ugly faces in the last frame of the last roll of film in the last camera on the last day of the planet.
January 26, 2012 at 2:45 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Jesse Jackson to rally with Ohio Occupy group
This sorry extortion artist would make sure that he got his ugly face in the last photo, taken by the last camera, on the last day of the planet. Of course, he, Al Sharpton, Nancy Pelosi, and Gloria Allred would all be fighting for the honor. Jackson is a worthless publicity seeker.
November 15, 2011 at 4:44 p.m. permalink suggest removal
LETTERS || Don’t reverse progress in Ohio
I"ll vote YES on Issue 5
Why should unions dictate the size of classrooms?
Why should unions dictate that only teachers with the most seniority can be kept, and maybe better teachers laid off?
Why should unions dictate to the ELECTED officials how many union members they have to hire?
Why should unions stack the money up to get a politician elected who will do their bidding and lick their boots?
Why should unions dictate what benefits they will extract from the rest of the taxpayers?
If you think working as a public employee is so bad, find another line of work. I want my elected official being the one who decides these issues, not some union goon bargaining moron who's primary goal is to intimidate and hold the public hostage. I'm tired of the union being the 500 lb maggot in the room continuing to suck the blood out of the nearly dead taxpayer. When the finances continue to be constrained, those who support the defeat of SB5 will in fact be laid off because you are like the greedy, selfish child who is screaming and and throwing a tantrum.
November 2, 2011 at 10:33 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Showdown on Issue 2
YES on Issue 5. Even FDR warned about the problems with public employee unions. Every state that has financial problems is due to public employee pension funds and their unsustainable costs. I've actually read all of Issue 5. It does NOT prevent collective bargaining. It DOES stop public unions from demanding that a set number of employees be hired. That's the job of the elected officials, NOT the job of the unions. It DOES make senority NOT the only reason to keep employees when lay offs have to be made. Since everyone complains about the quality of teachers, SB5 at least states that seniority cannot be the only reason for retention. It DOES require those public employees who are currently not paying a share of their benefits to do so. It DOES eliminate the issue of minimal class sizes. I never attended a class where there were less than at least 30 to 40 kids in the class. I went to school in the 1960, and the SAT and ACT test scores have never been that high. The modern "educators" have admitted that they have dumbed down the college tests since the 1990s when political "correctness" set in. The gimmick of setting class size has turned into backdoor method that forces school systems to hire more teachers (and union members) than they may need too, can afford, or want to. That IS NOT A UNION'S perogative. My taxes have increase significantly over the past few years, and much has been driven by school levies and the need to keep feeding the public employee maggots on the carcass of the almost dead taxpayer. I will NOT vote for ANY new taxes until I see lead and mean government and school boards on a very strict protein diet.
November 2, 2011 at 10:13 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Bravo Company called to duty
Good luck to the unit, however there's an error. The 237th, B company is commanded by Capt. Robinson. A captain does NOT command a battalion. A lieutenant colonel is the commander of a battalion. Captains command companies, Colonels command brigades, of which Harris is the brigade commander. I don't know who the battalion commander is. It may seem like a minor point, but us veterans and currently serving, it's important.
October 20, 2011 at 11:08 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Occupy Youngstown to target Wall Street and state Issue 2
Looks like the "Occupy Youngstown" people I saw on TV last night were the normal homeless and derelicts who hang around there anyway. The only difference this week was there there was some free food being dropped of. Oh, yea. Someone brought a guitar. At least I knew where the local losers were hanging out this weekend.
October 17, 2011 at 10:08 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Occupy Youngstown to target Wall Street and state Issue 2
"Theft from the middle class!" What a line of garbage. Even if some people were making a trillion dollars a year it doesn't mean they took it out of your pocket. The American economic pie is essentially infinite if you take advantage of your education, work hard, maybe a little luck, and you have the drive and determination. That's the dream, it hasn't changed. All too many people these days have the wacko idea that the government "owes" them something. Guess what? The only thing the government owes any citizen is national security, and the right to do what you want. Even in Ohio, the only think the constitution requires of a township is to pick up dead bodies. Everything after that is self inflicted. It seems that the 99%, whoever that is supposed to be, because it's not me or my family, are a bunch of whiners who think that Socialism will cure their lot in life and somehow entitle them to more of my pie. Get a life, find a job, get off you butt and get and education, live within your means, and take a long look in the mirror.
October 17, 2011 at 10:04 a.m. permalink suggest removal
300 protest corporate greed as Occupation of Youngstown begins
God helps those who help themselves. Which states are doing pretty well? Union states, or right to work states? Do you hear workers at the Marysville Honda plant whining about how bad the have it without a union? Nope. They like it. How about the folks who thought they could live the high life on credit cards, buy a house with no money down, no cash, no reserves, couldn't make the payments, no investment? So...just walk away and dump the costs on the rest of us. How about the GREEDY realtors who kept driving the prices of houses higher and higher to reap large profits, knowing that the prices were fake? Yea, some banks screwed over some people, and some bankers walked with obscene bonuses, but the vast majority of the problems were created by at greedy public who refused to live within their means, and wanted more and more stuff. Sooner or later it comes crashing down. It was the perfect financial storm, and a large part of the mortagage problems can be directly tied to the Community Reinvestment Act and Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Fannie Mae, and their ilk. The facts are there, and on Youtube in their own works. They can't deny it when there are caught in their own lies on camera.
October 15, 2011 at 3:31 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Obama announces debt plan built on taxes on the rich
The ignorance of many people regarding their knowledge of the tax system and who actually pays is breathtaking. Ever meet a poor person who created a job? Is it "fair" that almost 50% of the people don't pay ANY income taxes, while the top 10% are paying 60% of all income taxes. If you live here, you should pay income taxes, even if it's just a little bit since you are reaping the benefits like everyone else.
September 27, 2011 at 11:24 p.m. permalink suggest removal