Sound off!
Is Rep. Mike Loychik not paying attention to the COVID-19 numbers in states that passed anti-mask bills? Texas has no more ICU beds. Florida requested 300-plus ventilators. And he wants the same medical catastrophe for Ohio by co-sponsoring House Bill 248 (banning private and public entities from requiring masks)? This virus is real, and it cares nothing for politics. If Loychik really is concerned about his voters, he would base his decisions on science and not grandstand politics.
• Niles
Big scores from Arizona. Biden plus 99. Trump minus 261. Cyber ninnies 0. Can’t wait for the multi-billion dollar results from millennial and smartmatic law suits! What do you say Pennsylvania? Please stop the GOP before it ruins your voting machines and wastes millions of your taxpayers dollars while undermining confidence in our elections.
• Canfield
Our country banded together 80 years ago to defeat the Nazis and Imperialist Japan — enemies you could clearly see. We gave up personal freedoms for that war; over 10,000,000 men were conscripted into the armed services; and over 400,000 soldiers lost their lives. Now we are fighting an invisible enemy, one that has already taken 625,000 lives and will claim thousands more. Yet, we whine about masks and vaccinations? What has changed in our “United” States of America?
• Girard
Candidate Joe Biden campaigned as COVID-19 destroyer. He also promised to unite our country, which during the Trump years was divided by liberal Democrats, elites and a complicit national media. After nearly a year in power, President Biden is losing to COVID-19 and has managed to add another schism to our fractured nation. In addition to fanning the flames of racism, homophobia and other differences, he has introduced vaccinated against nonvaccinated. Our uniter and chief is the divider and chief.
• Canfield
Joe Biden just stated we are no longer at war! Hello, what about 1,000 invading our southern border daily. Go to Del Rio, Texas, and tell our border guards that Haitians with diseases aren’t invaders. Citizens are vaccinating and fighting COVID-19 when illegal immigrants unvetted and untested are scattering. Afghans are being unloaded spreading measles, rubella, COVID and STDs! Not at war? What is this invasion?
• Canfield
This is for people obtaining fake COVID-19 vaccine cards. How is this different from an illegal immigrant paying for fake documents to come into our country? Once again, thank you for looking out for the rest of society around you. I believe you are a pathetic excuse for what a civilized society should look like. You represent an ugly version of an American — self-
absorbed and entitled and the cause of this horrible virus spreading once again.
• Warren
Will individuals who receive government assistance (aka, welfare) be required to show a valid vaccine card in order to get their money, since the government is basically their employer? Many of us who have a job now are being mandated to do this. Hey, fair is fair!
• Niles
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“Sound off!” publishes Saturdays to provide readers with a forum to applaud successes, discuss issues, point out local problems or review events of the day — all in a constructive manner. Preference is given to local issues, but will not include local election issues. Selected “Sound off!” submissions are published. Names are not included, but residential community is.
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Sound off!
State Rep. Mike Loychik was removed from a school board meeting for not wearing a mask as required by the district. The only place Loychik should go maskless is atop history’s trash heap, together with his plan for a new sign at Mosquito Lake State Park to honor Donald Trump.
• Canfield
Three quotes used recently here by the Leetonia writer addressing “religious fanatics” are misused or untrue. First, the John Adams quote was from the Treaty of Tripoli and was added by the delivering ambassador thinking it would appease Muslims. Next, no origin can be found on the Washington quote (University of Virginia, Washington Papers). Finally, Jefferson, though admittedly a deist, was referring to the origin of English common law. Please use facts.
• Columbiana
Of course Liberty Township Trustee Devon Stanley “isn’t opposed to considering the request” of police Chief Toby Meloro for a $16,400 raise. The community knows Chief Meloro was an avid supporter of Mr. Stanley in his election campaign. The chief even went door-to-door for the candidate and campaigned for him at the polls. Time for a payback!
• Girard
Anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers should grow up. Suck it up, and do it for the children! Whining gets us nowhere. If they need inspiration, they should study clips from children’s hospitals. Patients at St. Jude’s, Shriners and Akron Children’s Hospital struggle daily to make the slightest gain and accomplishment. They and their parents should make you realize that a vaccination and mask are small inconveniences. Follow the science and do it for the children!
• New Springfield
Everyone I know is complaining of mosquitoes this year. You cannot go outside without getting bitten. I wish the spray unit at 910th Airlift Wing in Vienna could make a couple passes from the lake to Niles, over the river. This military unit sprays other places in the country, why not here? They could spray at night, when most people are asleep.
• Niles
Ohioans want fair representation. We passed redistricting reform measures in 2015 and 2018 by more than 70 percent in all 88 Ohio counties. Ohioans know when public officials draw legislative district maps to benefit only their political party, it hurts democracy. That’s why we reject the redistricting map recently proposed by the Republican majority of the Ohio Redistricting Commission. The time is now to fight for democracy in Ohio.
• Girard
Therapist and author Virginia Satir observed, “People prefer the certainty of misery to the misery of uncertainty.” California’s recall failure substantiates Satir’s claim. Gov. Newsom’s hypocrisy and elitism were highlighted at the French Laundry. One entree could feed a family of four. Seated close together, he and wealthy friends were maskless. California voters preferred “known” unabated festering decay of their beautiful state to the unknown future of conservative leadership. Ignore the old mantra. Do not go West, young man!
• Canfield
Why didn’t the FBI do its job in the women’s gymnastics scandal? They allowed many young women to be abused for years. It’s hard to imagine what was going on. Another unbelievable government failure. What will justice be for these women? What kind of country do we have when we don’t even protect young girls? One girl said it took over a year just for the FBI to talk with her. What a disgrace.
• Boardman
The Biden admin wants a mandate that we all wear masks. Huh! As Biden is exempting NBA players and letter carriers, my solution to the problem is one in which Democrats truly believe. When they come for you for not wearing a mask, simply tell them you “imagine” yourself as an NBA player or letter carrier. Problem solved according to Biden’s party’s own beliefs. Goose and gander!
• Youngstown
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“Sound off!” publishes Saturdays to provide readers with a forum to applaud successes, discuss issues, point out local problems or review events of the day — all in a constructive manner. Preference is given to local issues, but will not include local election issues. Selected “Sound off!” submissions are published. Names are not included, but residential community is.
Limit “Sound off!” comments to 80 words. Submit longer comments as “Letters to the Editor,” a separate forum that publishes Sundays.
Submit via email to soundoff@tribtoday.com; or via the Virtual Newsroom by going to www.vindy.com and clicking “Submit News” and then “Sound off.”
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Sound off!
• Carl Pelini should have resigned or administrators should have removed him. Keeping the coach teaches girls and boys the wrong lesson about living in healthy life relationships. Students can learn by praying for this family as they attempt to heal and also recognize that behavior can have painful consequences. Shame on my alma mater for not utilizing this difficult, but teachable moment.
Poland
• First Rep. Al Catrona, R-Canfield, votes for legislation banning protests of pipelines coming through our communities. Now, he’s trying to force private companies to spew lies and propaganda that he and his ilk are so fond of. I guess he really wants to just have freedom of speech only that he approves of by making laws that regulate speech that he dislikes.
Boardman
• I suggest to everyone who participates in this partisan forum to stop reading partisan websites and volunteer in our beautiful but needy community. Every single soundoff every Saturday includes misinformation and downright lies. Take a break and do something positive. You and our community will be the beneficiaries.
Poland
• I am amazed with the unvaccinated. Over 660,000 Americans have died, over 40 million infected. Delta variant is trying to shut down the economy and force our kids to wear masks again, damaging learning for a second year. Our family, friends, neighbors have died. Still, the majority of unvaccinated believe it’s a lie. What’s worse, some media outlets publish lies, including alternative cures for COVID-19 that hurt and kill people.
Campbell
• I believe 99 percent of people who die of COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Some Republican leaders, including some governors, are telling people they don’t have to get vaccinated — but you can bet they were.
Girard
• Memorials to Confederacy should be preserved in a Museum of the Oppressors, next to National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Big Liar at last GOP fundraiser could be a welcoming icon. Display the statues with histories of people enslaved, tortured or murdered by these “heroes.” The United Daughters of the Confederacy could do the fundraising, as they did for most of the statues, “… to tell of the glorious struggle against overwhelming odds …”they believe the Civil War was.
Canfield
• Syndicated columnist John Stossel states in his column that government should not mandate vaccines. He says the expression “my body, my choice” makes a good point, and we are not really free if we don’t own our own bodies. He should apply the same logic to the new Texas law that basically bans abortions, and at the same time dictates to women, “your body, no choice.”
Poland
• For religious fanatics who want this country turned into a theocracy of what some founding fathers said about religion: “The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” (John Adams). “The United States of America should have a foundation free from the influence of clergy.” (George Washington). “Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.” (Thomas Jefferson).
Also, zero is how many times “God” appears in the U.S. Constitution!
Leetonia
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“Sound off!” publishes Saturdays to provide readers with a forum to applaud successes, discuss issues, point out local problems or review events of the day — all in a constructive manner. Preference is given to local issues, but will not include local election issues. Selected “Sound off!” submissions are published. Names are not included, but residential community is.
Limit “Sound off!” comments to 80 words. Submit longer comments as “Letters to the Editor,” a separate forum that publishes Sundays.
Submit via email to soundoff@tribtoday.com; or via the Virtual Newsroom by going to www.vindy.com and clicking “Submit News” and then “Sound off.”
Sound off!
So our congressman says he shed a tear for Al Adi. Touching. Then he praised Al’s attorney for finding a way to get Al to Mexico. Tim Ryan just gave away the Democrats’ game plan — get to Mexico and it’s clear sailing to the U.S.! Do we think Al now will get legal citizenship after 39 years?
Niles
There are two Catholic high schools in Youngstown just 3 miles apart. These schools are operating at a third of capacity. The Youngstown Diocese has closed 150-year-old parishes due to lack of membership. It has closed 150-year-old grade schools due to low enrollment. So, why is the Diocese still operating two high schools so close together with low enrollment? Cardinal Mooney is located in a very bad neighborhood, and I believe it should be closed before something tragic happens.
Hubbard
Crime and deaths continue in Youngstown. The shooting and murders almost all involve black people. Apparently, the skin color of the chief and mayor do not make a difference. So far this year, there have been 23 homicides and over 100 shootings! Where is the outrage in the black community? Why such a low regard for life?
Canfield
Certainly reading nonsense will eventually shrink the brain. We have syndicated columnist Robert Reich telling us what freedom should be. Right next to his drivel we’re reminded that Nikolas Cruz must get a fair trial. How much money does a fair trial cost and why hasn’t it started after 3.5 years? Still in the divvying stage? Is there another suspect? He should have had his last meal long ago.
Columbiana
To all you “vaxxers,” please back off already! We’ve made our choice, we understand that choice, we’ll live with that choice. Our choice has nothing to do with politicians or ex-presidents, by the way. We didn’t tell you to not get the vaccine, nor do we give you a hard time because of your choice. Is it so hard to show us the same respect?
Youngstown
A recent writer seems to think hearing “evidence” in bogus impeachment trials is a requirement to calling for the impeachment of a subsequent president. Please point to that clause in the U.S. Constitution. Lyndsey Graham isn’t the only one calling for impeachment; it’s both sides of the aisle.
Austintown
Was the mess in Afghanistan done on purpose? How could our president and all his top military brass make such huge mistakes costing our military and citizens lives and limbs? How is it possible to leave behind $85 billion in high-tech military equipment that the enemy has seized and now will use to kill us? This must have been done on purpose since no rational, reasonable-minded person would ever make so many critical mistakes. These people must pay!
Youngstown
The congressional comedy team of Brooks and McCarthy have publicly worried that the Jan. 6 committee is becoming a fascist operation like the Nazis or KGB. Pretty funny for two “leaders” who just about locked their goose steps over voting laws, women’s rights, education, vaccine and public health mandates. In their defense, they may have been rushing to join John “Slappy” Kennedy and Margie what’s her name at a Dear Leader youth rally and super spreader event.
Canfield
soundoff@tribtoday.com
Have something to say?
Have something you want to get off your chest? Share it here with other readers.
“Sound off!” publishes Saturdays to provide readers with a forum to applaud successes, discuss issues, point out local problems or review events of the day — all in a constructive manner. Preference is given to local issues, but will not include local election issues. Selected “Sound off!” submissions are published. Names are not included, but residential community is.
Limit “Sound off!” comments to 80 words. Submit longer comments as “Letters to the Editor,” a separate forum that publishes Sundays.
Submit via email to soundoff@tribtoday.com; or via the Virtual Newsroom by going to www.vindy.com and clicking “Submit News” and then “Sound off.”
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