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Prepare for the constant noise of data centers
DEAR EDITOR:
The transformation of voters into cicadas. Our future life in an industrial park.
This is what the wealthy have planned for America, while they themselves leisure hundreds of thousands of miles away.
America shall be humming away, literally. Data center noise typically remains audible within a 0.5- to 2.5-mile radius, a continuous hum of 55 to 85 dBA. Prolonged exposure to noise over 70 dBA can cause permanent hearing damage.
Something like the 7-year itch of a cicada, with their loud buzzing sound, only opposite with a low hum, 24/7. I'm sure the wealthy will offer relief to those who can't afford it, such as Walmart ear plugs.
Humans molting under data centers, leaving behind the shells of people. Being the loss of freedom without nature also sheds pounds of pride in its wake. Accept it or not, we became part of the AI experiment.
PAUL LAWSON
McDonald
Why don't the losers pay in American courts?
DEAR EDITOR:
There's an unholy alliance in this country among lawyers, insurance companies, and government, both federal and state. It's called, the American Rule, and it costs each and every one of us one way or another.
Everywhere else in the world, if you sue someone and you lose, you pay the winner's legal costs, known as "loser pays."
The American Rule, however, means each side pays for their own legal defense. This results in the law run amok, with all kinds of frivolous lawsuits, overburdened courts, and astronomical legal fees. I used to think that the USA was the most litigious country in the world, but I'm wrong. We average about 74. 5 lawsuits per 1,000 citizens. Germany has the most, with 123. 2 per thousand people, followed by Sweden and Israel for second and third.
You can't sue for whiplash from a car accident in Lithuania, because you can't prove or disprove the injury. But, of course you can here. Just get one of those foam collars and cry out in pain once in a while.
Your lawyer will be happy to go to court on your behalf to get a "pain and suffering" award, and he/she takes half.
Why are attorneys willing to sue? Because insurance companies nearly always settle out of court, rather than spend thousands on a trial with a jury that feels sorry for you.
Then there's "loss of consortium" claims. "Look it up.
There's the lawyer-insurance connection.
What about government? In Ohio you are required by law (enacted by our legislature) to have liability insurance to drive your car. OK, I'll get minimum coverage and a big deductible. But, wait. You also have to pay for insurance for uninsured motorists! What? Yup. Who makes out with that? The insurance company.
Are there a lot of lawyers making our laws? In Ohio, only 16% of our legislators are attorneys, but the US Congress has 33. 4%. There may not be many, but they are persuasive (they are attorneys, after all).
We're not the worst in having the most attorneys per capita. Israel has 694 per 100,000 people. We have a mere 401 per 100,000. Japan has only 28 per 100,000!
Getting rid of the American Rule is about as likely as us adopting the Metric System. But, I'm sure it can be done. Just defeat the unholy alliance.
DONALD ALLEN
Boardman
Send Rep. Rulli packing; he's already rich enough
DEAR EDITOR:
U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli may not be making news for helping Ohioans in hard times, but he seems to be doing well himself. You know what they say in Congress, "a little insider trading is good for the soul."
Time to vote Rulli out. He's rich enough.
STEVE SOLAK
Youngstown,
Can small modular reactorsaid the Mahoning Valley?
DEAR EDITOR:
The Mahoning Valley should not wait for another region to define Ohio's next major energy and industrial opportunity.
Youngstown, Campbell, Struthers, Warren, Lordstown, Mahoning County, Trumbull County, Eastgate, Youngstown State University, organized labor, hospitals, manufacturers and regional economic-development leaders should begin a serious public discussion about whether small modular reactors could fit our region's future.
This is not a call to approve, site, or build a reactor tomorrow. It is a call for a feasibility study.
The Valley has the right history for this conversation. We were built by steel, manufacturing, rail, power, labor, engineering and industrial know-how.
We also know what happens when regions fail to prepare for the next economic platform. Energy is now that platform.
Small modular reactors are not a slogan. They are a serious infrastructure question. Could an SMR support reliable electricity for industry? Could it provide process heat?
Could it support hospitals, data centers, advanced manufacturing, water systems, and future industrial parks? Could it help stabilize long-term energy costs while attracting new investment and jobs?
Those questions deserve serious review.
A regional SMR feasibility study should examine site suitability, grid interconnection, water, emergency planning, security, workforce, supply chain, public financing, federal and state funding, environmental justice, community benefits, and legal/regulatory pathways. It should be transparent, evidence-based, and regional.
The Mahoning Valley should not let this conversation happen only in Columbus, Washington, Silicon Valley or corporate boardrooms.
If nuclear energy is going to be part of America's industrial future, then the Valley should have a seat at the table early.
The first step is not a commitment to build. The first step is a commitment to study.
I respectfully urge local mayors, county commissioners, Eastgate, YSU, labor, hospitals, manufacturers, and state and federal representatives to convene a Mahoning Valley SMR feasibility working group.
The Valley should not merely react to the future of energy. We should help shape it.
MARTY YAVORCIK
Youngstown
There should be no mining in national parks
DEAR EDITOR:
It is colossally ignorant, stupid, moronic, idiotic and corrupt to allow mining in the national parks.
These parks are stunning beauties where our tribal natives have gifted their culture and history to preserve and enjoy, learn and teach future generations.
This bulldozing, all done before most even knew it was happening, is desecrating these parks purely to allow mining. Trump has taken these lands with no permission, over a million acres in these parks, stunning examples of nature in its purest form. We shouldn't be bulldozing them.
Who gave Trump permission? How much history does he plan on erasing? Where is the respect for our country? Does he consider these parks as his personal property? Come on, Republicans, grow up, do something to stop this man and his mania.
This is happening in Utah, Texas and Arizona, so far at least.
Whatever will he come up with next? He has a war he will not be able to end, so he deflects on something else once again. Leave the parks alone!
JEANNE McDERMOTT
Liberty
Are NEA talking points relayed to our students?
DEAR EDITOR:
I recently received a newsletter, which included a discussion of the National Education Association and its impact on student education. Included in this newsletter were three paragraphs I'd like to pass on:
• "You know the NEA has spent years coercing children in pre-K through the third grade to read books about radical Islam while banning the 10 Commandments from the classroom"
• "They snuck in lesson plans about claiming that 9/11 caused Islamaphobia, but not the 3,000 victims of Islamic terrorism, while changing its curriculum to erase Jews from the Holocaust ..."
• "They partnered with radical groups, like "Teach Palestine" to pressure our children into becoming Pro-Palestine radicals ... while (the NEA is) publicly lobbying to shut down religious schools and homeschooling."
I'd be quite interested to find out if this pressure from NEA is being passed on in our local schools.
Perhaps any teachers reading the Vindicator can comment on their experience or lack of experience with the NEA influence
GORDON WILLIAMS
Canfield
Grateful for Sen. Moreno's leadership on CCCA
DEAR EDITOR:
Ohio's families and small businesses are that much closer to seeing some financial relief thanks to U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno's recent decision to become a cosponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA).
We're glad to have an elected official putting Main Street's concerns over Wall Street's bottom line.
For businesses already stretched thin by other operational expenses, the swipe fees charged on each credit card transaction accumulate rapidly and are a major burden on local shops. As a result, many owners pass that burden down to their customers through credit card bans or raised prices. Business owners don't want to do this, but they are left with no choice, hitting hard-working families the hardest during a time when day-to-day necessities are increasingly expensive.
As one of the first Senate Banking Committee members to back this bill, Sen. Moreno is showing true leadership.
He is championing the return of competition into a market sorely in need of it. Under the CCCA, small businesses would have some long-overdue leverage over the Visa-Mastercard duopoly that's controlled credit card routing for decades.
The CCCA is a common-sense bill that puts money back in the pockets of Ohioans who earned it, and Sen. Moreno has shown he understands that.
Thank you, Sen. Moreno, for standing up for Ohio's small businesses and the people you represent.
JOHN R. MORROW
Liverpool Township
There is a solution for high electric bill
DEAR EDITOR:
If you're feeling that your electric bills are out of- ontrol, you're absolutely right.
Ohioans saw their July electric bills hit record highs, rising on average 12% since last year.
Also, Ohio hit a four-year high for disconnections this July.
But here's the solution.
Electricity from solar is much cheaper than from natural gas or coal. According to the Public Utilities Council (a trade group for the electric companies) solar starts at $24 per Mwh, while gas combined cycle starts at $39. That's 40% less.
Coal starts at $68. Gas Peaking starts at $115.
These prices are wholesale and include construction, operation and ongoing maintenance costs.
Unfortunately, the natural gas companies control our state government and make it hard for solar companies to compete.
Please contact your state legislators and Gov. Mike Dewine and tell them to level the playing field so that we can get cheaper electricity with solar power.
DOUG BELL
Akron