Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

It’s time to end antiquated property tax in our state

DEAR EDITOR: I am writing as a concerned resident of Ohio to advocate for the abolition of the property tax. This antiquated tax serves not only as a heavy burden on responsible homeowners but also perpetuates a destructive cycle of substandard housing and criminal activity within our counties. The process is straightforward: when property owners fall behind on their tax obligations, the county forecloses and auctions the properties at significantly reduced prices. These auctions frequently attract slumlords who purchase the homes at a fraction of their value, perform minimal ...

Trump’s report card is not impressive

DEAR EDITOR: As of this writing, the current president has been in office for one year and two months; time to apply a written evaluation, aka a report card. For the sake of this discussion, let’s take his promises during the campaign as his chosen subjects and his goals as the rating objective; here we go: Ukrainian War: End it in one day. Without the need for explanation. Grade: F Drill, Baby, Drill: This would ensure readily available, cheap gasoline for us all. Grade: F No New Wars: Joint Israeli military campaign against Iran. Grade: F End Inflation: 2.4% ...

Why the Social Security system doesn’t work now

DEAR EDITOR: As a person who was born in 1935, raised during the beginnings of Social Security, let me explain how it worked. In the wake of the Depression, a group of people trying to survive got together, worked and paid their dues, then the next generation worked and paid their dues, therefore providing the money for the last generation. The reason that Social Security is failing is because of automation and isolation. These later generations no longer bond together for the good of everyone; now it’s everyone for themselves. This original work method no longer exists. ...

Sound off!

No Kings protests are useless and ineffective. They are largely performative and lacking in concrete policy demands. These demonstrations are simply a way to “blow off steam” rather than a strategic campaign with specific goals. Trump is still president and continues to make America great again! — Struthers In response to last week’s Sound Off: No, Democrats do not want to give illegal aliens the right to vote! This is just another “alternate fact” that the Lying King and his propaganda cable news enablers promote to deflect from his crimes and power grabs. This man ...

Treating U.S. allies like losers is not good strategy

DEAR EDITOR: Back when presidents had advisers who were expected to give them advice rather than massage their egos by telling them what they wanted to hear, Gen. Colin Powell warned George W. Bush about the dangers of invading Middle Eastern countries by quoting the Pottery Barn rule. “You break it, you own it.” Twenty-four years later, no one around President Trump would have had the temerity to remind him of the rule. But it wouldn’t have mattered, because Trump has rewritten it to suit himself: I break it, you own it. Unlike other presidents, Trump did not consult with ou ...

Trump’s policies have us headed to the poor house

DEAR EDITOR: On the March 19 opinion page, Star Parker warns against complaining about the price of gas. On the opposite page is the headline “US national debt surges past $39 trillion just weeks into war.” On the front page, school workers need more money and Page 3 laments Trumbull County seeking funds to replace a bridge! Trump’s leadership is putting us all in the poor house! Did I mention the cost of groceries or housing? STEVE SOLAK Youngstow