LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Leaderless
Editor:
What is happening to the human race, have we lost all the sense of reason, justness and compassion? With the world in a deadly turmoil trying to conquer one of the most deadly disease known to man. One would think those crazy people who call themselves ISIS and others are attempting to convert the rest of the world into their bloody cause. They place no value on human life, including their own, and are willing to sacrifice the lives of millions in order to gain a place in their heaven.
My God is a God of love and love is what keeps the world on an even keel. Hate is the most evil of all emotions and from it springs all forms of evil. The real victims of this senseless slaughtering is what is happening to the children. They who have nothing to gain suffer the most. East South Sudan is in very bad shape. This African country is suffering a senseless war based on ideology and religion.
It is estimated that over 400,000 people have been displaced with nowhere to go. This is one of the conflicts raging in the Middle East and North Africa.
What is the rest of the world doing about these senseless killings? What are we, a nation which has throughout history always been number one to come to the aid of the suffering and those in dire need. What has happened to the soul of our great nation?
Why did we sit back and ignore the many warnings of what was about to take place in the Middle East? The people twice elected a president who promised to do great things for the country. He did, he turned us into a country of wimps while he enjoyed himself doing what he likes to do best, bouncing around in Air Force One, raising tons of money for the Democrat Party and spending time on the golf course.
We need a leader in the White House who is aware of the serious problem facing this nation. He must be willing to place politics on the back burner and lead us out of the quagmire that has been holding us back for the last six years. I hope there is a man somewhere out there willing and qualified to take the job.
Leon White
Columbiana
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In response
Editor:
Now that the November general election is over I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to those individuals who were successful in the recent campaign. I commend both you, and your opponents for your decision and commitment to run for public office. Serving the people of Columbiana County and this great state will be one of the most challenging times of your life, but it will also be among the most rewarding work you will ever do. On behalf of the Democratic Party we wish you well.
Democrats attract a diverse group of candidates who come from all walks of life because our vision is simple. We want an America that gives all Americans the chance to live out their dreams and achieve their God-given potential.
This past election was not kind to Democrats, either locally or across the nation. As chairman of the Columbiana County Democratic Party I accept the decision of county voters and I accept the responsibility for our poor showing locally. Moving forward, it is my job to work harder for our candidates and to make certain that the Democratic vision is clear. It is important that people understand just how much is at stake for working men and women each time we go to the polls.
In the wake of the election, several people have questions my leadership. A former county office holder who had his own problems in office has called for my resignation. Kathleen Dailey, in her recent letter to the editor, asked if I was “stupid.” These personal attacks are simply part of the job. However, let me be clear, running a party and running for office are not the same. It is all too easy to snipe from the bushes. It is quite another to have the courage to run yourself. Running for office is not easy. It is time consuming, expensive and there are no guarantees of success.
To all my candidates in this past election, you forever have my gratitude and respect for trying to make a difference in your community. I am proud of the effort each of you made to help move Columbiana County forward.
Upon review of the voting records, I am unable to find where Kathleen Dailey of Lisbon ever voted in this current election and yet her letter questions the credentials of some of our candidates. I simply respond by saying this…Until you have the courage to place your own name of the ballot, kindly confine your sniping to me.
We live in a great country where we are free to express our opinions. But, until you run for office yourself, until you are willing to put your own credentials out there for public scrutiny, you are simply not qualified to question the individuals who have.
Dennis C. Johnson
Democratic Party Chairman
Salem
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor:
I am writing as a concerned citizen and business owner of Fairfield Township in response to recent comments made by the township trustees regarding the SEEDBASE Project.
The SEEDBASE Project is an interactive, web-based, economic-development tool that pools all the information that a potential business investor would want to know, and displays the information with interactive overlaying maps. I have had the opportunity to view this on two occasions and, while the statement that “all the information is out there” may be correct, the information is not easily accessed even by the knowledgeable.
Companies and individuals looking to invest in our area are more likely to look favorably on a community that has taken the initiative to bring all of this information together into one easily accessible site. The SEEDBASE Project for our area would make the following information easily available to all: zoning and ordinances, traffic study counts (very difficult to locate on ODOT website); utilities; rail lines; and available commercial property (such as industrial, agricultural, retail). Other information such as specific industries, manufacturers, large agricultural entities, can also be included.
In the article I read, the cost to Fairfield Township was stated as $3,500. In actual fact no cost has been assessed to Fairfield Township. The base cost of the Project is $7,500. Of that, $4,500 has already been covered via a grant and a donation. The city of Columbiana appears to be strongly in favor of this program and it is my understanding that they will be implementing it for the city. It was very generous of the city to reach out to the township to ask if we wanted to be included in a program designed to encourage economic development of our area as a whole. We need jobs. We need tax revenue. This is a low-cost, user-friendly method to encourage just that.
To my knowledge, Fairfield Township is only being asked to provide access to information to build the program. A donation toward the cost would be appropriate. The township and the city need to cooperate in order to show that this area welcomes well-planned economic development.
Without proper planning and cooperation we will see poorly planned and unsustainable businesses develop and die, and serious, sustainable businesses go elsewhere; thus having a negative impact on our communities.
I encourage the Fairfield Township Board of Trustees to take another look at this invitation.
Agnes C. Jones
Columbiana