A plan for hurting Russia’s economy

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Apply Obama’s domestic policies to Russia

Much has been said about what President Obama should do to hurt the Russian economy. To me, the plan is simple: ban the use of coal; mandate that Russia goes on Obamacare; don’t allow any drilling on Russian public land; have the EPA pass rulings on Russian business; redefine the full-time Russian work week to 30 hours; raise the Russian minimum wage; mandate overtime pay for government employees; demand the Russian government pay free welfare benefits to unqualified “citizens” and illegal immigrants.

I could go on, but I guarantee these measures would bring the Russian economy to its knees. It has worked terrifically in the United States since 2009. — WILLIAM WEST, FAIRBORN

Control should be in the hands of the people

I very much enjoy your “Balanced Views” format. Lately, I’m tiring of Robert Reich’s constant “take from the rich and give to the poor” message and Leonard Pitts’ hypocrisy with respect to individual freedoms versus outside control of personal decisions.

This note focuses on the latter, and especially Pitts’ “Businesses shouldn’t have say over contraception” column published on March 30. In this column, he talks about how Hobby Lobby executives “do not get to make (those) decisions for everybody else.” This gives me hope that if liberals like Pitts can finally admit that this culture of “interference is OK” (no matter the source) is at the root cause of many of the problems (overspending, overextension, lack of focus) we face in the United States today, then maybe, just maybe, we can all (liberals and conservatives) come together around that agreement.

We absolutely must get our incompetent, self-important national officials (in all political parties) to divest of their overbearing, costly and ineffective activities and drive control (and decisions) back to the people as the Constitution always intended. — MICHAEL ZYWIEN, KETTERING

SPEAK UPS

The idea of paying off the National Debt (ND) in 10 years by increasing taxes on the rich by 10 percent was brilliant. I've an even more brilliant idea. Let's cease sending lucrative tax credit refund checks to the nearly 50 percent who pay no income tax. That would pay the ND off in six years without any tax increases.

I hope the signs are not "running" messages like the one on westbound Ohio 35. It is too distracting as one tries to drive safely yet still try to wait for the rest of the message to appear.

I don't believe John Boehner was referring to the programs available at the VA facilities when he stated the Dayton VA was an example of the worst of government. I believe he was referring to the individuals who knowingly allow unsafe practices to continue and then also reward those individuals with promotions and bonuses. Those compensations are not an outdated notion, but rather an everyday reality.

I've been in Beavercreek for 50 years and have seen scores of glossy mailings promoting Greene County tax levies (mental health, children's services', hospital, aging, etc.). Not one has ever explained what it takes to be able to get these services, and no one in my family or anyone I know has ever benefited. So I always vote no.

The article about chemical danger was great, but said very little about the health consequences for the individuals who live nearby. Also, for people with compromised immune systems, the limit of what is considered safe is much lower than for the average person. A follow up article would be greatly appreciated.

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