Former President Donald J. Trump has to be held responsible for his obnoxious behavior of inciting a mob to riot and storm the capitol to “fight like hell” to change the election of 2020 in his favor.
Not only did he personally attack the Democrats, but also the Republicans and members of his own cabinet.
Mr. Trump is a fraud and a poor loser who cannot accept reality.
The Jan. 6 committee heard over 1,000 witnesses to pass along the correct information to the Department of Justice to charge criminal activity to Mr. Trump that he cannot ever hold any government office in the future.
He is an embarrassment to our country and his own party.
I agree with Sen. Mitt Romney (R., Utah) who stated that Mr. Trump is dangerous.
MARY STAPLETON
Sylvania
Don’t use tax for rent
Would the city Division of Engineering and Construction Management department still exist if Toledo voters had not approved the four-year, 0.25 percent income tax for the sole purpose of residential road improvement in 2020?
Yes.
Then none of that revenue should be used to cover operating costs, including rental fees.
According to Abby Arnold, Toledo’s deputy mayor, $1.27 million, or 4.4 percent of the income tax revenue is being allocated in 2023 for operating costs.
This income tax revenue is only guaranteed for four years.
At an annual rate of 4.4 percent, that $5 million dollars should be spent on roads and nothing else.
Pay attention, voters.
JULIE ELLISON
West Toledo
Police death ignored
Recently, there was a tragic incident on national television of a professional athlete who was seriously injured.
During the next few days, said incident was front page news in newspapers and led local and national news.
The same day, a Pennsylvania police officer died in the line of duty, giving his life while protecting others.
The article in the paper was 131 words, in the Second News of The Blade, and that was the last I heard of it.
Where were the headlines for that?
Just another police statistic.
DUANE RYMER
Sylvania
Agenda for 118th Congress
Let’s face it. The United States of America is in a mess. The elected officials of the new Congress have a mandate to fix things.
Congress can and should fix seven things:
1. Balance the federal budget every year and pay down our massive debt a little bit every year. Best way: a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
2. Maximize wealth growth of U.S. citizens.
3. Secure our border and deport every illegal residing in this country and police and fine companies that hire illegals.
4. Curb inflation and maximize GDP growth by not spending as much, meaning never forgive any government loan, don’t give away money overseas, and promote free enterprise to regulate the economy, such as by reducing regulations of the energy sector.
5. Protect us from our known enemies threatening us, for example, China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, and get more U.S. bases in our allies’ countries, and advertise the advantages of capitalism, liberty and democracy overseas to make more countries with our philosophy.
6. Ensure our federal elections use the principle of “one citizen - one vote.” Elections should have more than 95 percent of the vote “in-person” by photo-ID -verified citizens who were pre-registered and who voted at the local polling station on election day.
7. Prevent corruption of our government bureaucracy (i.e., prevent pay-to-play schemes of politicians, insider trading, and attempts to limit free speech).
Since we have now a divided government, the rate of harm done these past two years will be more limited in 2023. I fear that the above list will only be worked on when we get conservatives as both president and in the majority of Congress. So, please vote for conservatives in 2024. And be content that nothing much will happen at the federal level for the next two years, thankfully.
DAVID WEBER
Sylvania Township
First Published January 12, 2023, 5:00 a.m.
