Chuck Schumer announced that Social Security is under attack and at risk. Elon Musk is trying to tell the public Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Trump’s billionaire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was heard to say, “Bye bye Social Security.” Hey BOOMERS, time to get a job!
I am furious as I watch President Trump and Musk shutting down the Social Security agency so that there is no one left to issue the Social Security checks. Their ultimate goal is to privatize this agency and let Wall Street manage the $4 trillion trust fund. We all know how well that will go after we saw our 401(k)s disappear along with our homes in the crash of 2008. That trust fund will be gone in a poof of smoke in months if Wall Street gets its hands on it.
Hard-working Americans pay into the Social Security fund in the form of FICA all their working lives. They are promised that this EARNED BENEFIT would be paid to them on a monthly basis when they can no longer work. Social Security does not get anyone rich in retirement, but at least you get to live a dignified life in your older years if you collect Social Security.
Do not let Trump roll back the clock. I encourage everyone who is retired to write their Congressmen and do what Chuck Schumer proposed, “HANDS OFF MY SOCIAL SECURITY”!
MARY PAGELS
Temperance
Toledo Pickle is great
I know that whenever anything negative happens in Toledo, there is no shortage of folks ready to yell, “You’ll do better in Toledo” with negative intent. But it feels like every time I turn around, there is another awesome initiative or development to make my city shine! (Shout out to the owners of Toledo Pickle Co. for the incredible gift of their new facility, which I tried out yesterday and loved — and I didn’t even try Pickleball! Excellent food!) This letter is one of gratitude for the doers, the believers, the action-takers, and the optimists who ignore the naysayers and bring light to the 419 every day! Because of you all, we all do better in Toledo and I am so proud to be here!
KATIE PETERS
Toledo
Trump’s behavior is hurting Americans
Thanks to MAGA we can expect to pay more for automobiles, auto repair, electricity, and groceries, and we do not have to concern ourselves with hard-to-understand recalls, consumer “protections,” advice or warnings from NIH (CDC included), FDA, or any other program set up to warn consumers about products that may cause harm.
Don’t worry, Trump has you covered; he is making us great in the eyes of Putin and North Korea. We can count on them!
And, by the way, there will most likely be jobs available for those who want to sit in military vehicles and point weapons at humans who dare to come near our borders.
Visiting a national park this year with the little kiddos? Make sure you and kiddies stay on marked trails near entrances because you won’t be rescued. We cannot afford those costly rangers and their gear.
Enjoy your summers, MAGA!
LESLIE JAN
Bowling Green
Israel opposition not always anti-Semitic
The letter “Blade columnist Hussain trafficks anti-Semitic views,” Feb. 22, by Amichai Stout requires honest examination. Anti-Semitism does sadly exist and needs to be condemned. But absurd claims of anti-Semitism directed at individuals and organizations criticizing Israel’s oppression of Palestinians also needs to be recognized and rejected.
Describing the facts surrounding Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is not anti-Semitism. Similarly, criticizing Israel’s injustices against Palestinians is not anti-Semitism. These dishonest attacks are intended to silence any criticism of Israel.
Last year the world awakened to Israel’s brutality toward Palestinians. Israel’s war of annihilation against Gaza killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured countless more.
Condemning Israel for these war crimes is not anti-Semitism. In fact, Jewish scholars, organizations, and rabbis have joined the global, multi-faith community condemning Israel’s oppression against Palestinians. Israel’s supporters have labeled these morally courageous Jews as “self-hating Jews.”
The impunity that characterizes Israel’s oppression against Palestinians is a consequence of Zionism, not Judaism. In contrast to Judaism’s long, celebrated history dating back over thousands of years, Zionism is a political movement that only started in the late 19th century in Europe.
This movement, founded by Theodore Herzl, aimed to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, which was already home to a culturally rich, multi-faith community of Jews, Muslims, and Christians living peacefully.
Zionists today must recognize the reality that Zionism, not anti-Semitism, is the source of the ongoing suffering of Palestinians who inhabited the area prior to Theodore Herzl’s Zionist project.
WALAA KANAN
Toledo
Congressional Dems acting like children
At President Trump’s address to Congress, we observed a large number of Democrats dressed in the color pink. This was, I guess, to show their support of women. What is so sad is that on March 3, just the day before the address, 45 Democrat senators voted to block the bill that removed men from women’s sports! How is that supporting women?
During President Trump’s entire speech, they showed that they are not in favor of the American people! The Democrats sat on their hands when the border crossing numbers were announced, the introduction of the families that lost loved ones at the hands of illegals, the announcement of all the ridiculous waste uncovered by DOGE, and the capture of the mastermind of the Afghanistan attack that killed 13 of our bravest soldiers. Heck, they couldn’t even bring themselves to show compassion and support of the brave 13-year-old cancer survivor whose dream to become a policeman was fulfilled by becoming a Secret Service agent, or the teenager that received his long-wanted appointment to West Point! The one and only thing they stood up for was when the discussion went to the hundreds of billions of dollars of our taxes sent to Ukraine! Unbelievable!
The Democrats’ disgusting behavior showed why the adults were elected to clean up the mess that the petty spoiled children left for the American citizens. The party of the pathetic was on full display with their childlike behavior. It all boils down to promises made, promises kept by the adults in the room!
THOMAS McNUTT
Perrysburg
Kaptur wins again, deserves respect
Scott Sands, in his letter, “Musk remarks mean Marcy must go,” several times suggests that Marcy, only having five bills passed, does nothing and should go. Jim Jordan, wannabe Speaker of the House, in his 23 years has passed zero bills into law. Must he go too? Current Speaker of the House Johnson has five softball bills that became law. Should he also go?
Musk has only been a citizen for 22 years. To be President you have to be born in the country. In the opinion of many, Musk is acting de facto President of the United States. “Acting” since he has no official position in the government.
Mr. Sands praises Mr. Musk for all his business achievements. He had a little help along the way, $38 billion in government support. Much of which came when he needed it most to stay in business.
Many of his ventures rely on rare minerals. Rare minerals that are located in Canada, Greenland, and surprise, Ukraine.
Her district has been gerrymandered again and again. She still wins. The little old lady “clutches her pearls ... snoozefest, relic of the old guard, taxpayer-funded retirement plan.” Does it make Mr. Sands a big man to beat up on an old lady? Ridicule her? A lady who was elected by the people just like Trump, not like Musk.
RUSS GRIGGS
Swanton
Pol helped with IRS
A few years ago, the IRS questioned our itemized deductions and revised our tax return, substantially increasing our tax liability. After several unsuccessful appeals, I contacted U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s office. I received a response within days, directions on what to do next, and an acceptance of our original tax return from the IRS a few weeks later. Marcy has our back!
FRED SHUMAN
Whitehouse
First Published March 13, 2025, 4:00 a.m.
