As voters, we should remember McCain's description … and apply it to most of the acts by our current Congress. MICHAEL E. MESCHER, DAYTON
‘Typical perversion of facts by politicians’
Regarding “Cracking down on food stamps,” Sept. 21: You asked what your readers think about making people who collect food stamps get a job, instead of getting a hand-out. This is a typical perversion of the facts by politicians who want us to believe that everyone on food stamps is unemployed and sitting at home, gorging themselves on taxpayer-funded food. “The poor are poor because they want to be” — we’ve all heard that story.
Many food stamp recipients do work, but their jobs don’t pay them enough to make ends meet. If you did any research at all, you would know that. I did not see that in your article, nor did I see the fact that many of the jobs being created in this “recovering” economy pay far less than the jobs that disappeared as a result of the recession. I did not see the 30 percent unemployment rate for new college graduates mentioned; I don’t believe any of them really want to be poor. Where do they fit into this equation? Are we raising a new, expensive group of handout seekers who can’t find decent-paying jobs?
But, of course, none of these facts fit into your contention that all food stamp recipients are looking for is a free ride.
I didn't think much of this article, and that it was just more political nonsense. EILEEN HUNTER, DAYTON
Zero-tolerance an excuse not to think
Regarding “Time to end ‘zero-tolerance?,’” Sept. 23: Honestly, the whole zero-tolerance, while great in theory, isn’t the end-all answer. A zero-tolerance policy basically tells humans to not use their head and think, especially as adults enforcing a policy. Children are in school to learn and — depending quite a bit upon age and mental maturity — there is no good example or positive learning experience by suspending or expelling a kindergartner or first-grader who may be a fan of playing cowboys and Indians and loves to pretend-play.
When these all-or-nothing laws go into effect, they are ridiculous. They are made too quickly and too harshly — to try and nip it in the bud — that thought for the effects on the child down the road aren't taken into consideration. … KATIE LEWALLEN, RIVERSIDE
Speak Up
Re "President Hillary: Is it inevitable?," Sept. 25: Of course, Hillary Clinton will be president. The mainstream media will discredit all Republican candidates and will refuse to investigate any issues — example: Benghazi — and will cheerlead her to the White House. There will be enough Americans gullible enough to believe what the media tells them and will fall in love with the idea of a woman president.
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