— Those cheering the Freeh report, which charges a cover-up at Penn State, ought to have at least a tiny interest in other investigations involving former FBI Director Louis Freeh, and ask if perhaps there were other cover-ups.

Freeh was not yet FBI director when at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992, a conflict between a family and heavily armed federal agents resulted in several people being shot, and when the next year, the Waco conflagration killed 76 cult members. But he certainly participated in the investigations of those wretched events.

At Ruby Ridge, among other gunfire, an FBI sniper shot and wounded a man in the back, then shot to death an unarmed mother holding a baby. When a local prosecutor filed charges against the agent, Freeh opposed it. Later, the charges were dropped.

A long investigation of the events surrounding the FBI assault on the Waco compound cleared all government agencies of wrongdoing. Some accused the investigators – Freeh included – of a cover-up.

Then there was the explosion of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island in 1996. It was investigated both by the FBI for possible criminal causes, and by the National Transportation Safety Board as a possible accident. Despite trace evidence found of explosives used in bombs or missiles, Freeh’s FBI announced no evidence of a criminal act. Later, the NTSB announced the probable cause was an exploding fuel tank, but didn’t identify a reason why it exploded.

Child molestation is a serious crime, but at Penn State nobody was killed or permanently injured. The Freeh report moralistically condemns officials who supposedly did nothing and covered up. These other incidents during Freeh’s career involved hundreds of deaths, and evidence suggests Freeh might have covered up.

Dwight B. Owen

Johnstown



On boosting economy, president is clueless

On a recent CBS interview with Charlie Rose, President Obama famously declared he didn’t sell his programs well to the American people. What was not publicized from that interview, and far more important, is that Obama declared that companies such as Bain Capital are in business to make a profit, not to create jobs.

What this illustrates is the president’s complete lack of understanding about how an economy works. No wonder we’re not creating jobs.

Entities with capital invest in businesses. Hopefully, the businesses grow and create jobs. At the same time, they make a profit. As profits grow, more money goes back into the business and more jobs are created. The president doesn’t seem to grasp this. That’s frightening. The president is completely lacking in economic knowledge. And he’s running (ruining) our economy.

Poor people don’t create jobs. However, many poor people have gotten jobs, become successful, started companies and created jobs for others. The problem is, in this economy that can’t happen.

Instead, Obama relies on government stimulus. He spends $100 billion, nothing happens and he declares he didn’t spend enough. This is nonsense. If elected, he would create another stimulus, it won’t work, he will again declare he didn’t spend enough and keep doubling down with our money.

Think about the president’s background. He was a community organizer. He never had a job. He has no experience in the economic sector. He can’t create jobs because he doesn’t know how to and that’s bad for America.

Tom O’Toole

Stoystown



PPAC concert classy, sophisticated

Wow! That’s all I can say about “The Sondheim Concert” presented recently at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center.

It goes without saying that both Mike Bodolosky and Nathan Santos are professionals in all they do. Both musicians are well-respected and appreciated for their talents and contributions to our local community.

Now we’ve got up-and-coming young artists who thrilled their audience with  performances that were just outstanding.

Max Fedore, Dan Philibin and Emily Felton have been richly blessed with talents that can never be taken from them. It goes without saying that their families and friends must be extremely proud of them.

Thanks to all five performers, who put on a very classy and sophisticated show.

Their music should inspire us to always carry a song in our hearts.

Wishing them all well and thanking them for a wonderful evening.

Betty Zahurak

Richland Township



Electorate relief and removal laws needed

Today in Pennsylvania there are no means to fire a congressional representative for incompetence. For any other job, we would have done it long ago and felt good about it. We need to remove these ineffective players from national leadership and reset our political representation priorities.

The Declaration of Independence was and continues to be a statement of our governance priorities and beliefs, and I do not believe the current Congress in any way, shape or form meets the definition of governing to effect our safety or happiness. The Constitution and the 10th Amendment provide clear legal means, with sufficient initiation burden and reasonable timeframes, for the electorate to rescind their earlier decisions.

I urge everyone to petition our state Legislature to enact electorate relief and removal laws for dealing with incompetence, malfeasance and inaction of elected and appointed officials up to and including congressional representatives.

At the same time, I ask for your assistance in petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the legal means for congressional representative recall. We have for too long stood by and let congressional political games determine what our national priorities are, much to our displeasure.

Ours can still be a good and prosperous nation if we stand up and defend our right to responsible representation and governance.

Doug Atterbury

Johnstown

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