READERS' FORUM 12/13 | Senator opens mouth, inserts foot

Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, suggested on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that Rick Wagoner, the chief executive of GM, “has to move on.”

Where does Dodd get the temerity to make such a proposition in light of his own incompetence and scandal? Dodd is in charge of the committee that could have kept us from entering the current credit crisis. He’s the same man who is in charge of regulating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and is No. 1 on their list of donations.

When Congress approved $25 billion to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Dodd denied rumors these firms were in financial crisis. He called the firms “fundamentally strong,” said they were “in good shape” and to “suggest they are in major trouble is not accurate.”

Dodd also received preferential loans from Countrywide Mortgage Bank, and then said he wasn’t aware that he was getting a “special” deal. How is that possible?

The bottom line is that Dodd received special treatment from a company that he was in charge of regulating and to this day he has refused to release details of those transactions. If Dodd has done no wrong, then why not release the documents and dispel the accusations?

Just when you think you’ve seen the height of hypocrisy, leave it up to a politician to take it to the next level.

Graham Crowe

Beaverdale



Another option for auto industry bailout

In response to the government bailout of the automotive industry, my neighbor had a very good suggestion. Instead of giving the American automotive industry enormous amounts of money to squander on outrageous CEO bonuses and more private jets, the money should be given to Americans to buy new cars from the auto makers.

That way the fathers and mothers who travel to their three or four jobs they must work just to pay their taxes would be able to get to their jobs and back home to be with their children.

The automotive industry, in turn, would sell their vehicles and, in the long run, get the money anyway. This way we would all benefit.

I also believe that before any money is given to the car makers they should have to liquidate their luxury assets – such as jets and CEOs’ enormous bonuses.

Ross Perot once said that government needs to downsize its luxuries – free cars, houses, haircuts, restaurants, hotels, etc.

Politicians have outrageous salaries; they don’t need to live free their whole lives.

Cindy K. Constable

Johnstown



Let’s remember the real light of the world

It looks as if all the talk about “going green” and saving energy hasn’t done much to dim the megawatt voltage going into holiday displays this year.

Santas and Rudolphs and Grinches are everywhere, some so bright that you almost need sunglasses to get past them.

It’s almost as if people are in some sort of competition to show how much holiday spirit they can afford in spite of the recession.

Life would be so much less complicated if kindness and compassion and simple decency could be measured in kilowatt- hours, and if warmth of heart and human spirit could be judged by the brightness of holiday decorations.

But the world is not like that. Instead, we have faith. So maybe we can dim the lights and remember that Christmas is about celebrating the birthday of a man who was born poor and who died poor, but in between revealed a message and a promise of such power and richness and beauty that even 2,000 years later we remember the message and try to be worthy of the promise.

Let’s honor the man, and his promise, instead of the lights or the electric companies. Let’s take his message of peace and love to heart. Be kind to people and share in the joy of the season.

And every time you’re kind to someone, or receive kindness in return, whisper “happy birthday, Jesus.”

I’ll bet he’ll like that. And just imagine how much lower your electric bill will be next month.

Carl Schultz

Johnstown



Extra costs fall on Forest Hills families

It has come to my attention that the Forest Hills School District has slashed funding for extracurricular activities, specifically in the area of travel accommodations. It appears the district has cut the funding for competitions that take place outside the state.

Therefore, forensics, cheerleading and FBLA will need to foot the added expense of traveling outside state lines. The district had previously paid for lodging, meals and transportation.

Now students and their families will be expected to cover costs. While some decrease in spending was probably necessary, at what cost to the students and their families was this action implemented?

The money can be found as evidenced by the district finding millions of dollars for a field house, which was built while incurring no debt.

I am not attacking the athletic program, because of my reference to cheerleading, but I do find it discouraging that the district can build, heat and maintain a multimillion-dollar building but cannot fund the educational and athletic experiences of all the youth in the district.

Perhaps the school board should have realized how much the entire community would have to sacrifice. It also seems surprising that the district would act on the new policy during the summer when families are on vacation.

I implore all disgruntled parents in the district to write, phone or visit the administration building in order to make their voices heard, and if nothing is done, continue until something is.

Eric Myers

Sidman

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