Letters

Guess what I heard a strong Democrat say the other day? “You know I am getting tired of all the bad press the Dems are bringing up against Trump, when more important issues should be talked about.”

After reading the article written in The Lima News on July 15 by Mackenzi Klemann, I feel like I have to respond to yet another undeserving slam toward law enforcement. To Mackenzi Klemann, the article was irresponsible and bush league.

On July 7, I decided to cancel my TV cable due to the high cost. I turned in my two receiver boxes. I then called a couple of days later to see what my bill was. The only reduction was the rental fee for the boxes.

Hello. This letter is in response to editor David Trinko’s “Working Together as Family Has Real Value.” I admire his position and share the same view.

What is Issue 1? Issue 1 aims to elevate the requirements for amending the constitution of the state of Ohio. This includes a requirement that petitioners seeking to amend the constitution obtain signatures on their initial petition from all the counties in our state instead of only half the counties as required now. This prevents highly populated counties from controlling the process. Additionally, an amendment will have to obtain a 60% vote or supermajority instead of the current 50% plus one vote.

Why would anyone believe the promoters of Issue 1? Their contention is to promote a supermajority of voters to change the Ohio Constitution based on outside influence. We already have too much outside influence, not only on issues but also for state and federal candidates. After all the posturing of saving over $20 million on special elections, just a few months ago they decided that one more special election is needed to save the state from total ruin. Why would the supporters of Issue 1 want five or 10 percent of the voters to decide this issue if they want to promote fairness and truly representative elections?

As I drive around the Lima area, I see so many signs saying, “Vote no on Issue 1.” It makes me sad because this issue is so important.

I see a few “Vote yes on issue 1 — Protect our Constitution!” signs, and I have to ask those with the signs in their yards or business windows: protect our Constitution from what? We’ve had the same process in effect for over 110 years, over a century, and what bad has actually happened in those 110 years that would demand this sudden need to change it?

There are rational arguments for and against Issue 1. When deciding, please consider the following:

I urge you to vote no on Issue 1. If this constitutional change passes, it will raise the percentage of the vote needed to change the state constitution to 60%. This dangerous move would solidify virtually all constitutional changes to the state legislature, where, funny enough, they’ll only still need 50 plus one.