Current law allows corruption, but Householder couldn’t wait

A year ago I wrote into the paper about the transparently corrupt dealing going on with the Firstenergy Solutions bailout. It now appears that Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder likely had other less transparent and illegal deals going on.

To be honest, I’m shocked. Householder, like many other politicians, could have waited till he was out of office to be repaid by Firstenergy for his support as an overpaid lobbyist or with ridiculous speaking fees. These more traditional and legal kickbacks have numerous examples in both local and national politics. If the charges against Householder are to be believed, it seems that he just could not wait to cash in.

It remains as true now as it was a year ago: Until sensible campaign financing reform is enacted, corruption will continue to happen, legally or illegally. If the Statehouse is serious about setting things right, new campaign financing laws should be enacted. Unfortunately, I do not suspect reform any time soon.

Jacob Kravitz, Columbus

Stivers, Portman must apply ‘decency’ standard to Trump

I started a letter to the editor on June 20 to protest the firing of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman and the gutting of inspectors general offices by the Trump administration, but yet another outrage came along to make it seem passé.

It’s now mid July, much of the country is seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, the death rate has begun to rise and Donald Trump has been using his time to set up a product shot for Goya Foods atop the Resolute Desk.

Purple Heart recipient Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was fired from the National Security Council after testifying truthfully in front of the House Intelligence Committee and has been forced to retire from the military because Mr. Trump was upset with his truth telling. Meanwhile, self-described “dirty trickster” and felon Roger Stone is out of jail, pardoned by Mr. Trump after being convicted of witness tampering and lying to a Special Counsel investigation.

And now the White House has begun a not-too-subtle slandering of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, presumably because his reliance on knowledge and science contradicts the Trump administration’s reliance on magical thinking and wishful avoidance.

Meanwhile, it’s crickets from Congressman Steve Stivers, whose official emails never fail to mention his proud military service as a duty- and honorbound protector of American values.

Nor do I hear much consternation from Sen. Rob Portman when Mr. Trump’s narcissistic behavior, ignorance and basic lack of human decency cause him to strike out at German Chancellor Angela Merkel ( calling her stupid ), Senator John Mccain , Mexicans and/or anyone else who asks a difficult question or points out an unflattering fact.

Let’s pretend for a moment that we can agree to disagree on some policy matters. Surely, we agree that Mr. Trump’s 45-minute-long stream of unconsciousness ramblings, the lying and the vindictive/petty behavior are embarrassing and wrong. Congressman Stivers’ and Senator Portman’s Twitter accounts and official email reports are filled with their love of all things decent.

I assume they are both good neighbors and do not condone such behavior in their neighbors or their children. Mr. Trump is allegedly the leader of the free world and remarkably the president of the country that they profess to love and serve. It’s not enough to show up for parades and let us know they love veterans, puppies, little old ladies and the American flag. You’ve got to speak to speak up.

Chris Russell, Upper Arlington

Failure to mandate masks has put Ohio behind other states

Ohio has fallen behind. We are seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases as we work our way back to a sense of normalcy, and this is partly due to a misstep by your administration, Gov. Dewine. Since May, you have been encouraging Ohioans to wear masks in public. However, it is an inevitability that people will refuse to do as they are told. This is where Ohio finds itself. Individuals are not taking the personal responsibility to protect their fellow citizen. Therefore, your administration must take action.

I go to college in Alabama, a state known for its "Don't Tread on Me" attitude and rebellious southern character.

Gov. Kay Ivey issued a mandatory mask order on July 15, the same day Dewine provided an evening COVID-19 update.

Previously, some of the major metropolitan areas mandated mask wearing due to the major spike in cases which has begun to strain Alabama's health care systems. Mandatory mask orders are being issued across the country in the midst of massive spikes in cases. Officials of the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said if all Americans wore masks out in public, COVID-19 could be controlled.

It is time Ohio adopt an order mandating mask wearing in public, per the CDC'S recommendations. The time to act is right now, just like we did back in March with 3 COVID-19 cases — not when we see an astronomical rate of infection in our state.

Gov. Dewine, make the decisions we elected you to make. Protect the lives and prosperity of the 11 million Ohioans, as you vowed when you took the oath of office.

Listen to the science, listen to the CDC. The time for universal and, crucially, well-enforced masking is now.

Nicholas Schragal, Cleveland

Republicans need to acknowledge how their party has been corrupted

I wish that faithful Republicans could see what the rest of the electorate is seeing right now. A party that has talked about “draining the swamp” led at the state level by politicians who accepted millions in bribes to pass legislation. A party that has talked about “law and order” led by a president who pardoned friends after they were duly convicted of crimes. A party that has talked about fiscal responsibility staying silent for years while the national debt ballooned.

I personally understand and respect many of the conservative principles that Republicans have stood for in the past. I hope the GOP comes to its senses and is able to rebound from being the degraded cult of personality it’s become in the past four years.

Greg Davis, Hilliard

Defenders of liberty must stand up against Trump’s brownshirts

They have no name badges or organization patches. Who are they? They grab people off the street, force them into unmarked vans and race away. Who are they? They beat and mace veterans who have the temerity to ask them who they are, what they are doing. They use flash-bang grenades and intimidation on the Wall of Moms who stand between them and their children who are protesting for racial justice.

Wake up citizens: They are President Donald Trump's brownshirts, his paramilitary fascist secret police. Trump's fascist tendencies are getting worse every day. Write your congressman and your senator and demand that they honor their oaths and get in his way.

Richard D. Back, Reynoldsburg

Post-householder scandal, Ohio has to come up with better leaders

I thought the Ohio legislature was just goofy and dimwitted. Now we find out that the house speaker is a big-time crook. Maybe we can get some real leadership now. Surely there is a serious person available.

Robert Finney, Pataskala