Tomorrow's leaders know we need renewable energy
The Sunday Dispatch featured a story about how two fossil-fuel-funded advocacy groups are trying to sow doubt about the clear scientific consensus that humans are causing climate change. Their efforts are being rejected by many young people whose futures are on the line. Across the nation and around the world, the next generation is alarmed and they are making their voices heard.
The good news is that a major bipartisan bill, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763), which will cut carbon emissions, benefit people economically and add jobs, has been introduced. Republicans and Democrats are making efforts to tackle climate change as a bridge issue.
It is time for Ohio Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown to join the effort to create this bridge. I call on my local representative, Republican Troy Balderson, to add his name as another Republican co-sponsoring H.R. 763. As a nation we must take strong and immediate action to reverse human-caused global climate change. It is gratifying to see a growing consensus of legislators willing to take a substantial step toward a sustainable future. our southern border with separation of children from parents at Auschwitz.
There is no comparison. Children in concentration or death camps were forcibly imprisoned and children on the southern border have been willingly brought there by their parents as they try to enter the United States illegally. If the parents stop bringing their children to the border, they will not be separated, it is as simple as that.
E.G. Schwartz, Columbus
Judges aren't nonpartisan, so ballots shouldn't be, either
After reading about Judge Lynch's party switch (Metro article, Monday), I am astonished that anyone would believe it was done as a matter of conscience rather than political expediency. I am also amazed at former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer's claim that judges magically "leave their party affiliation behind" when they take the bench.
He would be unable to name one judge who has rejected a party endorsement and money or an appointment by a governor of the same party. His position is simply nonsense and an effort to persuade us that a zebra loses its stripes when it changes pastures.
The nonpartisan ballot is a relic of 1911 and an era when political parties endorsed incompetent candidates they could control. Today we have stringent ethical rules that largely prevent such abuse. Parties now compete for good recruits and for their election. Therefore, by and large, with very few exceptions, we have good judges and the public
benefits from this quality. However, the nonpartisan ballot has nothing to do with this. It has no affect on the candidates whatsoever. It does not change their lifelong social beliefs which brought them to the party that endorses them. It does not magically make them nonpartisan.
The nonpartisan ballot has become a misguided effort to conceal a candidate's politics from voters. This results in more fundraising for advertising, which is more damaging to a judge's reputation than a partisan ballot. It also ignores the wish of many voters to take a judge's party into consideration, feeling instinctively that a judge might share their views because he joined their party. Is this not reasonable? Voters are not children. Should we be treated as such?
Richard D. Rogovin, Blacklick
War against abortion rights disrespects individuals
Though tempted, I will not say that the repetitive actions by Ohio legislators (the stream of attempts to limit abortion rights and overrule essential health care for women) can be called acts of insanity — that would misrepresent and mock the meaning of insanity.
Rather, as a member of NARAL Pro-choice Ohio, I will call them deliberate acts of violence against women. I will call them acts of disrespect against responsible men and women who understand the importance for each of us to choose life that is not defined by others.
I choose to see women who vibrantly grasp onto their right to nurture the direction of their lives as an ongoing sign of hopefulness breaking into a world of fear and control in which freedom and honor and respect are lost values.
F. Allan Debelak, Columbus