The Golden Rule will get my vote
John Avlon’s “Lincoln and the Fight for Peace” is an in-depth biography of Abraham Lincoln’s last two months as president. It describes Lincoln’s attempts to use the “Golden Rule” to create a lasting post-civil War peace, only to have that plan ruined by an assassin’s bullet.
Abe visited Petersburg, Va., days after it was taken over by the Union Army. He walked unguarded through the city showing equal empathy to Confederate citizens and freed slaves. His actions followed that Ethic of Reciprocity concept wherever he went.
Lincoln orders were to soundly defeat the Confederate armies, and to return southern soldiers and freed Blacks and whites back to peacetime occupations. Soldiers could take their horses to work their fields and their guns to hunt turkeys. All they needed to do was to re-pledge their allegiance to the U. S. Constitution and obey the Union’s laws.
Post-ww2 programs using Lincoln’s policies readmitted Germany and Japan as friendly nations into international economic and political arenas.
Failures to do so cost the U. S. defeats in Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Palestine and other world nations.
I will be voting for those candidates whose past actions and words reflect Abe’s use of that Golden Rule.
Stanley Krider, Delaware
Corporate Transparency Act is overkill
As a homeowners association board member in Columbus, I am concerned about the impact of the Corporate Transparency Act on our community. This federal legislation aims to enhance transparency to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
While its intent is commendable, the act threatens to burden homeowner volunteers with excessive administrative tasks, unnecessary disclosure of private information, and potential legal repercussions.
The act requires board members of community associations to disclose personal information to the government, duplicating existing state disclosure laws and creating redundant bureaucracy. This will deter individuals like us from volunteering.
I already dedicate significant time and energy to our communities and should not face the prospect of hefty fines or imprisonment for noncompliance with these new federal requirements.
The impact of this legislation could be profound, affecting 8,750 homeowners associations in Ohio and the more than 1.4 million residents in the state.
To preserve volunteerism and ensure the continued effectiveness of community governance, I urge legislators to exempt community associations from the Corporate Transparency Act. It is crucial we recognize the invaluable contributions of homeowners association volunteers and prevent them from being unfairly penalized for their dedication to our communities.
Jeni Hile, Columbus