Published: October 03, 2008 03:03 pm            

READERS' FORUM 10/6 | Johnstown drivers: Prepare to punt

It occurred to me recently that one of the reasons we love the Steelers so much might be because we play football ourselves every time we drive through downtown Johnstown.

If we figure that a traffic light changing from red to green represents the snap, it’s our task to move the ball – our car – as far forward as we can during a single play.

The opposing team is the city, and Johnstown’s routine traffic obstacles are the opposing team’s players. Arriving intact at our destination represents a touchdown.

Frequently after the snap we can move the ball forward only a couple of yards, feet, or even inches. But sometimes we can actually keep the ball in play long enough to get through one traffic light before being stopped by the next. Getting through two consecutive lights without stopping represents a first down.

As with any football game, there are referees – in our case, the police. The referees occasionally need to assign penalties or even remove players from the field. You can appeal to a league official to reverse a ruling, but usually the penalties are upheld.

And sometimes the rules are unfair: At the intersection of Broad Street and Seventh Avenue, for example, the light is so long that the referees reportedly are handing out penalties for holding.

Tackling and unnecessary roughness, of course, are not good ideas on the gridiron.

We have to survive the away games and playoffs to get safely home.

That’s the Super Bowl.

Carl Schultz

Johnstown



Time can’t heal Wozniak’s blunders

In 2005, Pennsylvania legislators voted themselves a huge pay raise in the dark of night. Voters were outraged. The pay raise eventually was repealed, but many legislators were out of a job after trying to rip off taxpayers. Unfortunately, not all were up for re-election.

Our Sen. John Wozniak voted for the pay raise but later voted to repeal it. He thought he was worth the money (although he says he did later give back the unvouchered expenses).

Wozniak had three more years left on his term. He laid low for two years, apparently hoping we voters would forget. This year he crawled out for some news coverage and photo opportunities.

Has he done anything significant? I can think of only one thing, and that is nothing to be proud of: He led the fight to repeal the state’s motorcycle helmet law.

Now more cyclists than ever have died from head injuries in accidents. For a report on this topic, see a June 12 story at the Web site www.wpxi.com/health/16591124/detail.html

Do not forget: This man is no better than those we dumped earlier. Let’s refresh the minds of our legislators with a new wake-up call. Look at all the news coverage when state Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro was ousted over the pay raise.

When it comes to politicians, “time should not heal all wounds.”

Bill Gallus

Richland Township



Voccio would boost business climate

Citizens and job creators in the 72nd Legislative District would be well served by Chris Voccio as their state representative.

Voccio has demonstrated a strong commitment to community through his active involvement with the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce and his efforts to establish Celebration Johnstown!, summer concerts in the park and other events that help to bring people together. His election to the state General Assembly would be a natural and deserved extension of his proven service to the region and its residents.

Voccio also rightly understands that in order for local communities to prosper, businesses must prosper, and that a climate must be created in the commonwealth that fosters job creation and business growth.

This philosophy, combined with a solid knowledge of what is needed to improve a business climate that in many ways hinders growth, have earned Voccio the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Whether through his desire to enact tax reforms that will stop penalizing businesses for investing in the state; fix a legal system that stifles innovation and leads to higher costs of goods and services; improve transportation access; or reduce the cost drivers of health care needed in order to achieve lasting, meaningful reform, Voccio will make decisions in Harrisburg that are truly in the best interest of the 72nd district.

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Chamber’s more than 24,000 statewide members and customers, I respectfully encourage voters to support the candidacy of Chris Voccio.

Floyd Warner

President, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry



Blame liberal Democrats for bailout mess

This $700 billion bailout is for one purpose only: Liberal political gain.

It seems the lying media place the blame on Republicans and President Bush.

No charges were filed against any CEOs or financial advisers. That was not so when Enron stole from Americans.

Barack Obama has received more money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than any other federal candidate.

Others involved with the troubled mortgage giants include Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.; Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.; Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; and other liberals in charge of congressional financial oversight committees.

The original bailout bill contained hundreds of millions of dollars for labor unions and the leftist ACORN group.

Conservative Republicans and Democrats defeated the first version of this ridiculous bailout.

I think the major media – ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post – have lied through their teeth to Americans. This whole financial mess should be laid at the door of liberal Democrats.

In 1992, legislation was passed giving minorities hundreds of billions of dollars to obtain mortgages. In 1999, President Clinton signed legislation allowing commercial banks and investment banks to merge.

Trillions of dollars were given to minorities to obtain unsecured mortgages. When subprime loan interest increased, many of these people could not pay. The bottom fell out.

Three former Fannie Mae executives have close ties to Barack Obama.

Some people even say Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is a liberal Democrat.

Thank you, liberal Democrats, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Something truly stinks.

Carol Mottin

Ebensburg



McCain criticism way out of line

In response to Nick Brisini’s Sept. 30 letter (“McCain won’t get votes from workers”):

As a Vietnam veteran, I find Brisini’s remarks about Sen. John McCain way out of line.

McCain is a true American hero. He didn’t hide behind any deferment. He did what his country asked him to do – no questions asked.

My suggestion to Brisini is something I learned at home and in the military: Gather up your things and join Hanoi Jane on the list of ignorant, unpatriotic Americans.

Tony Santucci

Johnstown

        

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