TO THE EDITOR:
The flood of negative press concerning the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) suggests that a total and complete house cleaning is warranted. Retired teachers across Ohio are totally outraged that the teachers' pension fund has lost billions of dollars during the past two years. What is even more distressing is the arrogance and irresponsible attitude of the executive director and the STRS board in charge of the pension fund.
We retirees have lost all confidence in STRS because of the way our money has been invested and allocated for years. STRS has awarded large bonuses and pay increases for executives and employees while losing more money in investments than any other public retirement system in Ohio. Ohio retirees will feel the brunt of these actions!
Who is looking out for retired educators? Certainly not the current STRS board, Ohio Education Association, Ohio Retirement Study Council, Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery, Superintendent Susan Zelman, Attorney General Jim Petro, nor the Ohio Retired Teacher's Association (ORTA).
Sondra Stratton, Sardinia
---
State needs to foster schools, too
The state tax credits of $131 million for Convergys came the same year as $16 million cut state funding to the Cincinnati Public Schools. Endangering the supply of qualified workers in Cincinnati may force Convergys in the near future to recruit workers educated outside the city.
It is unlikely that the unqualified job seekers of Cincinnati would go to the cities from which Convergys would recruit. Consequently, there may be a call for more welfare in Cincinnati.
The win-win strategy would be to foster qualified workers as well as good jobs in Cincinnati.
Robert Wendt, Westwood
---
Bush should have focused on Zimbabwe
The legacy of President Bush's trip to Africa may be more dependent on what he didn't say than what he did. President Bush should be lauded for highlighting the plight of Africa's HIV/AIDS victims and extending U.S. trade assistance to African states struggling to develop viable export industries. But the president fell short in bringing political pressure to bear on some of the continent's festering low-level conflicts, an omission that may sabotage the administration's Africa policy in the long run.
Since President Bush entered office more than two years ago, Zimbabwe has suffered catastrophic economic collapse, widespread human rights violations, and flagrant election fraud under President Robert Mugabe's despotic regime. Teetering on the brink of starvation and massive civil unrest, Zimbabwe should be one of the top priorities for an administration seeking to quell African trouble spots, particularly in the face of terrorist threat. But the crisis in Zimbabwe received little more than lip service in President Bush's press conference with South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Coupled with the president's reluctance to commit U.S. peacekeeping forces to Liberia, it is doubtful that reduced trade barriers and humanitarian assistance alone will help Africa in the absence of constructive political will.
Aaron Bernay, Oxford
---
Show homeless citizens a little more heart
Recent news announced the intent to force homeless campers under overpasses to relocate. It's sad that some Cincinnatians care more about our image than our heart.
While this national problem is growing, and humanitarian and religious organizations extend help, it's time for this city of two stadiums to pay more attention to its little people. Giving our homeless a whopping three-day notice to relocate is heartless. Sending in social workers to help find shelter for the displaced effective immediately is laughable.
Why can't Cincinnati show these already downtrodden people the careful patience they've shown the corporations who've made far greater demands?
Judy Naugle, Evendale
---
Jerry Springer is a sincere individual
I am the first vice chairman of the Defiance County Democratic Party, and I worked with Jerry Springer's people to bring him to the Democratic Spring Dinner in Hicksville. He did not ask to come; we invited him.
My impression of Jerry Springer is the same as when he came to Defiance in 1982 to campaign for Dick Celeste - Jerry is very smart, very competent, very caring and very willing to listen to anyone's opinion. My wife and I picked Jerry up and drove him to Hicksville. On the way, he expressed a desire to stop for a picture with the Hicksville sign. This picture was taken to show his solidarity with small town people and their needs, no matter what some right-wing commentator might say.
Joe Hallet did not contact Democratic Chairman Victor Vogel or anyone else in the party to get our views on the sign picture. Hallet did however talk to the Republican chairman. I know Jerry values our opinions. When he arrived at the dinner to a standing ovation from the capacity crowd he did not just shake hands, he made an effort to talk and listen to anyone who wanted to meet him.
Charles R. Gray, Defiance
---
How can we ever take Jerry seriously?
While Laura Pulfer wants to throw a chair ("TV informercial Jerry Springer's latest 'silly show,'" July 13), I almost gag every time I read or hear about Jerry Springer's ambition to run for public office.
Over the past 30 years, the situation for families has changed dramatically. Our morals have declined. Illegitimate birth rates have increased. The percentage of families headed by a single parent has more than tripled. The divorce rate has more than doubled. Teenage suicide has increased. Scholastic Aptitude Test scores among all students have dropped. The No. 1 health problem for American women today is domestic violence. One-fourth of all adolescents contract a sexually transmitted disease before they graduate from high school. Don't some of these subjects sound like program titles for Springer's silly show?
I don't think these topics are silly, and we (including Jerry) should take these serious. These are no laughing matter. A serious candidate for office will need to address these issues with dignity and resolve.
Come on, Springer, how can we ever take you seriously? Perhaps you should contact the Flynt brothers. Maybe you could use their Hustler Store for your campaign headquarters.
Elaine Klingelhoffer, West Harrison, Ind.
---
Less 'Bull' being pulled from river
My wife and I stand in awe as we ponder the monumental efforts of River Sweep volunteers who have pulled (according to Dan Klepal's recent Enquirer article) a total of 70,000,000 tons of trash from the beautiful Ohio River over the past 15 years.
That total would be the same as removing, each and every year, the equivalent weight of one large (15,000 pounds) Asian Bull Elephant from every 26 feet of the 3,000-mile shore line. Each mile of river converts to two miles of shoreline and to 414 Bull Elephants gathered to greet those brave volunteers. What a sight!
By contrast, last year's efforts of removing only 11,000 tons of trash would be the equivalent of removing only one large Asian Bull Elephant from every 10,790 feet of shore line. That's only one, on average, of these large animals for every mile of river. Yet, when you do the math, it still amounts to a total of 11,000 tons for the river's full 3,000-mile long shoreline.
So, we've come a long way baby. Not nearly as many (some would say 400 times fewer) large Asian Bull Elephants are coming to the river.
Robert E. McGee, Pleasant Ridge
---
We must demand integrity from Bush
Was the CIA a prearranged fall guy for Bush? Shoring up the chief is part of their function. They admit to a mistake (some call it a lie), and George moves on by forgiving them. They in turn can grab more power so they can avoid future errors.
Bush is now calling anyone who doesn't fall for this charade a revisionist. His aides have a host of other invectives to hurl at those who are not so easily bullied. It is up to us to demand integrity, or we will continue to get what we deserve.
Maurice Peck, Madeira
---
Inside toilet altered use of front porch
In his piece on July 12, Michael Walsh blames the demise of the front porch on the advent of TV, air conditioning and the automobile. Actually, it was the turn-of-the century invention of the inside toilet that began the American migration from the front porch to the rear. No pun intended.
Prior to its invention the average backyard was not a pleasant place to while away the hours, largely due to the attendant aromas of the family outhouse. For a while, it became a status symbol for a family to congregate on the back porch, which announced to the neighborhood that they were the proud owners of Thomas Crapper's (actual name) wonderful new invention.
Fred Leeds, Lebanon
---
Building basketball stadium is unwise
Trustees of Southern State Community College (total enrollment of about 1,600) propose to build a 2,500-seat basketball arena in Hillsboro. The college's basketball team has yet to attract more than 200 fans to any single game, but the college's position is that this arena is being built for future students. However, a more immediate goal apparently is to attract high school basketball tournaments to Hillsboro.
In the face of rising tuition, increased student fees, limited education spending, and public teacher and staff layoffs throughout the state, the plan to build an unnecessary basketball arena in one county of a five-county community college district is a wasteful expenditure of higher education dollars. Please contact Gov. Bob Taft and your state representatives to let them know Ohio taxpayers are opposed to risky, needless spending.
Robert Headley, Springfield
---
On same-sex unions Jacoby is misinformed
In Jeff Jacoby's syndicated column ("Toppling long-held values," July 10), he fears that he may be labeled a bigot or reactionary. His real concern should be that he would be perceived as one incapable of straight thought. To compare the permission of same-sex marriage to a failed welfare program and himself to Daniel Patrick Moynihan supersedes ridiculous.
In response to his claim that same-sex marriage would topple long-held values, he should be reminded of other long-held values such as the attitude that women couldn't be trusted with the vote and that separate-but-equal and poll taxes were the desired status. The divorce rate reached 50 percent under the laws he prefers. And, yes, a few of those divorces were by gay men and women who tried the preferred marriage arrangement of mixed sexes because of the stigma of homosexuality.
The pain this effort caused to their partners and sometimes, children, led them to finally admit that sexual orientation is not alterable. This does not mean these people haven't lived up to their responsibilities as parents (as I have).
If society sanctioned same-sex marriage, the pain of these breakups would be avoided. Increasingly, the younger generation is wondering why people like Jacoby insist that same-sex relationships must be stigmatized when many same-sex couples live for many years in stable relationships in spite of the societal pressures and legal denials.
David C. Herriman, Covington
---
Downtown needs to be more vibrant
It is hard to believe Cincinnati has to pay so many companies to stay in town. Good thing I don't have to pay my friends. Maybe they don't want to stay downtown the same reason people don't come downtown. Besides, the city shuts down after 5 p.m. except for a few diehard restaurants and clubs.
You would think a city could learn from its mistakes
James D. Focke, Covington
