Letters: J.D. Vance can't stop parroting the anti-law-and-order party’s propaganda

J.D. Vance parrots anti-law-and-order party’s propaganda

Sen. James "J.D." Vance wrote, "The former president will be indicted for 'mishandling' his own government's classified info."  No, he was indicted for "felony violations of our national security laws" and "conspiracy to obstruct justice" per special counsel Jack Smith.

Vance added, "Everyone agrees the president has the authority to declassify anything."

Declassification is not at issue in the felony violations.

And the disgraced, doubly impeached, criminal defendant of 34 felony charges of falsifying business records, defamer, sexual assaulter, authoritarian, and criminal defendant of 37 national-security/obstruction felony charges is not the president.

Vance continued: "This is a moral and constitutional joke."

No, it's rule of law, what presidents enforce, what troops die for, what senators pledge to uphold:  grand jury of peers finding probable cause; innocence until proven guilty; due process in trial; jury finding guilt beyond reasonable doubt; judge imposing sentence.

Vance parrots his anti-law-and-order party’s propaganda, which projects what they themselves would do: use DOJ to jail opponents. His party desires to abuse power by attacking opponents extra-judicially.

Vance again: "Merrick Garland has disgraced this country."

Vance projects his own disgrace here with his denigration of our rule of law and lack of allegiance to his oath.  This is no joke - Vance’s denigration of the rule of law disqualifies him for public service.

Sarah Maxwell, Archbold

Lawmakers beware of the 60 percent

Issue 1 was created by the Ohio Legislature for the purpose of protecting the citizens of Ohio from potential amendments that would not be in our best interest by making passage more difficult.

Our view: 'Power-hungry hypocrites' trying to con Ohio. Issue 1 about dominance, deceit

If passed the way it is structured it will give to 40% of the voters the ability to prevent the passage of any future amendment regardless of its quality.

I wonder what the legislators would think about a peoples-initiated amendment that would require them to receive 60% of the vote in their home districts in the general election.

If Issue 1 passes I guess that is something they will never have to fear.

James Johnson Sr., Westerville

Reject the propaganda

The 60% requirement protects Ohio citizens against the agenda of demagogues. Issue 1 preserves the voice of the people in their own government, protects the vote of Ohio citizens and the integrity of our families.

More: How Ohio Issue 1 could make it harder to put amendments on the ballot

Reject the propaganda. Vote YES on Issue 1 on or before Aug. 8.

Carol Costanzo, Athens

They want to rule over, not represent us

In America, we value our freedoms.

But a powerful few have always tried rigging the rules — claiming the wealth our work creates, while the MAGA Republicans they’ve paid for aid, abet, and actively sustain Trump’s criminal conspiracy, and try to take away Social Security, Medicare, and our freedom to thrive.

And the MAGA Justices on the Supreme Court who took away our freedom to decide what happens to our bodies will decide this June on everything from allowing politicians to overturn the will of the people, taking away our freedom to vote, dying working people right to strike for a fair return on their work, creating new barriers for students of color to access higher education and allowing corporations to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

They want to rule over, not represent us. But we have seen that when we join together across races, places, and parties, the many can stand up to the money. Together, we can take on this faction and make this a place where we can earn a good living and have a good life.

Beverly Masek, Strongsville

Minnesota proves people don't have to wait for democracy

Most of us understand that the right to vote is fundamental to our rights and freedoms. Unfortunately, that right has been under attack across our country, including in Ohio.

But Ohioans can draw some hope from what was accomplished last month in Minnesota. The North Star State’s governor, Tim Walz, signed the Democracy for the People Act into law.

That was a huge win for voting rights and campaign finance reform.

It also provides a model that states like Ohio can follow, including:

• Allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote

• Establishing automatic voter registration at many state agencies

• Creating permanent absentee voting status

• Strengthening penalties for voter intimidation and deception

• Expanding language access in voting materials

This victory wasn’t easy. It came as the result of months of mobilization by voting rights activists.

While Americans wait for Congress to act to protect voting rights nationwide, Minnesota took the initiative for its own citizens to address some of the biggest threats to free and fair elections.

If enough Ohioans get involved, the same could be possible here.

Suellen Roberts, Fairlawn

Broader perspective on religion and faith

I look forward on Sundays to reading Chris Highland.

It is so refreshing to read an interesting and enlightened religious based scholar who does not proselytize or push his narrow agenda as so many religion writers do.

Thank you for offering this much broader perspective on religion and faith.

Diane Donato, Columbus

Let us start with plastics

We all worry about what will happen to our children and grandchildren as they face and have to deal with the increasingly harmful effects of climate change: floods, fires, droughts, violent storms, oceans clogged with trash and rising in temperature and much more.

Will they be horrified by the results of our lack of attention? Will they be grateful that we have tried to take measures ourselves to reduce pollution?

Let us start with plastics. Are we using cloth or paper shopping bags, cardboard egg cartons, larger glass bottles where we can? What about businesses? Are grocery stores banning plastic bags and getting rid of refrigerants that pour methane into our atmosphere?

Where are our legislators resisting the pressure of fossil fuel companies to pump more pollutants into our air and our children's lungs? How are they addressing problems now to reduce production of oil-based plastic, dangerous in its production and its disposal?

We can do more, as individuals, as businesses, and as representatives.  Let us set a healthier track for our children, our oceans and our world.

Jill Grubb, Gambier

Most Americans agree that medication prices should be fair for both producers and consumers.

So, the big strides that were made in the last year – placing a cap on monthly insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries and forcing major manufacturers to dramatically lower prices of commonly used insulins were something to celebrate.

More: Diabetes treatment can be incredibly costly. But the biggest cost is (surprisingly) not insulin

But there’s still much more to be done:

• Big pharma has raised the price of insulin by as much as 1,100% since the 1990s — despite low production costs.

• As research from Public Citizen has shown, 1.3 million Americans with diabetes have been forced to ration their insulin due to high prices.

• And for those without insurance, this immoral — and possibly fatal — situation is even worse, with nearly 1 out 3 uninsured people with diabetes being forced to ration their insulin because of big pharma’s price gouging.

Fortunately, legislation to further protect us from big pharma’s greed is moving in the U.S. Senate.

More: 3 major insulin makers have now slashed the price of the life-saving drug. Here's why.

Please tell your senators that future drug-pricing legislation must ensure access to insulin for everyone regardless of insurance status and include controls on big pharma’s price gouging and anti-competitive tactics regarding insulin.

Charlotte Onderick, Stow

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: J.D. Vance acting like a parrot. Reject the Issue 1 propaganda