Letters: Tim Ryan pandering to 'MAGA crowd, throwing Democrats under bus

Ryan throwing Democratic Party under the bus

I have some disappointing news for U.S. Senate candidate Tim Ryan (D-Ohio): not every person with a college degree is making six figures.

For a man who claims to be fighting for the working class, it appears he's completely out of touch.

Perhaps if he spent less time trying to throw the Democratic Party under the bus and pandering to the MAGA crowd for November votes, he'd see that there are a lot of blue-collar workers who aren't just working in factories.

More:Letters: Mike DeWine 'inhumane' as people go hungry. What is Tim Ryan thinking?

My daughter is a teacher in western Colorado. Her school district is one of the poorest in the state.

She took a new position this year that finally put her over $50,000 annual salary for the first time in her career. She is also a single mother. Just because she doesn't work on a factory floor, in a warehouse or in a coal mine doesn't make her any less deserving of consideration for financial relief.

Perhaps Tim Ryan should ask her about how hard she works and how she worked while going to college.

I understand that Tim Ryan is fighting for more jobs for people without college educations, but he shouldn't shotgun-blast those who worked just as hard to improve their places in life, even if they're not all making a six-figure salary.

Michael A. Thompson, Grove City

Bring dark money groups into sunlight

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. We need more in our political process. For too long, wealthy special interests and big-money donors have been able to use political loopholes to hide their spending on lobbying and elections.

Despite anonymous donors' huge influence on elections, the public doesn't know who they are, where the money comes from, or how much they're spending.

More:Opinion: Voter suppression allegation, special interest outrage undermine Ohio elections

That’s why big majorities support requiring super PACs and dark money groups to make their donors public; making nearly all political contributions fully transparent; providing more transparency into lobbyist fundraising; prohibiting candidates from benefiting from unlimited secret corporate money to aid their campaigns; and requiring organizations engaged in political activity to disclose their large donors.

More:Ohio Democrats and Republicans seek more transparency for dark money politics

The DISCLOSE Act (Senate Bill 443) would stop anonymous spending in our elections by requiring groups trying to influence our elections to disclose their major political donors. It would also increase transparency on political advertisements by requiring disclosure of major donors who underwrite advertisements supporting or attacking judicial nominees. These reforms are way overdue.

We need some sunlight to disinfect our dark-money contaminated political process.

Susan Gallagher, Akron

There is reason to hope

Former President Trump’s lies about the 2020 election, combined with Ohio Republicans’ gerrymandering of our state’s legislative and congressional districts in defiance of the Ohio Supreme Court, leave me disheartened about the future of America’s democratic institutions.

I find a bit of hope, however, in the closely contested Democratic primary for the Ohio House of Representatives 3rd District, which includes portions of Clintonville, Linden and Northland.

More:Primary results: Columbus picks a Somali American while Delaware ousts an incumbent

The race attracted five candidates. From their websites, all appeared to be in their 20s or 30s. They brought energy, commitment and community experience to their campaigns. Most overcame barriers to earn college degrees. They were involved in progressive politics, civic groups and labor organizing.

I was particularly impressed with Mayo Makinde’s leadership in an area commission and civic association, Kelly Harrop’s experience as a legislative aide and work for organized labor, and Ismail Mohamed’s story as a refugee who earned a law degree and works actively in the Somali community.

More:Refugee passes bar, to try politics

The overall voter turnout in Franklin County for the Aug. 2 primary was a dismal 7%. The competition in the 3rd district, however, may have boosted turnout here with nearly 6,000 votes cast.

On election night, Mohamed held a slight lead over Harrop. The Board of Elections took a couple of weeks to count absentee and provisional ballots and determine Mohamed won with 2,108 votes to Harrop’s 2,031.

I commend all five candidates for their community involvement and commitment to the democratic process at a time when our institutions of self-government are under attack from lies, fake issues and voter suppression.

I believe Mohamed’s refugee experience gives him fresh insight into American life and an appreciation of our democracy. For the four candidates who did not win, I fervently hope they will continue their involvement in civic life. We need them.

 Stephen A. Sterrett, Columbus

More:How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch

Putin at war with the Free World

Russia continues to decimate Ukraine, commit war crimes, and threaten and mock the United States and its allies with impunity. We watch the carnage but our “not-provoke” policy is interpreted by Vladimir Putin as cowardice masquerading as “careful prudence.”

Sanctions will not stop the aggression. Russia rattles its nuclear sabre, yet we do nothing to give them pause as a reminder that we also have such weapons and are willing to use them if provoked. Such a lack of a clear and direct response breeds contempt and only emboldens such aggression. It is sickening to think how much destruction could have been deterred if we acted promptly.

This is a war of attrition. To whom will we send money and aid when the Ukrainian army is depleted? Throwing billions of dollars in military aid and restricting their use within Ukraine are half-measures.

More:Ukraine battling Russia with one hand tied behind backs. US must send more weapons |Opinion

Our advanced weapons of deterrence are moot if we do not equitably threaten to use them if forced to deter aggression. Instead of putting out fires, we need to stop the arsonist. We must recognize that Russia is waging a war against not only Ukraine, but also the United States and the Free World.

More:Life still uncertain for Ukrainians who resettled in Columbus area after Russian invasion

If the United States is a “superpower” and leader of the free world, then we should start acting like one by directly confronting Putin. A new world order is emerging, and our current and future adversaries are taking notes. This is not a movie or a distant skirmish of little importance, but a true test of our position in the world.

David Guza, Powell

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Will Tim Ryan's student loan stance attract Trump supporters