Taylor Swift's political influence proof of America's decline | Letters

If you question why our country is declining, a recent Newsweek poll should answer your question definitively. The poll found that 18% of voters say that they're "more likely" or "significantly more likely" to vote for a candidate endorsed by pop star Taylor Swift. Does the phrase "the dumbing down of American" ring a bell with you?

Rob Burke, West Chester Township

Ohio Republicans digging their own graves with voters

Bam, bam, bam! Hey, Ohio GOP, did you hear that? If you don't know what that sound is, it's another nail in your coffin.

The Ohio Supreme Court voting along party lines to not tell us how much it cost us to pay for Gov. Mike DeWine's Super Bowl security? Bam! Ohio GOP trying to bankrupt the state by repealing the income tax? Bam! Oh, and let's not forget gerrymandering and the biggest political scandal (Householder, et al) in Ohio history. Bam! Bam!

Maybe you should stop digging your own grave and try moving to the reasonable middle where most of us are. Stop stirring fear and anger and remember we're all Americans and we're all in this together.David Woodburn, Pleasant Ridge

Putting a person to death show no respect for life

Since Alabama used nitrogen gas to end a life after 22 minutes of suffering, some want Ohio to adopt this method. No! The death penalty is opposed by the majority of Ohioans and a bipartisan majority of Ohio legislators. Putting a person to death shows no respect for life, is more expensive than life in prison without parole and does not undo the wrong committed. All of us are better than the worst thing we have ever done. Senator Matt Hoffman, bring this legislation to the floor for a vote.

Sister Carren Herring, Kennedy Heights

Democrats complain about election interference too

In his recent letter to the editor, Mr. Ken Norbus asks, "When was the last time the issues of voter fraud or election interference were raise by a defeated Democratic candidate for elective office?" The answer: Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Stacy Abrams in Georgia in 2018. Enough said.

Clyde Stauffer, Finneytown

Violence back then no less alarming than today

In his thoughtful Jan. 25 letter to the editor, "To end violence a question must be answered," Mr. McKnight decried the amount of gun violence there was in neighborhoods and schools prior to the 1960s compared to what exists today. I say "thoughtful" because he ends his letter by saying, "that was my experience." He revealed that he started first grade in 1944. I believe him. That was probably his experience. I disagree with his further statements regarding an apparent increase in gun violence.An article in The Tampa Tribune ("FBI Says U.S. Crime on Increase," April, 24, 1958) describing crime in the U.S., stated there was a major crime every 11.3 seconds during the preceding year. As has been said by others, we have these "echo chambers" today that deliver news (often poorly in terms of explanation in my opinion) almost as soon as it happens. During my short investigation of newspaper articles back in the day, I also uncovered a number of school shootings. Usually the terms "shotgun," "pistol," or "rifle" were used to describe the violence rather than "AK-47." Not only has our communication changed, but the ability of those so angered to commit "mass" violence has also changed, making the reports seem even more alarming. I say "seem" because I am sure the family members and friends of those killed back in the day were just as alarmed as their counterparts are today.

Dan Shatzer, Forest Park

Republicans can't have it both ways on securing the border

Help me understand. Donald Trump says to the Republicans in congress, "Do not pass the bipartisan bill in Congress to control problems on the border." At the same time, some Republican governors sign a petition for civil war because the border problem is not yet solved. You can’t have it both ways.

Is it just a childish game on who can make things not work in order to win an election? Makes you wonder about things such as winning at any cost, and what is the real cost to our democracy.

Susan Kemp, Fairfield

Stop trying to regulate every aspect of people's lives

Are you kidding me? Legislators, who, of course, always have our best interests in mind, are about to outlaw menthol cigarettes? The cigarettes that I have been smoking for 55 years? (I am 70 years of age.) My last lung screening of less than three weeks ago turned out "no problems." Come on, you guys. I'm sick of you trying to regulate every aspect of life (that is probably none of your business)! Get busy trying to connect the various viewpoints in our seriously divided country.

Deb Quilligan, Oxford

Reason for Democrats' change of heart on border is obvious

Among the latest Democrats to call for the president to secure the southern border is Senator Jon Tester of Montana. Tester finds himself in a tough battle for reelection and knows that his "open borders" stance is hurting his campaign, so he's pretending he's always been a proponent of controlling illegal immigrants. Expect other hypocrites to surface in the coming months, but the real question is, how many Americans will recognize the sudden change of heart for what it is?

Keith Evans, Edgewood, Ky.

Fed up with Ohio Legislature's hypocrisy

Republicans in the Ohio Legislature have overridden the veto of Gov. Mike DeWine twice recently. The vote against transgender medical care for minors was "necessary to protect Ohio children." The vote against allowing Ohio cities to ban flavored tobacco was done in the name of protecting small business (i.e., vaping shops), regardless of the established fact that teen vaping is a real and serious medical problem (and the current age restriction of 21 and older is not working). In the first case, Republicans claim they are all about kids; in the second, not so much. It seems pleasing Big Tobacco is more important. It is hypocrisy like this, regardless of which side of the political isle it comes from, that has so many of us fed up.

Stephen McClanahan, Loveland

Rapid rail should be a top priority for Cincinnati

The $1.6 billion dollar trust fund will surely generate enough income to complete the rail transit project abandoned a century ago. At that time, the cost of completion was estimated at $10 million to $12 million, which is about $150 million today.

Rail transit is essential to a great city. It has long proven the best way to move large numbers of people in places like Washington, Atlanta, San Francisco and many others. Not least of its advantages is its lack of diesel exhaust generated by buses. By 1927, tunnels had been built from what is now Central Parkway to Brighton Corner. The Depression and lack of will to accept new taxes led to the project’s abandonment.

Now we have the opportunity to correct that mistake without taxes. The cost of completion will be realized in a couple of years of investment income. Rapid rail should be a top priority for Cincinnati in the 21st century. Now we need only real vision to get it done.

William B. Singer, West End

Gaza could have become a paradise on the Mediterranean

In his Jan. 24 letter, Robert Park called on "The Zionists" to embrace a single secular state. He asserts that "multinational states with coexisting religions and cultures peacefully exist all over the world." Where in the Middle East? Isn’t that really the point?

Mr. Park has the best intentions, but not much knowledge of the region or the history of the conflict.  Unfortunately, many do not have good intentions, but harbor an unceasing hatred of Israel, and a completely distorted understanding of the country.

Brief history lesson: The United Nations voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states in 1947. When Israel declared its statehood in 1948, five Arab countries attacked. This war led to the displacement of the Palestinians. The Jews who lived in the region were also displaced. The need for a country that could take in Jews in danger anywhere in the world has not ended.

When Israel left Gaza in 2005, Gaza could have become a paradise on the Mediterranean. But its real dream was to destroy Israel, no matter the cost to its own people.

David Dukart, Montgomery

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Taylor Swift's political influence proof of America's decline