DEAR EDITOR:
We are losing freedoms it seems like almost daily. The newest one is here in Ohio. Issue 2 is presented by the backers as a fairness issue to woo voters to vote for it. I see it for what it is, trickery.
Issue 2 is about redistricting for voting which happens the year after the nationwide census is done.
We find out where every one moved to and see what changes have happened. Due to the last Census, we here in Ohio lost two Congressional seats so, the districts have to be redrawn to accommodate the loss.
Currently, the Redistricting Board is made up of one Democrat and one Republican from both houses of the State Legislature. This is four out of the seven seats. The other three seats constitutes the governor, secretary of state and the auditor of the State of Ohio. These are all elected officials we vote on. Three of these positions are statewide races and the other four positions are elected from their district and then pick by their peers from their perspective legislative body. The whole point? They are elected and we pick them.
Those who started Issue 2 talk about we need to make it a more fair by making a board to equal this out. The problem with this plan is the committee will be appointed positions — and — appointed by who? We will not be appointing these people with a vote, so why would we give up this right we have now of voting for the members of the board?
Francis German,
Wapakoneta

There have been times when I thought there might be something wrong with me. I didn’t aspire to be more than I was. I was happy with my life and the things in it. Everyone else around me seemed to be going a 100 miles an hour, always reaching for the next best thing. I feared I was a slacker. Was I not motivated enough? Didn’t I have the drive to reach for more?

I love my job, my husband, my family and my dog. I like living in Delphos. There was a time I couldn’t wait to get out of here. We all know how that turned out. You don’t know what you have until it changes and there’s no place like home — wherever that may be.

DEAR EDITOR:
I am writing this letter in response to a recent letter about our county’s debt. It suggested that Putnam County would not be in debt if elected officials had the taxpayers’ interest in mind. I want to inform the writer and all citizens in Putnam County that our county is no longer in debt. The jail bond’s final payment was due in 2021. It has been refinanced to be paid off in 2016 with all the necessary payments transferred out of the general fund and into a special fund that can only be used for jail payments. Since the money is set aside, I consider the jail paid in full. The landfill closure debt bonds scheduled to be paid off in 2031 was also paid in full.
Paying these debts early required a sacrifice by all of us in the county. All the elected officials took a 15 percent budget cut which was very difficult, but they buckled down and worked harder with less money. I personally thank all of them for our county being out of debt. The cooperation was commendable.
The commissioners also had to raise the sales tax 25 cents on every $100 spent on taxable items for the purpose or paying the long term county debt. This was a good investment since it saved around $1,500,000 in future interest payments for our county. In 2013, it may be possible to lower the sales tax. It actually is too early to responsibly promise a reduction in taxes since the state is reducing local government funds, sending more mandates to the counties and future health care cost is an unknown at this time. That possibility will be evaluated in 2013.
Another little fact I haven’t noticed in any of the letters to the editor is that Putnam County’s 2012 budget is less than in the year 2005. I credit all elected Putnam County officials for these achievements.
Vincent T. Schroeder
Putnam County Commissioner

DEAR EDITOR:
When it comes to these “Protect Religious Freedom” signs in the front yards of so many people, my sign definitely serves for more purpose than just the rights of women. Christians are being persecuted all over the world. We should not be surprised by this, the Bible tells us it’s going to happen. That doesn’t mean we, as Christians, should be doormats.

I read something on Facebook Friday that really struck a chord with me. Some of you may already know what I’m talking about: The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino.

Christine and her friend were sitting in a diner eating when her longtime friend asked her what it was like to be sick. What was it like — how did it feel — to have lupus.

After some thought, Christine gathered up all the spoons from their and nearby tables and gave them to her friend. She said, “These are your spoons. This is all you have.”