To the editor: Ashamed that Yvonne Harper represents Toledo

10/11/2018
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    Toledo City Councilman Yvonne Harper

    The Blade
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  • So, Toledo City Councilman Yvonne Harper refers to her home state of Ohio as “Dumbf___istan” because the majority of its voters in the 2016 presidential election cast their votes for (in her opinion) the wrong candidate (”Toledo councilman explains post of maps,” Oct. 9). Her justification for doing so was that she was “frustrated” by the outcome of the Judge Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. Well, I am “frustrated” too. I am ashamed that she represents my hometown.

    KATHY SACO

    South Toledo

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    Don’t shortchange veterans’ benefits

    I read with great interest The Blade’s Oct. 5 editorial regarding the dilemma of veterans earning retirement and having that amount reduced by disability benefits, (”Disabled vets shortchanged”). This is certainly a discredit to their service to our country and needs to be further addressed.

    I wonder if the average reader is aware a similar situation exists regarding those retiring from public service. Qualifying for STRS, SERS. PERS, etc., if the retiree worked a second job, and many do, the benefits of Social Security are reduced. This occurs in Ohio and perhaps other states as well. It would seem Social Security benefits should be calculated for all recipients based on earnings. This too, needs to be further addressed.

    HELYN CARR MOCKENSTURM

    Maumee

     

    Update doctors’ oath with premium

    It seems more and more doctors are going to the concierge-type of program where you must pay a yearly cash premium to see them. We recently lost our doctor of 31 years to this practice. I worked 48 years and am now in my 21st year of retirement. My wife has always been a homemaker. We spend thousands of dollars a year for Medicare and Blue Cross coverage and we cannot afford more thousands a year for the privilege of seeing our primary care doctor.

    I think something in the Hippocratic Oath says a doctor “will treat the sick to the best of one’s ability.” I think they should add an addendum to the oath that says, but only if the patient pays an annual cash premium.

    RON SZYMANSKI

    West Toledo