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FREE PRESS STANDARD
Carrollton, Ohio
Thursday, November 21, 2013
OPINIONS & VIEWS
HeritageFoundation A Farm Bill in Name Only By Ed Feulner To paraphrase a famous Mark Twain quote, suppose you passed a farm bill. And suppose you passed a food stamp bill. But I repeat myself. Hard as it may be to believe, 80 percent of the farm bill being hammered out by the Senate and the House of Representatives is made up not of agriculture programs, but of food stamps. And if that sounds upside down to you, you clearly don’t live “inside the Beltway,” where Orwellian logic is the order of the day. Why are food stamps rolled into the legislation? They’re included “purely from a political perspective,” Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, said earlier this year. “It helps get the farm bill passed.” At least it used to. House members who had tired of this business-as-usual practice rebelled this year, and managed to pass a version of the farm bill that (unlike its Senate counterpart) took food stamps out. When The Washington Post editorialized about the House bill, it listed this among the legislation’s “good points,” adding: “[F]or the first time in many years, representatives passed agriculture-support programs separately from food stamps, ending the old log-rolling arrangement between urban and rural delegations that insulated both programs from scrutiny on the merits.” Unfortunately, this is Washington, where most politicians do their hardest work insulating programs from scrutiny on the merits. Most Americans, however, favor the House’s action. In a “Food Demand Survey” conducted by Oklahoma State University, people asked whether they supported or opposed the following statement: “Separate the food stamp program from the farm bill and debate its merit separately from farm supports and subsidies.” Support came in at 73 percent. Separation isn’t the only issue though. The entire purpose of separating food stamps from agriculture programs is to achieve real reform. While there’s a lively debate going on regarding food stamp reform, that’s not the case when it comes to other troubling provisions of the farm bill. As has been the case since FDR was president, agriculture policy is a government- run behemoth that would make a Soviet central planner blush. The most expensive single farm program subsidizes about 62 percent of the premiums that farms pay for crop insurance. Yet instead of finding ways to reduce the load on taxpayers, the House and Senate versions would expand this program. Or take the sugar program. Sugar prices have generally been double the world price for decades. It’s largely due to the government dictating how much sugar can be sold, and imposing quotas on imports — quotas designed solely to protect the market share of domestic producers. Every sugar-sweetened product costs more to make, adding to everyone’s grocery bills. Both the House and Senate versions of the farm bill keep the sugar program intact. Meanwhile, as I’ve detailed in previous columns, the bulk of agriculture subsidies go not to the small, struggling farmers that most Americans envision, but to huge “agri-businesses” with annual incomes well in excess of $1 million. Yes, the House and Senate are finally dropping the direct payments made for years to farmer of certain commodities, such as corn, cotton, wheat and rice — subsidies so indefensible, the American Farm Bureau Federation has called for their repeal. But they’re adding new programs that could prove even costlier, such as one that would force taxpayers to cover even minor losses suffered by farmers. “A farm bill should serve the interests of the American people,” writes Heritage Foundation farm-bill expert Daren Bakst. “This first starts with taking politics out of the bill.” That means considering food stamps separately and making other needed reforms. Raising another bumper crop of subsidies and bad policy is simply unacceptable. Ed Feulner is (www.heritage.org).
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Readers Write To the Editor: “Evil’s on the march and liberty is its intended victim in America.” That’s what I believe is happening in 21st century America and Edmund Burke, 1719-1797, stated, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,” in the 18th century. Many in the media talk politics – the science of government. They speak of methods, tactics and principles associated with government. Those are a part, albeit not always necessary, of government in order to come to political truth. They become a diversion from our real objective, good government. If political truth is something to be striven for, it stands to good reason there is a spiritual truth to be obtained and evil to be shunned also, as Edmund Burke recognized when he spoke of good and evil. Consequently, it follows there is an actual spiritual battle over these truths, unseen to mortal eyes, going on. This spiritual battle is for the life of our country as well as the individual. Contrary to the propaganda being disseminated in the political arena, America was founded on Biblical principles. These principles brought liberty. They could do nothing else as they are the very nature of God himself. Hence, the liberation of the mind, body and soul…and country. Let us not concern ourselves with our reputations, good or bad, let us do what is eternally right in the sight of God and the country will remain free. Liberty, so hard won and costly in its preservation, must not be surrendered. Gary Ervin New Philadelphia, OH
To the Editor: Everyone seems to believe they will have their water damaged by fracking the lower level of the geology area. These wells are over 5,000 feet deep and the water supply we drink from is no deeper than 350 feet. The wells being drilled for the wet and natural gas are cased in steel and cement and, unless someone makes a boo boo, we will never see the material from those deep wells. If you want to see contaminated water, go investigate the coal mines. Did you ever drink sulfur water or see the results? I came here from an area which has a mine in it. In fact, they used to use the sulfur to make Red Dog that surfaced the alleys and roads because it was available. If you want to talk to someone who knows these things, contact me. Ralph Lloyd Carrollton, OH
FPS Letter Policy The Free Press Standard welcomes letters to the editor from its readers on subjects of current interest. However, letters involving domestic or private disputes and claims against businesses will not be accepted, nor will private thank you letters or poetry. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, taste and libel and The Free Press Standard reserves the right to reject any or all letters. Letters should not be more than 500 words. Letters that are more than 500 words may be rejected or returned to the sender for editing. Readers are asked to limit their submissions to one per month. All letters must be signed with the author’s handwritten signature and names must be published in the paper. Author must include address and telephone numbers for verification. Deadline for letters is Monday at noon.
Looking Back 60 YEARS AGO (From 1953 FPS Files) Jeanette Rainsberger was named chief operator at the Carrollton Telephone Co. Exchange, succeeding Grace McLaughlin, who retired. The junior class at Malvern High School was presenting the play “Father Goes Domestic”. Under the direction of Helen George and Fred Mosier, the cast included Floyd Casper, Wilma Wetzel, Carol Divano, Sally Stires, Jim Linderman, Ruth Myers, Wilbur Jewell, Gregory Casper, Doris LeBeau, Jane Reed, Mickey Altomore and Tony Faccini. The Carrollton High School Junior class was presenting the comedy “It’s a Great Life”. Under the direction of Jean Zasio, the 11-member cast included Janice Hirst, Sally Croy, Roberta Sloan, Chuck Temple, Judy Tinlin, Sam Vasbinder, Dorothy Shepherd, Kenneth Neely, Jim Beckley, Susan Courtright, Elizabeth Brackin, Jerry Danley and Laverne McClave. The charter for Carrollton’s Cub Scout Pack No. 140 was presented at a meeting held at the local grade school building. Original members included Richard Coffy, Eric Fors, Joseph Kean, David Keen, David Toot, Douglas Tinlin, Robert Sheldon and Dale Merrick. The Cubmaster was Robert Reil. The Carrollton Warriors ended their 1953 football season with six wins and three losses. 50 YEARS AGO (From 1963 FPS Files) William Henry was declared the winner of the mayor’s race in Sherrodsville by virtue of five write-in votes received in the Nov. 5 election. The senior class at Carrollton High School was presenting the comedy “Publicity Mad.” Directed by William Foster and Student Director Bill Bailey, the cast included Kay White, Sandy Pyles, Karen Myers, Mary Jane Tranell, April Ford, Patty Maley, Judy Wallace, Cindy Blazer, Bonnie Rogers, Betty Staten, Darla Brothers, Ray Bixler, Mike Hinton, Pat Moody, Bill Anderson, Jim Long and John Toussant. James L. Kelley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kelley of Rt. 3, Carrollton, was appointed game protector in Columbiana County. Four members of Malvern High School’s high-scoring football team were chosen to the Tuscarawas Valley Conference All-Star team. They included C. L. Andrews, Tom Parker, Charles Hutchison and Jim Montella. 40 YEARS AGO (From 1973 FPS Files) Minerva’s oldest industry (54 years), the Minerva Wax Paper Co. planned to build another plant to continue marketing their products. Receiving trophies as Carroll
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County’s top corn producers in 1973 were Frank Coniglio, Michael Untch and Jim Noble. Over 60 village, county and area law enforcement officers completed a mandatory nineweek 40-hour training course on the new Ohio Criminal Code which went into effect Jan. 1, 1974. A satellite office of the Ohio Tuscarawas Valley Comprehensive Mental Health Services was established in the Croxton building at 43 E. Main St. where James Weyand was in charge of the office. Malvern High’s football coach, Matt Mottice, was named InterValley Conference Coach of the Year and five of the Hornets were named as conference all-stars. They included Doug Kocher, Mike Campbell, Obie Jenkins, Jim Rodgers and T. W. Ruff. Richard Finnicum and Mark Shotwell, both members of Carrollton’s Boy Scout Troop 141, received their Eagle Scout awards. 30 YEARS AGO (From 1983 FPS Files) Charles “Buddy” Maple was hired to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of William Church on Carrollton’s village street department. A Job Training Partnership office to serve Carroll County was opened in Carrollton under the management of former Carroll County Commissioner Dale Williamson. Winners in the pinewood derby held by Malvern’s Cub Scout Pack 155 were David Lancashire, Mike Wright, Denny Hoopes and Curt Gallo. Senior members of Carrollton High School’s 1983 football team honored at the grid banquet included Ray Ferron, Delane Huffman, Bill Simmons, Dave Roush, Dick Coffy, Ernie Porco, Doug Stack, Bryan Shaw, Jay Heilman, James Clay and Kurt Lumley. 20 YEARS AGO (From 1993 FPS Files) Thirty-seven Carroll County businesses or industries who made significant expansions or improvements within the past year were recognized at a noon luncheon meeting of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. The 75th anniversary of World War 1 was marked in Carrollton with a brief service at Westview Cemetery followed by the presentation of a Commemorative Medal to a 102-year-old Carroll County World War 1 veteran Otto Wilson. Shirley Campbell was elected president of the Carrollton Garden Club. Members of Carrollton High School’s boys cross country Northeastern Buckeye Conference runners-up were Levi Papai, Matt Lattin, Matt Ramey, Nick Berlyak, Geoff Starnes, Karl Moore, Jerry Shafer and Jake Watts.
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Legislator’s Addresses State Representative Andy Thompson (95th District) (Republican), Columbus office, 77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43235; Phone 614-644-8728; e-mail: Rep95@ohiohouse.gov. Ohio State Senator Lou Gentile (30th District) (Democrat, Columbus office, Senate Building, 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215, phone, 614-466-6508. U. S. Congressman Bill Johnson (Republican), Salem office, 192 E. State St., Salem, OH, 44460; phone 330-337-6951; fax, 330337-7125; Washington D.C. office, 1710 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC, 20515; phone, 202-225-5705; fax, 202-225-5907. U. S. Senator Rob Portman, Washington Office: B40D Dirkson Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20510; telephone, 202224-3353. U. S. Senator Sherrod Brown, 713 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D. C. 20510; telephone number, 202-224-2315; Email: brown.senate.gov/conact.
Tell us your news! COMMUNITY NEWS. News about happenings in area communities is welcome. We invite readers to call the FPS newsroom with ideas for stories and photos. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the office at 330-627-5591 with your ideas. ENGAGEMENTS/WEDDINGS. Please submit announcements on FPS forms. Forms may be obtained by calling the FPS office at 330627-5591 or by stopping by the office at 43 E. Main St., Carrollton. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like the photo returned. Wedding announcement less than six months old will be printed free of charge. Those over six months old will be charged a $20 fee. ANNIVERSARIES. Please submit anniversary information on FPS forms. Forms may be obtained by calling the office or stopping by. Photos will be used for anniversary announcements of 25 years or more in five year increments. RETIREMENTS. Stories on retirements are welcomed. Photos will be accepted for retirements after 30 or more years of service. Information can be submitted to the FPS, P.O. Box 37, Carrollton, Ohio 44615. CHECK PRESENTATIONS. Pictures will be taken by the FPS staff for check presentations of $300 or more. Call the newsroom to schedule an appointment. MILITARY NEWS. Please submit information about military graduations, assignments, promotions and decorations along with the names of local relatives. No pictures, please. GRADUATES/DEANS LIST. Please send names of college, university and technical school graduates and those receiving college-related honors to the FPS. Include names of local relatives. No photos for college graduates in news stories. REUNIONS. Send information about upcoming reunions at least two weeks in advance to the FPS office. Following the event, short stories about the events can be submitted for publication. However, the FPS reserves the right to edit the information for length. RELIGIOUS NEWS. News about community worship services should be submitted to the FPS office two weeks in advance. BUSINESS ANNIVERSARIES. Stories are welcome on business anniversaries. Pictures will be taken for business anniversaries of 25 years or more in five year increments. Call the FPS office for additional information.
The
FREE PRESSStandard (USPS 209-400)
Published by the Carrollton Publishing Co. Inc. P.O. Box 37, 43 E. Main St. Carrollton, OH 44615 MEMBER Publisher . . . . . . . . . .Maynard A. Buck, Jr. NNA National Newspaper Association & Ohio Newspaper Association
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