Opinion

The defeat of Issue 1 is, simply put, a profound repudiation of the Ohio GOP.

It is time to address one of the most pressing challenges affecting our state’s success — childcare access and affordability. A thriving economy requires a skilled and dedicated workforce, and to achieve this, we must address the barriers that working parents face in accessing affordable, quality childcare options.

Less than 100 years ago, everyone could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky. Now, millions of children across the globe will never experience the Milky Way where they live. The negatives of excessive night lighting include blinding glare (excessive brightness that blinds you and hurts your eyes), skyglow (brightening of the night sky as light scatter reflects from clouds and haze), and “light trespass” (bright light shining where it is not intended or needed). Is this the price of progress?

The worst lie is the one that is disingenuous because it assumes that the recipient is too stupid to understand they are being played for a fool. In her letter of 7/22/23 (‘Time to protect Ohio Constitution’), Ms. Janine Baker accuses Democrats of being disingenuous in citing the abortion amendment in November as one of the primary reasons Issue 1 has been advanced by Republican extremists. She refers to that contention as the “epitome of deceit.”

The nighttime environment is a precious natural resource for all life on Earth, which exists in a rhythm of light and dark provided by the sun, moon and stars, quietly guiding all living things since life began. Now, artificial lights overpower the darkness and our cities glow at night, disrupting the natural day-night pattern and shifting the delicate balance of our environment. The glow of excessive outdoor lighting has hidden the stars and changed our perception of the night.

Have you ever thought about how wonderful it is that you can see the stars in the night sky over Adams County? It’s easy for us to take this miracle for granted, but visitors from cities and suburbs notice it right away. It’s one of the ways we’re compensated for the inconvenience of living so far from the centers of art and commerce.

American tax dollars should support American jobs and American producers. That’s why Buy America rules are so important.

I recently saw a quote, “The consent of the governed means nothing if it is won by deceit.”

It does not appear, based on some of the recent letters to the editor, that a lot of people understand the importance of our state constitution.

Early voting has begun leading up to the Aug. 8 election on Issue 1. Before voters go to the polls, I feel it is important to discuss all the disinformation being put forth by the Democratic Party.