DNC must renounce DSA
A few years ago, one of American leftists’ favorite accusations to hurl at political opponents was “Nazi.” Now, three years after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a new generation of activists has embraced a brand of antisemitism that would make Joseph Goebbels proud.
Campus takeovers. Threats against synagogues. Blood libel. Harassing Jewish politicians. A resurgence of hateful tropes.
Antisemitism is on the rise. It’s trending on social media. Young people are joining forces to embrace it. Its popularity is backing Democratic politicians into a corner. Jewish leaders are sounding the alarm.
Much of this is fueled by the Democratic Socialists of America. Though the group once advocated for a two-state
solution, it now refers to Hamas as "the resistance," brands the American Israel Public Affairs Committee as “monsters,” and opposes the existence of Israel entirely. The DSA has recruited candidates, flooded races with donations, and defeated Democratic incumbents in primary elections.
Every electoral victory brings the DSA one step closer to dominating the Democratic Party. If the DNC wants to regain the appearance of relevance, it must renounce the DSA before it’s too late.
Corban Qualls, Columbus
Details are hidden for a reason
It is clear signing NDAs is in direct conflict with a transparent government. Any official that signs one should be removed from office.
There is no way you're doing something honest under the table. You have double-crossed the people you swore to protect and should be fired. That's how we got some 300 data centers before we even knew they were coming.
Then we find out the sweet deal they got with tax exemptions, gas, water and electric discounts.
And for what, so they have the computing power to process all the data from the cameras and microphones spying on us without warrants. I don't think this is what "we the people" want.
Denis Poirier, Columbus
Acton owes Ohioans a debate
I'm disappointed that gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton refuses to debate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Ohioans have the right to see the candidates present their positions, challenge each other and demonstrate communication skills under common rules on the most compelling issues facing the state.
Had there been a debate, here's one very simple yes-or-no question that should have been asked: Did Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election?
I emailed Sen. Husted and asked that question. Crickets.
Duane Cable, Columbus
I want a senator who pushes back
I spent 24 years in the Air Force. I live a conservative life. I save, I provide for my family and I'm always working to do better.
I expect the same from elected officials, and that's why I'm voting for Sherrod Brown for Senate.
I know what it is to lose people from your unit overseas, so these questions are not abstract to me. Congress should press hard on any war: what it costs, what the goal is and how it ends. A Senate that rubber-stamps whatever the White House wants isn't doing its job, no matter who's president. I want a senator who pushes back when it matters.
I'm also tired of paying more at the pump and the grocery store while Washington offers more of the same. And I'm sick of the ads targeting transgender Ohioans. Our families have real problems, like prices, wages and health care, and attacking a small group of our neighbors solves none of them.
Ohio deserves a senator who works for Ohioans. Sherrod Brown has a record of doing that.
Michael Smith, Canal Winchester
Retired teachers don't deserve this
What does the future hold for current and recently retired Ohio teachers?
My wife and I have been retired for 25 years after teaching in Ohio public schools for 35 years.
Our two children followed in our footsteps and became teachers. Our son recently retired after 37 years of teaching, and our daughter plans to retire this year. After spending a career preparing students for a successful future, a teacher’s retirement years after leaving the classroom are not very promising.
Retiring teachers must plan on living out their retirement years on about 70% of their earnings in the final years of classroom teaching.
Unlike retirees on Social Security, teachers cannot count on any cost-of-living increases in that original retirement benefit. I am very concerned about what the future holds for my son and daughter, as well as the current and recently retired public school teachers in Ohio.
Contributing and retired teachers elected seven of the 11 STRS board members. It was our hope that they would do what they promised to do when they ran for the board.
Instead, they hired an executive director who refused to advocate for teachers in regard to the “late-night” political action of our lawmakers to shift control of the retirement system to political appointees and away from teachers.
In addition, they have made little effort to reduce STRS expenses. STRS features some of the highest public pension executive salaries in the United States. In 2024 alone, according to Ohio’s official Checkbook transparency portal, the system paid out staggering salaries, with four employees receiving more than $600,000 and 85 employees receiving more than $200,000.
The average STRS employee earns from $90,765 to $117,610 annually. The average benefit for an Ohio retired teacher is about $55,000, with many making significantly less than that.
The time has come for our elected teacher representatives to honor their campaign promises. They need to remember that they were elected on their promises the first time, but the next time they must run on their record of what they have done for Ohio’s retired teachers.
Gary Rusk, Lewis Center
Republicans can't stop making up stories
On Oct. 3, Pres. Trump told a gym full of people, "Pretend I'm on the ballot."
Remember what JD Vance said about making up stories? Well, President Trump loves making up stories (his rally speech was full of the same old stories about immigrants and new stories about giving every voter $5,000 if the GOP wins).
Well, if the GOP does nothing else (it certainly doesn't for voters), it does follow the leader, including making up stories. It turns out it's not just PACs supporting Mr. Ramaswamy that put out attack ads that are totally made up (the woman who lied about her mother dying in Ohio), but the Senate Leadership Fund put out an anti-Brown ad that's also totally made up. This one accuses Mr. Brown of "forcing child sex change surgery."
It's a stupid, obvious lie, like all the lies the GOP seems to think people will believe. In this case, the person in the ad was from Texas and was 19 years old when undergoing surgery (so not a minor).
How is this OK? If the GOP candidates make up stories about everything, why should we voters believe anything they say? Some people say, "well, politicians on both sides lie." No, they don't, or at least not like this. Politicians exaggerate and omit information, but I've only seen one party (and aligned PACs) approve ads with obvious lies and who tell voters to "cheat like hell."
Dennis Drew, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Democrats must shut down Democratic Socialists before party is erased | Letters
