Your cover story "I'm Hungry" (issue of Aug. 10-16) was the awful truth about the creative class of color here in Cincinnati. Yes, I left Cincinnati many years ago to much creative success in New York City, but then I come back after 9/11 to no job and suddenly I have no skills.
Many years of New York City design experience, and I can't fine a job in Cincinnati. What's up with that?
I've worked at the top advertising agencies and Internet and publishing companies and still can't get hired here by any creative shops. They need to be more open-minded and not solely one color either.
I knew leaving NYC was the death of me, moving back here, so I've decided to move elsewhere. See you later!
— Name Withheld
Mad Policy
Recently the U.S. Department of Agriculture acknowledged more than 1,000 violations of Mad Cow disease regulations by U.S. meat plants since January 2004.
The disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a degeneration of brain tissue leading to erratic behavior and death.
It's transmitted through feeding of infected brain and spinal tissues to other cows.
Human consumption of infected beef leads to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a deadly dementia frequently confused with Alzheimer's disease that affects millions.
Federal safety measures, including the 1997 ban on feeding potentially infected cow body parts to other cows, have lacked adequate enforcement. Through its reluctance to institute an adequate testing program for diseased cattle the USDA has failed to assess the true magnitude of the threat.
The latest disclosure further undermines consumer confidence in the safety of our nation's meat supply. It provides one more reason to replace beef in our diet with a veggie burger or one of the other meat alternatives in the frozen food section of our neighborhood supermarket.
— Ted Martindale, Walnut Hills
New Energy Bill Does Nothing
The U.S. Congress recently had an opportunity to take a significant step toward establishing American energy independence. They could have passed legislation based on the Apollo Alliance's 10-step plan to create 3 million new American jobs, more than $1 trillion in new economic activity and freedom from reliance on Persian Gulf oil.
Instead of doing what's best for everyone in this country, the Republican-dominated House and Senate passed yet another giveaway to corporate special interests and guaranteed the status quo.
Although White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan claims this bill will "reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy and help address the root causes that have led to high energy prices," the reality is exactly the opposite.
Even the conservative Heritage Foundation said that "we'll be dependent on the global market for more than half our oil for as long as we're using oil, and the energy bill isn't going to change that." And anyone who thinks the energy bill will lower gas prices is sadly mistaken.
President Bush's own Energy Secretary Sam Bodman says that Americans should not expect a quick decline in gasoline prices.
What an abject failure of leadership this represents. Gas prices will continue to rise. Nothing will be done to stem the demand for oil.
Americans will continue to die in Iraq. Our environment will continue to be degraded. And all so that the wealthy oil corporations can continue lining their pockets.
How tragic that it seems this is the best that the Republican-dominated Congress has to offer.
— Lena Sweeten, Ludlow