The Founding Fathers foresaw a test like this
Fishkill, N.Y.: This upcoming election has been described as existential. Bruce Springsteen, whose opinions on Americana, patriotism and democracy have been well-established, recently called this election “the most consequential election of my lifetime.” He’s right!
Benjamin Franklin, as he exited what was the final meeting of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, was asked by a curious woman (Elizabeth Powel) what the men had created in there. He reportedly answered, “A republic, if you dare to keep it.” There have been two dangerous challenges to that “dare.” The first was the Civil War, which happened because seditionists, insurrectionists and traitors sought to destroy the young republic. Abraham Lincoln, Republicans and War Democrats passed that test. The republic was saved. Treason was defeated!
The second test is right now. This is not hyperbole! Not an exaggeration! Not a normal election. We have an autocrat — a convicted felon — and his bullying, seditionist gang, along with his enablers, on one side. The other side, the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz side, and all Democrats, is the one standing for democracy and the sanctity of the rule of law, and is patriotically supporting freedom around the world.
So if we do “dare to keep it,” we better vote in huge numbers. We might not get another chance, as Donald Trump has already told us that we “won’t have to vote again.” Hyperbole? I don’t think so, and neither would Franklin! Gerald Browne
All clear?
Edison, N.J.: I wrote an opinion letter about two years ago that was never printed in the Voice of the People. I had a strong feeling it wasn’t printed because I compared “The Orange Crime Wave” to a fascist. Can he now be classified as a fascist after his constant racist rants about immigrants that hold no truth? Thomas Morrison
Lame lineage
Brooklyn: Recently, on one of those radio shows, Old Orange Puss stated that migrants brought lots of bad genes into our country, which probably includes that desire to eat pets (but only in Ohio). It seems Grandpa Frederick Trump brought bad genes when he migrated to America in 1885. He came not for gold-paved streets, but to dodge compulsory military service back home. So, bad draft-dodging genes did pass down to Orange Puss, resulting in those imaginary bone spurs. Grandpa Fritz was also afflicted with bad genes, rendering him and future Trump generations unsuited to hard labor. Orange Puss and sons are definitely so afflicted. Lastly, Fritzy had sickly genes, and, considering Donnie’s numerous, mentally unhinged rants, he got a bigly overdose of those bad genes, too! Does this mean we can deport him along with the others? I pray every day! Kevin Hanley
Close to a cure
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: Nov. 5 is our last chance to finally rid ourselves and America of the cancer that is Donald Trump. Even before he came down the escalator, he was a horrible, lying human, and then he inflicted his infection upon the rest of the country. We finally have the chance to expunge him for good on Election Day and put America back on the road to decency and the common good. This is our opportunity to end this blight. Don’t mess it up, citizens. It really is our last chance. Bob English
Devolving discourse
Yonkers: I have been a regular reader of the Daily News for more than 50 years and an occasional contributor to the Voice of the People during the last decade. In times past, it was generally regarded as a middle-class publication with acceptable standards. However, all that has changed, as the paper is now frequently laced with scurrilous statements. It’s a sad reflection on the way the paper has abandoned its standards. Frank Brady
Electoral upset?
Holliswood: In your editorial “Dump the Electoral College” (Oct. 12), you write, “One remedy for the Electoral College is to amend the Constitution, which is very difficult, but in this instance, there’s a faster method: the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.” So, let me get this straight. In order to bypass the Constitution, you want the following possible scenario. Candidate A wins New York State’s popular vote by, say, 99% to 1%. Candidate B wins the national popular vote by, say, 51% to 49%. So, according to this compact, Candidate B will get all of New York’s electoral votes? That looks like disenfranchisement to me, and probably wouldn’t pass the constitutional muster you advocate bypassing. Gregory W. Chupa
Crushing co-ops
Manhattan: My family is one of 42 living in our Inwood middle-income co-op. We’re teachers, nurses, civil servants, retirees on fixed incomes and young parents stretching to cover day care. We want to comply with Local Law 97 to reduce our building emissions. But, like tens of thousands of middle-class co-op owners throughout NYC, we are struggling to cover the costs. Monthly charges have risen radically. One family has moved out already. The City Council must help us. Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez of the Bronx has led the way with Intro. 654, which would allow eligible co-op owners a generous tax abatement on their property tax for capital improvements like upgrading energy systems and weatherization. These projects don’t come cheap. There are 17 co-sponsors of the bill. Given the multitudes of eligible buildings, there should be lots more. Our Council Member Carmen de la Rosa hasn’t taken notice yet, even though she represents many co-op owners. Matthew Schneck
Song credit
Woodmere, L.I.: In the article “Mafioso guilty of extortion” (Oct. 12), it was mentioned that “Blinded by the Light” was a Bruce Springsteen song covered by Manfred Mann. I thought it was the other way around. Andrew Rubin
Mail memories
Maspeth: I’d like to double down with “Be Our Guest” author John Ficarra (“Remembering waiting for the U.S. mail,” op-ed, Oct. 12). As a boy in Brooklyn, I too was enamored with the U.S. mail, especially in the summer months. Our family home in Greenpoint got the Daily News every day, and Sunday was the jackpot, especially in those hot non-A/C NYC dog days. I’d write to Bill Gallo and Bruce Stark for autographs, along with a quick sketch of Basement Bertha or a “throwaway” unused cartoon from Stark. Chester Gould who drew “Dick Tracy” came through too! Wow! The Yanks, Mets, Jets, Rangers, Mad magazine artists (“Spy vs. Spy”) for autographs and a drawing, TV sports announcers, etc. And then the wait and eventual joy of the payoff! Nothin’ like getting mail as a kid! Thanks for the rekindled memories, John! J.C. Makowski
Coupon coup
Bay Shore, L.I.: Whatever happened to food store ads? Now all we get are inserts in newspapers for scanning QR codes! John T. O’Connell
Agreed on that point
Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: I appreciate Voicer T.S. Fallani’s response to my letter about compost bins. I’m sorry her experiences with them aren’t as good as others I’ve heard about. I’m grateful that Fallani agrees about the cruelty of glue traps. They’re sadistic. It’s a shame they’re legal in the U.S. The intense and prolonged suffering they cause should be enough to make them history. In addition, they can make issues worse by spreading pathogens from blood, urine and feces of tortured animals and increasing the population of rodents, who often breed faster when a rodent is killed in an area with available food. It’s refreshing to see that a growing number of stores, countries and entities are banning glue traps. James Scotto
Revealed roots
Kew Gardens: Ironically, now that Christopher Columbus’ reputation is being denigrated for his barbarity toward indigenous peoples, along with demands that his statues be removed, Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE aired a documentary on Oct. 12 entitled “Columbus DNA: His True Origin.” It purports that Columbus was born in Valencia, Spain, and was Jewish. During the Spanish Inquisition, Muslims and Jews were threatened with expulsion if they did not convert to Catholicism, though many were jailed or executed. The documentarians believe that Columbus either concealed his Jewish identity or converted to Catholicism to escape religious persecution. Something else to think about when you celebrate Columbus Day. Glenn Hayes
