Our leaders can build us up or tear it all down
Belfast, Maine: Let us not make momentous decisions based on anger. Doing so has started many wars that hurt all involved, forever. Government has always been corrupted by money and the power that goes with it. Politicians rotate through the system, but Big Money is always there.
We Americans must shoulder some responsibility for allowing it to tighten its grip on our country. We gain strength by taking responsibility, not by blaming and complaining. Every once in awhile, someone comes along who captures that anger, using it to their advantage. We have an individual who makes clear that if elected, he will destroy his enemies and rip everything apart. While our anger at the dysfunction of government might tempt us to destroy our government, as opposed to scraping out the evil of money, we might want to look at dictatorships around the world to see how very hard it is to come back to democracy once it has fallen.
It’s only by citizen action at the ground level that we can keep what works and eliminate what doesn’t. Three things hurting our country right now are the lack of civility towards our neighbors, the degree to which money controls everything, and the climate catastrophe that threatens our children’s future, right in front of our eyes.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, who will give “we, the people” the greatest chance to act from the ground up — to take responsibility for the changes we want? Not to destroy, but to build? Chris Wright
Dictator dreams
East Meadow, L.I.: According to former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, President Donald Trump said, “I need the kind of generals that Hitler had.” The only reason someone would need the kind of generals Hitler had is if that someone was planning to do the same things Hitler did. The choice is clear. Elect Kamala Harris president. Otherwise, a felonious, dementia-riddled dictator Trump would terminate our constitutionally protected rights and worse. Richard Skibins
Already started
Bronx: I hope Americans are listening and heeding what those generals who worked closely with Donald Trump when he was president are saying. The dire warnings are out there. Plus, Trump has made it clear that he intends to lock up his “enemies” and use the U.S. Army to do so if necessary. If this man becomes president, America will never be America again. He has already changed America. We saw the storming of the Capitol, where hundreds of police officers were pummeled with all types of objects. Trump calls Jan. 6 “a day of love.” There has always been a peaceful transfer of power in America. Now, poll workers have to be afraid and armed guards are needed at polling stations. This is what Trump and his allies have wrought. We will be ruled by a tinhorn dictator from whom no one can escape. Pauline Graham Binder
Loser mindset
College Point: Trump has called John McCain and American World War I soldiers killed or taken prisoner losers. He surely considers Jesus a loser, as Jesus was crucified, and himself a loser based on his many court losses and bankruptcies. He is the ultimate incoherent mental loser, regardless of the forthcoming election results. He can make the country a loser — let’s hope he doesn’t get a chance! Reginald Swift
Scary sight
Queens Village: For those of you who have gotten your Halloween pumpkins but can’t find the time or energy for the face-carving, why not just get pictures of the great orange man, Donald Trump, and put them over your pumpkins? Now, I ask you: What could be more frightening? Lawrence Krasner
Decisive decider
Howard Beach: Don’t be fooled! Do you want to vote for someone who was not elected to run for president? Who needs other men to speak for her in a debate? Who had almost four years to stop migrants from entering the U.S. illegally? Who is listening to other men telling her what she should do to run this country? If she is elected, can you picture her telling foreign leaders what to do to resolve the wars that are leading to World War III? We have homeless New Yorkers walking the street but the migrants receive money, health benefits and living quarters, even though many are arrested for breaking the law. Trump is many things, I agree, but he doesn’t need other men to speak for him. When Trump speaks, others will listen. And if he says stop the wars, the wars stop! Nick Di Pasquale
Contradictory
Montebello, N.Y.: I have never seen such breathtaking hypocrisy. In “Hostile meddling” (editorial, Sept. 6), you call out Russia and Iran for meddling in our presidential election, but in “I spy in Albany” (editorial, Sept. 6), you condemn any investigation into meddling by their ally China because it was conducted by the Trump administration. And this is how our enemies will ultimately triumph: through the hypocrisy of their victims. Wallington M. Simpson Jr.
Mix-up
Peekskill, N.Y.: There was quite the mistake in Wednesday’s guest column by Ken Frydman (“Trump’s McDonald’s visit puts Harris in hot oil,” op-ed, Oct. 23). He wrote that in 2004, Democratic candidate for president John Kerry lost that election by 2.5% to the incumbent President George Herbert Walker Bush! Wrong! Kerry lost that election to GHWB’s son, George W. Bush, who was the incumbent. The elder Bush won the presidency in 1988 and lost in ’92 to Bill Clinton, of course. Get history correct, please! Steven J. Bevacqua
Silenced victims
Brooklyn: To Voicer James Baldwin: You say that many people have been in threatening situations by homeless people in the subway, yet all of them apparently were able to extricate themselves without killing anyone. The reason we haven’t heard from those who were unable to extricate themselves from danger without killing someone is that they are dead — six in 2020, eight in 2021, 10 in 2022, five in 2023 and three so far this year. Steve Miller
Incomplete makeover
Bayside: Sam Champion, you’re wearing one of my husband’s ties I sent you. You forgot the socks! Theresa Polese
Still good
Carmel, N.Y.: Some good news for these difficult economic times: Billions of dollars in gift cards go unused in the United States! But by law, expired gift cards can be replaced within nine years of expiration dates! Notify the card issuer company and they will provide replacement cards. Susan McCormack
On your own
Freeport, L.I.: Voicer Trudy Mansfield identified a myopic oversight of medical plans. Preventative shingles shots are typically not covered by Medicare nor private plans, even though the virus can sideline victims for months and force them into extended care facilities for life. Yet, plans often cover its treatment with powerful narcotics. Virtually every adult has some likelihood of succumbing to this secondary manifestation of chickenpox, an extremely common childhood disease. After watching my mother die an excruciating death from its ravages, I considered the $250 shot a bargain. Bob Sterner
Plan your plan
Sanford, Fla.: Voicer Trudy Mansfield complains that since she does not have a Part D Medicare drug plan, her preventative vaccines are not covered. Unfortunately, if you don’t sign up and pay the premiums for a Part D plan, you are not entitled to those benefits. If you choose to go with a cheaper alternative, you get what you pay for. Perhaps the DEA option is not the best. It may cost nothing now, but you end up paying for additional services later on. It’s a pretty simple choice and not a problem with the system in any way. Bruce McMenemy
Inadequate overview
Brooklyn: Voicer Pete McKenna asks a very smart and intelligent question regarding the monthly jobs data. The government and news media never tell the entire truth. Are the jobs full-time or part-time? Are they minimum wage or good-paying? Are they contractual or permanent? Are they union or non-union? Are they jobs with benefits? Most importantly, the list of states that actually lose jobs is never given. You’re right, Pete. Someone is lying and not telling the whole truth. The monthly reporting of jobs is just propaganda. Joseph Savino
