Preaching qualifications while scrapping them
Olivebridge, N.Y.: President Trump gave a compliment to the FAA’s hiring and selection process, although it was certainly not intended. There were 16.8 million flights in the U.S. in 2024 and all of them landed without a loss of life. Quite an impressive record and an endorsement of DEI hiring practices. The numbers don’t lie, unlike some people.
This first airline tragedy during Trump’s presidency happened after the head of the FAA resigned under pressure from DOGE’s Elon Musk and after a hiring freeze implemented through one of Trump’s executive orders. At the same time, Trump encouraged federal employees to leave, offering buyouts — not a very motivational message to competent people in high-pressure, no-margin-for-error jobs like air traffic control.
DEI takes ongoing criticism from Trump and his acolytes, who assert that people should be hired based on competence. I would agree. There are competent people from all races, nationalities and genders. There was a time in the United States when groups were excluded, regardless of their competence. Women, Jews, the Irish, people from China… the list goes on. They weren’t even considered. They were excluded, not included (hence the “I” in DEI). When you include people — all people — you have a larger pool of competent candidates. Simple math. Unless, of course, you are one of those people who believe that only white males can be competent.
The hypocrisy and irony here is that Trump and his acolytes are eliminating DEI from hiring and substituting BOTT (Blind Obedience To Trump) as the hiring criteria. I’m not sure how competence fits into that hiring algorithm. Warren Davis
Election results
Jersey City: As our felon-in-chief continues to plumb depths that his disastrous first term didn’t approach, preferring to appoint fellow criminals and incompetents rather than those best qualified, diverse people with real common sense are surely noticing the early results: Two fatal plane crashes in a week and prices soaring in anticipation of his trade-war tariffs. Can a returned pandemic be far behind? Stock up on those masks! John Esche
Tariffs 101
Union, N.J.: Simple economics simply put: 1) Trump puts on tariffs. 2) Exporters raise prices to pay tariffs. 3) To avoid any drop in their profit margin, importers (Trump and his billionaire cronies) raise prices on you, the consumer. 4) You pay through the nose or do without. Simple! Trump lied and doesn’t care one bit about you! Enjoy your powdered eggs! Lou Alt
Bust or bust
Whitestone: GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has introduced a bill proposing to carve Trump into Mount Rushmore. A criminal convicted of multiple felonies and found liable for sexual assault. A man who tried to overthrow the U.S. government. Disgusting. But if this disgraceful nightmare ever comes to fruition, I propose a full torso of Trump with his hands folded in front of him, where everyone can clearly see the handcuffs. Trump’s assault on democracy and the rule of law has begun, and the Republican Party is complicit. Cryptocurrency is undoubtedly a godsend for criminals involved in illicit activities like cybercrime, money laundering and terrorism financing. Trump has embraced it. He granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the dark web site known as Silk Road, which the FBI called “the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet.” Don’t be surprised if he’s soon part of Trump‘s cabinet. Robert LaRosa Sr.
Document update
Yonkers: I think Trump and his posse should rewrite the Constitution for today’s right wing. First order of business: Rename it the Donstitution! John Flood
At others’ expense
Brooklyn: Voicer Robert Rundbaken talks about Trump like he’s the bad guy and he just invites talk show hosts to badmouth him. Jimmy Kimmel once brought on Toronto Mayor Bob Ford and completely humiliated him. Kimmel does not humiliate people because they deserve it. He does so because he’s a degenerate human being. These are the kinds of lowlifes Rundbaken sticks up for? Talk about tarnishing Brooklyn. David Balsam
One not like the others
Manhattan: To Voicer Paul Bacon: I read your letter with interest and was confounded by the fact that you did not list either Martin Luther King Jr. or Thurgood Marshall as prime examples of African-Americans who contributed to the civil rights movement. Instead, you listed Clarence Thomas, who illustrates the corrupt practices of a man who has reached a high position in our government. Also, you neglected to chastise Trump for ordering the cutback of celebratory events for Black History Month. Let’s get the truth out for the proper parties. Jack Weiss
Preferred victims?
Melville, L.I.: Trump famously said he could shoot somebody on Fifth Ave. and not lose any support. Since he brought it up, I wonder if he shot somebody because they were a Jew, a Muslim, a transgender person, a gay or a Democrat, would his supporters still stand with him? Your answer could define the future of America. Dennis Joyce
Buyers’ remorse
Carle Place, L.I.: Just wondering how many Tesla owners who skew liberal are regretting their purchase. And how many prospective buyers are looking elsewhere due to Elon Musk’s political machinations? Rudy Rosenberg
Uninvited guests
Bronx: To Voicer John Cirolia: I bet you would feel differently if some uninvited immigrants showed up in your backyard or moved into your home and expected you to feed, house and provide medical care for them. And God forbid they have a baby in your backyard and the child becomes your new forced dependent. Cut the B.S.! Unlawful immigration is not the solution to these peoples’ problems, and it puts a strain on the U.S. economy. Daniel Correa
Unresisted immigration
Lackawaxen, Pa.: Voicer Bob Sterner can reasonably blame the Catholic Church for what went on south of the border and in the Spanish territories of the present U.S., but Catholics constituted only about 1% of the colonial population in 1776. The North American natives suffered more from suicide than genocide: When they had the numerical advantage, they should have killed all the “white eyes” as they disembarked their ships. If no vessels made it back to Europe, that might have delayed at least the full invasion. Of course, the Voicer may regard Pope Alexander’s papal B.S. in 1493 as setting the tone of European rules of “discovery” of territory that had already been discovered. Maybe MAGA will entail a return to pre-Columbian times! John A. MacKinnon
Who started it?
Brooklyn: To Voicer Robert Adams: Who started the war on Oct. 7? Who seized women and children as hostages, including a 9-month-old baby? Who is therefore responsible for the death and destruction in Gaza? It’s high time that you stop ignoring the answer to this question. Wendy Jackson
Shared values
Mount Vernon, N.Y.: Does anyone see the similarities between America’s westward manifest destiny ploy and the killings of indigenous peoples and Israel’s West Bank attacks on Palestinians? Both wanted to expand and cared not how they did it, murdering all who were in the way. Edwin Garcia
Inaccessible
Manhattan: My senior EasyPay card is expiring. I have tried unsuccessfully to get a replacement. I need the OMNY half-fare card that is replacing my senior card. Speaking to an MTA representative offers no help. Waiting on a very long line at the fare card bus in my neighborhood does not work. The slow-moving two-hour line never reaches an agent at the front and the fare card bus leaves that stop after two hours. What should we do? I am a senior who recently had major surgery. I was told by an MTA agent on the phone to go to Stone St. I am unable to take the subway. Please help seniors with limited mobility. How do we get the replacement OMNY card with our limited mobility? Who will help us? We can’t afford to constantly take cabs when our MetroCard expires at the end of the month. Anita Forgash
Losing proposition
Brooklyn: Voicer Pat Clark wrote, “Let’s hope somebody more honest and competent runs for mayor this year.” Somebody more honest and competent always runs for mayor. And they always lose. Robert Perlberg
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