With a friend like this, who needs any enemies?
Fishkill, N.Y.: In a matter of a few days, Donald Trump again proved his abysmal ignorance of world affairs. Using his unfiltered mouth, he managed to insult the governments, not to mention citizens, of three friendly nations: Panama, Denmark and Canada.
The treaty with Panama, now nearly a half-century old, has no rational reason for being challenged. The toll increases there, like the price of eggs, are influenced by supply-and-demand concerns — in this case, the scarcity of water due to persistent drought! Less water for transit means fewer available trips, thus more costly ones. It is not “anti- Americanism.” Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a NATO ally, and is in no danger from anyone. Vladimir Putin, Trump’s “genius” friend, would not dare mess with Denmark, especially with NATO’s two newest members, Finland and Sweden (thank you, President Biden) looking on nearby.
So, Trump thinks Canada should be our 51st state! Read up on your history to find out why Canada did not become our 14th state at the time of our revolution! As a NATO ally, Canada sent 40,000 military personnel to assist in our War on Terror. In fact, the first four Canadians killed in Afghanistan were killed by us in a friendly-fire incident. Later, 150 more were killed, with 1,000 wounded, and billions spent, all to assist us. We could not ask for a better friend! Canada’s reward from Trump is insulting language and tariff threats.
Trump resides in an upside-down world where he admires our autocratic enemies and makes enemies of our democratic friends. Watch out world, here we come — blustering, blundering and bullying on! Gerald Browne
NATO’s necessity
Londonderry, N.H.: Trump casually and unintentionally threatened the security of the world, including the U.S., when he talked about NATO countries not meeting the guideline of contributing 2% of GDP for defense. On Feb. 12, a leader of a NATO country said to Trump, “Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?” Trump said: “You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent? No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay.” Although this remark is probably a negotiating ploy by Trump, it might encourage Russia to continue the war in Ukraine, and if it defeats Ukraine, to continue and attack NATO countries. We should continue to provide military equipment and supplies to Ukraine. Trump should stick with his sound policies, which are essentially quite good, and refrain from making provocative statements about international matters. Donald Moskowitz
Walking it back
San Francisco: P.T. Barnum famously said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” The last election proved this. Regarding grocery prices, many believed Trump when he said, “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down.” Now, before taking office, it seems he has already given up on this promise, saying, “It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up.” The two main issues of the last election were high prices and immigration. It seems as though he’s trying to cushion Americans to the idea that grocery prices will not be coming down. This is an obvious bait-and-switch that many Americans fell for. And now, all indications point to a rise in inflation if he carries out his other campaign promises of deporting all undocumented people and slapping tariffs on everyone. You suckas got played. Jimmy Layton
More raises?
Queens Village: During the last four years of the Biden administration, I got not one but two increases in my Social Security check, with a third coming next week. I wonder what Trump is going to do in the next four years, because if he can’t continue with the cost-of-living increases, he is not better than anyone else. Joan Silaco
Shell of her former self
Manhattan: Apparently, 81-year-old Kay Granger, still considered a Republican congresswoman “in good standing,” has been moved to a nursing home for those suffering dementia. It happened in July. Naturally, the GOP has chosen to keep this devastating news a secret, not only from her constituents in Texas but from the world at large. The burning question now appears to be: How long until Trump appoints her to a cabinet position? Anne Stockton
Says you?
Utica, N.Y.: I just finished reading the funniest letter in the Voice of the People from, of all people, Voicer Bob Pascarella, the Trump-lover and spewer of many venomous letters to The News dumping on others who support Democrats. He singled out Voicers Susan Cassano and T.S. Fallani and had the nerve to call them hypocrites. Funny, funny, Mr. Pascarella. It’s like the pot calling the kettle black. What you expressed in your letter is exactly what you are. Francisco Matos
This is it
White Plains, N.Y.: My wife, Randi Bernstein Feigenbaum, is a frequent contributor to Voice of the People. She often encourages me to write a letter, even if it is just one sentence. Today I am taking her advice. Please stop using Ricky Cruz’s TV Crossword. Jay Feigenbaum
Relatively small potatoes
Brooklyn: After reading Joshua Davidson’s puff piece (“Showing the menorah without fear,” op-ed, Dec. 29), I’ve decided that my New Year’s resolution is to buy a keffiyeh to show my support for Davidson’s enemies. The rabbi is so bummed out that Zionists have to go through the horrible inconvenience of being yelled at by pro-Palestinian protesters. Gee, life is tough. My advice to him is to consider what Gazans have to go through on a daily basis. Their struggles are so much more than mere inconvenience. And many of the mommies and daddies of pro-Israel students contribute big bucks to perpetuate the misery of the Gazan people. Then mummy and daddy can’t understand why Arabs would be upset. Davidson needs to re-read the commandment “Thou shalt not steal.” That might set him straight. Nick Smith
Any news?
Manhattan: What ever happened to Mayor Adams’ lady friend with her unaccounted-for and extremely expensive job at the Department of Education? Marilyn Levin
Already adjudicated
Cincinnati: A recent letter regarding the convicted murderer of two already mortally wounded FBI agents claimed, “A Freedom of Information Act released in 1980 showed that the FBI’s own ballistics test proved [Leonard] Peltier was innocent of the killings of two FBI agents that he was convicted of.” This is factually not true and has been part of the Peltier folklore for decades. This issue went through the courts, including a ballistics hearing in 1984, and the final decision from the Eighth Federal Circuit included, “When all is said and done, however, a few simple but very important facts remain. The casing introduced into evidence had in fact been fired from the Wichita AR-15 [Peltier’s weapon]; this point was not disputed; although the defense had its own ballistics expert, it offered no contrary evidence.” Peltier is rightfully serving consecutive life sentences. Ed Woods
Misallocated aid
Huntington, L.I.: Voicer Frederick R. Bedell Jr. bemoans the lack of action by local and state politicians to help the mentally ill. The problem is that politicians are indifferent to the plight of the severely mentally ill. City and state politicians would rather throw money at those who are poor due to their own actions rather than help the truly needy. They spend enormous sums on the so-called poor. The welfare state consumes so many resources that nothing is left for the mentally ill. The myriad welfare programs need to be cut deeply. Many lead to dependency and greater poverty. Tom Saracco
Uncommitted crimes
Manhattan: To Voicer Jack Weiss: While I fully understand the danger that Jordan Neely posed, you can’t kill (or convict) someone on what they might do in the future. I am fully convinced that Daniel Penny didn’t need to kill Neely. He already had him in a stranglehold. The police could have been called. Penny is a Marine veteran; he knew exactly what he was doing and when he should have stopped doing it. There was no way Neely was going to get away from Penny before police arrived. I think Penny should have been sentenced. Not being a judge, I don’t know what the sentence should have been, but it should have at least been harsh. He murdered Neely. Marcia Epstein
