Former President Donald Trump is greeted Monday by Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., as he arrives at Atlantic Aviation CHS in North Charleston, S.C. Green said she would be a “hard no” on the vote to open debate, known as the Rule, because the package of bills continues to provide at least $300 million for the war in Ukraine.
GOP: Stand up for Ukraine
I am a lifelong Republican and retired Air Force intelligence officer writing to express my disappointment with GOP representatives who are against providing aid to Ukraine.
I am embarrassed by those in my party who have stood against aid to Ukraine. Andy Biggs, my representative, has come up with shallow answers. He diverts the issue to our own Southern border. As a 20-year member of the Air Force, I can assure you that America can do both. He creates a false dichotomy to avoid confrontation.
The way we act now determines how other authoritarian regimes will act in the future. If Russia is to prevail, China, North Korea and Iran will see that the world is not united and that acts of aggression will go unpunished.
This should not be a partisan issue. If the free world is unable to come together, the future will be filled with violence.
John Webster
Downtown
Ours or his?
Many Americans believe Donald Trump and the Republican cult represent a threat to our democracy. What do the rest of you believe ... that maybe our somewhat challenging democracy isn’t really that important if someone can just take care of us?
Is it really that difficult to be responsible for one’s own actions? Do we really want “somebody” to do our thinking for us ... for example, replacing our Constitution’s Rule of Law with the selfish motives and mental hang-ups as he sees fit?
Think of what we’ve built with that democracy ... maybe what’s more important than an “America First” hat are the opportunities we’ve provided for ourselves and our children through our free society as quarantined by those laws!
Look back in history at those individuals famous for making decisions for others ... frequently at the terrible expense of millions (is a name that comes to mind someone called “Hitler”?). Do you really think you should trade-in our system of individual choice for such prospects for you ... and your children!
Frank Parsons
Northeast side
Civility 1.0
We don’t interact with people face to face much anymore. Screens have replaced person-to-person interaction. I walk/exercise 3 miles a day along a road by my house with other people. I initiate saying good morning or howdy to everyone I see. People respond with a hello or a howdy 99% of the time. Everywhere I go in our town, when I look at someone, I greet them. Most of the time they greet me back and return my smile with their smile. It is easy to look at someone and say a simple howdy with a smile. It also takes no time at all. It’s low-tech and feels good to make a real human connection. The beauty of it is that when you get good at Civility 1.0, and have brief successful interactions with others, you will get an instant positive boost every time you do it. It’s an easy way to make ourselves and our town better. Try it, you’ll like it.
Richard Bechtold
West side
Give yourself five extra minutes
Re: the Sept. 26 Tucson.com article “New cars are supposed to be getting sager. So why are fatalities on the rise?”
One simple answer: Drivers are becoming more and more reckless. Everyone in such a hurry.
Excessive speeding, including in parking lots and residential streets, as well as on freeways. And — speed limits? I think many drivers don’t even understand the concept of a speed limit, let alone what the speed limit is.
Tailgating and lane-changing at high speeds and cutting in front of the car they are passing.
I suggest that every driver watch the old movies we watched in Drivers’ Ed classes years ago. They showed the gory results of accidents caused by impatient drivers. They interviewed victims of accidents who became maimed, paralyzed, experience daily intense pain, etc. Hopefully, that would make an impression on today’s drivers.
People — give yourself five extra minutes to get to your destination.
Karen McKee
West side
Media
Re: the Sept. 26 letter “Biden economics.”
To the letter writer,
If only it were all so simple. Like most Republicans these days, you give yourself away in your first line, “The liberal media.”
Maybe the media often comes across as being “liberal” because they are in the trenches with the people and see firsthand the stories behind the problems of racism, inequality, and injustice. Maybe journalism attracts mostly people who actually care about people and facts. Maybe they are more likely Jesus than the right who love flaunting their “Christian values.” And by the way, gas prices have more to do with Putin and Saudi Arabia than inflation, both of whom want Trump back in power. Our Putin wannabe.
I say, resist those who seek to defied.
Also, Fox News is also “the media.” However much fact less propaganda they promote.
Robert Walker
East side
President Biden speech
I thank our president, Joe Biden, for bringing the important issues to the American people. He talked about silence and what it can do to our democracy which is really our way of life. How can A president want to kill his military advisor … really after the general has given his and his family life for our protection. I am extremely saddened that our fellow Americans (just Americans, no political directions) can be silent with what is going on in the our country. I love my country and feel very saddened that my fellow Americans don’t feel the same way.
Mary Beth Schneider
East side
White-collar crime
It is time to crack down on today’s explosive rise in white-collar crime — of which Trumpism serves as America’s poster child. White collar crime costs billions. It harms millions. It corrodes institutions/culture/lives.
White collar crime includes computer hacking, password theft, Medicare/Medicaid fraud by care facilities, ransoming stolen personal and institutional information, fraud in the private prison industry, telephone scams targeting seniors, corporate accounting schemes, obstruction of justice, voter suppression, unethical lawyering, industrial pollution, tax fraud and money laundering, fraudulent investment schemes, intellectual property theft/piracy.
Some of this is being carried out by foreign criminals. Much of it by American citizens. It is the wave of the present, and future. A shoplifter quickly gets arrested, jailed, and even shot. White collar criminals, many times more harmful to the common good, skirt the justice system for months and even years. It is time to crack down.
Ron Rude
West side
Shutdown legislation
The pending threat of a government shutdown is becoming a reoccurring political stunt by both Republicans and Democrats. The catastrophic impact on military and federal workers demonstrates the disconnect between American well-being and legislative gamesmanship. A possible solution is to pass bipartisan legislation that would include freezing all legislators’ salaries as well as their support staff during a shutdown, along with a significant daily penalty like those placed on contractors for not completing work on time. Perhaps this consequence would prevent avoidable shutdowns and promote collaboration and problem-solving in our government.
Roger Shanley
East side
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The busy GOP
Re: the Sept. 26 letter “Biden economics.”
I respect those loyal to the GOP. I respect those loyal to the Dems. I have reservations as to those loyal to stats from QANON, such as $400 dollars more in expenses per family per month. A bump of $700 is more in line with monthly expenses. Been to Fry’s lately. The writer complains of high fuel expenses. I am sure the GOPers in the House are going to get to that. High prices for home buyers. I understand that after the GOPers are finished passing around Hunter Biden’s laptop they will work on that. I do however agree the border is wide open, however the Biden impeachment is holding up that legislation. As to crime … well … the GOPers want to defund the Justice Department. Really, how can anyone be loyal to the GOP.
Jon Langione
Marana
