Letters to the Editor | Dec. 13, 2024

The president possesses the authority to shoot down any unidentified aircraft. Allowing these unidentified drones to fly freely above our country — this time over New Jersey — places the American people at great risk. According to an article published by the U.S. Department of Defense, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) delivery systems often receive less attention than the weapons themselves. Technology in this area has evolved to the point that effective WMD delivery systems are not limited to just ballistic missiles and aircraft. Much smaller, more accurate, and less expensive unmanned systems are being developed every day.

One of the most potentially important new categories of delivery systems is unmanned air vehicles such as drones. Whether or not these drones being flown over our country are now carrying WMD, they may be identifying targets of interest and acting as decoys for the carnage that may come next. Drones that follow may carry weapons. I urge the president to delay no further and shoot them down now.

Matt Drozd, retired, lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air Force, Pittsburgh, mdrozd@verizon.net

Many people are profoundly disturbed at the positive reaction on social media to Luigi Mangione’s alleged killing of a health-care executive over a perceived injustice. How can this be in America, we ask? But we need to remember that we elected a man who candidly espouses similar actions. In his 2007 book, Think Big and Kick Ass: In Business and in Life, Donald Trump devotes a chapter titled “Revenge” to people he perceives as having wronged him. “My motto is: always get even. When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades,” Trump recommends. And further, “it’s an eye for an eye,” “go for the jugular.”

In Trump, we have the political vigilante-in-chief. He has called Barack Obama a traitor, made “lock her up” his crowd response against Hillary Clinton, sicced the specter of execution on Gen. Mark Milley, pictured Liz Cheney in front of a firing squad, and tarred everyone prosecuting cases against him, from Jack Smith on down, with the threat of severe retribution. His choice of the likes of Matt Gaetz and Kash Patel signals a serious second-term “revenge tour.” Hats and flags are already available on Amazon.

Edward J. Gallagher, Bethlehem

Quiet patriots who accept law and order as a way of life in America live in Altoona, Pa. These patriots demonstrated the pragmatism that has made America great. With civic-minded attention to national activities in the news, they calmly called law enforcement to investigate a person they observed who fit the description of someone wanted for murder. The Altoona police responded with professional commitment to efficiently approach, question, and apprehend the suspect and obtain evidence to hold them for extradition to the proper jurisdiction. This is the way justice in America is designed to work: civic-minded adults being aware of their surroundings and reporting problems to public servants for resolution.

On the other hand, blathering on about good guys with guns stopping bad guys with guns is the way the National Rifle Association and Hollywood hustle America to pony up dues and buy tickets for rousing entertainment — both full of sound and fury signifying nothing but salesmen after your money. Pragmatic support of the law is patriotic. Blustering support of shoot-outs is fantasy.

Wayne Williams, Malvern

As more and more details about the alleged shooter in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO come to light, we discover that he has several direct ties to Philadelphia — including two degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. As sad as it is that a man lost his life, many here have expressed excitement about the Philadelphia connection. While I would never condone murder, Philadelphia is the city that produced the American Revolution and has for centuries carried with it a sense of fire and grit. As such, many are secretly proud to be associated in some small way with something that is seen as a revolt against the health insurance industry.

It may not last, but a serious conversation has begun about the horrible injustices and inefficiencies of private health insurance. I think almost everyone has seen a loved one struggle or agonize over their insurance. When you see someone close to you fight with their insurer to get lifesaving cancer drugs, diabetes medication, or mental health treatment, you start to feel hopeless and desperate.

Americans have waited decades for a major overhaul to the way health insurance works. While Obamacare did help in many significant ways, it left the rotten core of the industry intact. I hope insurance companies and the federal government realize that now is the time to tear down the privatized health-care system in America. Private equity firms and publicly traded megacorporations do not (and by virtue of how they’re structured, cannot) have our best interest at heart. These companies had their gold rush, they made their money, but now the mines are starting to collapse in on them.

Alex Palma, Philadelphia

I wonder what Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would advise in terms of government efficiency about Donald Trump’s intention to have teams of U.S. Justice Department investigators hunting for evidence that fraud tainted the 2020 election. According to his press secretary, Americans are tired of seeing their tax dollars spent on targeting the Biden administration’s political enemies rather than going after violent criminals in the streets. The 2020 election fraud issue was decided in many courts as having no validity. It is a telling indication of Trump’s psychological and emotional immaturity that he can’t let it go.

Under President Joe Biden, the Justice Department prosecuted both Democrats (Hunter Biden and Sen. Bob Menendez, to name two) and Republicans, including Trump, for various types of illegal behavior. According to Trump’s press secretary’s statement, it seems that white-collar crime in the public and private sectors is not a big deal, and going after the Jan. 6 rioters was unwarranted. Under Trump, the United States will now have a Department of Selective Justice.

Nancy Case, Havertown

The global fight to end HIV/AIDS is one of the world’s greatest success stories. That’s in large part due to an American program you might have never heard of: the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Established by President George W. Bush in 2003 to stem the scourge of HIV/AIDS — especially in Africa, where an HIV diagnosis was essentially a death sentence — PEPFAR has helped save 25 million lives, including 5.5 million children who were born HIV-free.

More than half of all the people living with HIV around the world receive lifesaving treatment through PEPFAR programs. The numbers that cement PEPFAR’s legacy as one of the most successful government programs in history are a powerful justification for its continued existence. Perhaps more powerful is the threat to progress — to human life — that would be created by PEPFAR’s absence.

According to a study, AIDS-related deaths could multiply by more than 400% by 2030 without PEPFAR — and that’s only in 12 high-burden countries. The number of children orphaned by AIDS could double. I’m asking Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan to support a clean, five-year reauthorization of PEPFAR so this critically important program can continue to save lives and move us closer to a day where everyone, everywhere, is safe from the threat of HIV/AIDS.

Pastor Matt Staniz, Devon

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