Letters to the Editor | Oct. 21, 2024

When Donald Trump became president, he inherited a real mess, but he did what he said he was going to do: make America great again. Our economy was the best, our military was the strongest, and America was prosperous and a safe place to live. And that’s undeniable. The Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration has been the complete opposite. America is being destroyed day by day. High inflation, possibly going into a recession, and threats from other countries suggest a strong possibility of a world war. And the severe crises at our border present a clear and present. And that’s undeniable.

As we have seen throughout history, the only thing needed for evil to claim victory is for good people to do nothing. On Nov. 5, let’s all come together and say enough is enough, and show how much we care about saving America by casting our vote for the one person who has the insight, the stamina, and the courage to stand up for what is right for America. His dedication to our nation and its people is what Donald Trump is all about. He made America great before, and he will make America great again. Make your vote count. This may be our last chance to save America.

Walt Steciw, Corning, N.Y.

Donald Trump says our country suffers an “enemy from within,” and he couldn’t be more correct. He is that enemy. Trump is the perfect example of an enemy to everything we hold dear as a people and a nation. We know this because of his unceasing lies — from the dangerous to the ridiculous — his attempt to overthrow the government, his convictions for fraud, the verdict for his sexual assault, his fawning friendship with Vladimir Putin and other autocrats, and his demonstrated instability and lack of coherence. How is it possible that so many people have knowingly chosen him as leader? How can this be the same nation that helped defeat Nazi Germany, has shone as a beacon of democracy to the rest of the world, and has attracted millions of our ancestors to our shores? We have never been perfect, but we are in real danger of taking a giant leap backward if somehow Trump becomes our next president.

Carol and Joe Sundeen, Lower Makefield Township

I am an American. I am a proud Jew. I do not plan to vote for Donald Trump. Neither do any of my proud Jewish family or friends. How dare Trump blame his possible loss on Jews not voting for him? We are less than 2% of the population. How can we possibly be that influential? If he loses, it is because of his lies, his attempt to interfere with the voting process, and his interference with a woman’s choice.

Trump claims to have done so much for Israel, when in fact he has done so little. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris truly have Israel’s back. The Republicans, at Trump’s urging, vetoed an aid package to Israel and Ukraine that Biden managed to get passed. Harris and Biden sent warships to the Middle East to support Israel, and have been working tirelessly to get the hostages released. When Iran attacked Israel with rockets, the U.S. and its allies helped destroy it.

Trump’s lies have put Jews at risk, just as they put Springfield, Ohio, at risk. Imagine the angry, sulking, spiteful Trump with his finger on the nuclear button. Think about Project 2025 and the U.S. Supreme Court justices he would appoint. Harris and Tim Walz may not be perfect, but they certainly will not destroy our democracy, as Trump will do.

David Skole, Monroe

Growing up in Norristown was as American as it gets. It was a red place in Republican, Montgomery County. Our family knew U.S. Rep. Dick Schweiker, who later ran with Ronald Reagan in 1976 as his vice president. Everyone we knew was Republican, and we were a Republican family. It was no surprise that my first vote was for Richard Nixon. I loved Reagan’s optimism. I believed in personal responsibility, demonstrated respect for others, genuine kindness, the ability to honor a friend or family member who disagrees with you, and fiscal restraint, but with a heart. Whether true or not, that was how we saw it. That was then.

Too often, human misery is self-inflicted. The choices we make help determine the future we live in, both positive and negative. Today, we don’t seem to be doing well with some of the decisions we continue to make. Something doesn’t seem to be healthy. We need to turn from anger and hate to understanding, tolerance, and a recognition that we are all Americans. When we were growing up, character mattered. Honesty was expected. Degrading other people was a sign of a personal lack of confidence, and something you hoped to leave in the seventh grade.

The United States of America has changed, and so have I. Where we are now is not normal. For the first time, I will have lawn signs in my yard. The signs will support two women who should take the place of white men: Janelle Stelson and Kamala Harris. This isn’t a position developed with respect to race or gender. In each case, it is a matter of vision, hope, and a more honest reckoning with better ideas. God help us grow up.

Craig Heim, Carlisle, Pa.

After learning of Donald Trump’s sending hard-to-access COVID-19 kits to his Russian pal Vladimir Putin, I decided to remind myself about how many of us died of the disease during his presidency. Here’s what I found, as reported by the Associated Press: “As President Donald Trump entered the final year of his term last January, the U.S. recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Not to worry, Trump insisted, his administration had the virus ‘totally under control.’

“Now, in his final hours in office, after a year of presidential denials of reality and responsibility, the pandemic’s U.S. death toll has eclipsed 400,000. And the loss of lives is accelerating. The 400,000-death toll, reported Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of New Orleans, Cleveland or Tampa, Florida. It’s nearly equal to the number of American lives lost annually to strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia combined.” Quite the reminder.

Marie Conn, Hatboro

The state House of Representatives is poised to vote on a measure (HB 979) that would finally repeal closed primaries in Pennsylvania. Our commonwealth remains one of only 10 states to completely exclude independent voters from voting in primary elections. Our 1.3 million independent voters have been waiting 87 years for this change. In this time of deep partisanship, these less partisan voters will decide on Nov. 5 who wins the presidential election and other close races up and down the ballot. It’s about time they have the right to vote in every election, especially since their tax dollars help pay for them.

This measure is hugely popular with voters. A recent poll showed support at an all-time high of almost eight in 10 voters. Earlier surveys reveal support from both parties (69% of Trump Republicans, 80% of Black voters, and 85% of progressive Democrats). Lawmakers are often criticized for failing to act. But in advancing this bill, which has bipartisan support, Pennsylvania can right a wrong that has disenfranchised voters for decades.

Jared Solomon, state representative, 202nd District, and David Thornburgh, chairman, Ballot PA

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