A clear, present danger

Dear Editor,

One of our current candidates for the most powerful office in our great nation is now talking openly about dealing with his political opponents, whom he now calls “radical left lunatics” and “the enemy from within,” by “handling” them with the National Guard or, “if necessary,” with our country’s military forces.

This would apparently include all Democrats, liberals, protesters, and anyone who would dare to criticize him. In his mind, it is clear that anyone who challenges or disagrees with him would fall into this category, and could thus be jailed, prosecuted, put before a military tribunal, and perhaps even shot. So much for our freedom of speech, eh?

The fact that he’s talking about not only many of our fellow Americans, but probably some of our own family members, friends, and co-workers — and perhaps even ourselves — should serve as a rather sobering and stunning realization, and give us all pause.

Such blatantly authoritarian words are straight out of the playbook of virtually every fascist dictator in the world, most of whom this candidate openly admires, shamelessly envying their unchecked power and desperately wishing it for himself.

This candidate constantly spews hate and lies intended to divide us by targeting certain “others”. Immigrants are favorite targets whom he loves to demonize, typically calling them “scum,” “vermin,” “criminals,”and “rapists,” all of whom are “poisoning the blood of America” and coming after “us,” then using these phantom fears which he has manufactured to gain support and votes by presenting himself as the only one who will save “us” from these evil “others.” Many of you may recognize this approach as a version of the old “divide and conquer” strategy.

Any candidate openly wanting to use our own military against our own citizens to serve his relentless hunger for absolute and unchecked power must not be allowed to ever get anywhere near any position of power in America, let alone the West Wing. To say that such words and intended actions by any candidate are un-American would be a historic understatement. They are shameful. They are terrifying. They are disqualifying.

Such a candidate would undeniably be a clear and present danger to our democracy, to our nation, and to all Americans.

So please step up and vote, and do so in a clear-eyed manner which takes into account the big picture, without letting any individual “trees” blind you to the “forest”: our priceless American democracy is the critical issue on this ballot, along with those basic American values which have always united us, and which so many who have gone before us have fought and died defending.

History awaits our choice. America needs us to stand up for her now — may we choose wisely.

Dale E. Buonocore,

Warren

Adding a spark

Dear Editor,

This is regarding the article, “Fracking poll: More, but not too many, regulations supported” (Oct. 8). The quote, “The farther away one gets from fracking, the more skeptical someone was of its benefits” speaks for itself.

It’s obvious there is a lack of general education on where energy comes from. There is large support for natural gas, while opinions on drilling are split. Is it not understood that natural gas is a product of fracking?

“Renewable” energy continues to have support, but it does not stand on its own. Various products made from petroleum are required in the manufacturing and use of “green energy.” Not to mention the vast number of medical supplies petroleum provides us, necessities that wind and solar cannot offer.

Materials used in the manufacturing of solar panels include ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and silicon. Ethylene is a product of natural gas, and silicon is made through a reduction process in an electric furnace.

It troubles me that many people don’t understand how electricity is made. The majority of electricity is generated from the burning of natural gas, oil, and coal. Electric cars are just gas cars with extra steps.

Heavy regulation regarding the oil industry is already in place. If someone isn’t following regulation, creating more regulation isn’t the answer to that problem. The government’s red tape extends far enough.

Existing information needs to be acknowledged before demanding change. Uneducated opinions help no one.

Christina Bingman,

Student of environmental science,

Grand Valley

The four-year test

Dear Editor,

It’s no surprise our nation is divided.

President Biden slanders his fellow citizens who disagree with his policies or criticize his performance, labeling them racists, xenophobes, homophobes, misogynists, domestic terrorists, white supremacists, cult members, nazis, fascists, threats to democracy, un-America and dangerous. Now he is vouching for another duplicitous career politician, who skirted the normal presidential primary election process. Insidious!

Ask yourself, why do you lock your doors at night? Why is our nation’s border door unsecured? Are you better off today than you were four years ago?

Lynn Bentz,

Warren

Improper support

Dear Editor,

Why must our tax dollars be used to fight U.N. peacekeepers? Why must our tax dollars go toward bombing civilians in Lebanon? How is it just that our tax dollars are used to perpetuate a genocide on the Palestinians? What justification will we use next for Israel’s torture and murder campaigns?

Since the Nakba, Israeli occupiers have strived to create a Zionist ethnostate in Palestine. On Oct. 5, 2023, the Israelis were warned of an impending attack. They chose not to prepare. They watched two days later as their own were slaughtered. Israel even bombed their own civilians as they were being taken back to Gaza.

Hamas offered to give all the hostages back shortly afterwards, and Israel said no. They don’t want the hostages back; their goal is to murder every Palestinian in Gaza and the West Bank to create their fascist Zionist ethnostate.

Their goal will be achieved unless our leaders call for an immediate indefinite ceasefire. We are funding a modern day Nazi Germany and our congresspeople are applauding. Have we no shame?

Geoffery Swanson

Tionesta

Picking and choosing

Dear Editor,

Listen and hear what is said, not what you want to hear. Last week, a letter stated that President Donald Trump said he will be a dictator on day one.

Yes, he did say that, but obviously they missed the rest of the statement. He said it would be on day one only — to get rid of the garbage that has ruined our country. Then another letter states that President Trump is a danger to our democracy. We are a Republic!

In 1923, the words, “the Flag of the United States of America” were added. At this time it read:

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

I never said that and stated “to the democracy.” If the Democratic party follows their democracy, then how could Kamala Harris not be nominated and elected into the position of being our candidate for president? They do not follow anything, they just make things up as they go. The worst part of her campaign is that her highest priority is “abortion!” We do not need this woman running America.

However, back to Trump. What are you all afraid of? You need to open your minds and ears and hear what is said, not what you want said.

Trump is noted in one of her horrible ads as saying, “I am going to give you tax breaks,” when if you want facts, this is what he says and it is actually a question, not a statement. To his rich friends “You are rich as hell, you think I am going to give you tax breaks?”

Harris took that question and cut it up to say what you wanted to hear. Listen to it because it still sounds like a question when he says it in her ad.

If you want a socialist, communist, third world country then vote for her and that party. If you want America back and run by strong leaders please do not vote for her.

How many countries in this world even respect women? Not very many and they are already taking advantage of America and laughing loudly at us.

Lastly, look at the devastation in our southern states from these hurricanes. Who is running in to help? “We The People” that is who, This administration we have is worthless and selfish and more involved with corruption than caring for America.

Please listen and hear what is being said. She doesn’t make any more sense then Biden did and if you vote for that in my heart I feel that you hate America. How can you defend what they have done the past 3 ½ years? How can you defend the horror of the border being open and now we have to take care of more people and leave behind the Americans.

Pay attention and stop voting because you hate Donald Trump and start being an AMERICAN. These parties are over, we are too divided to even think about parties today and after all aren’t we all too grown up for this?

If you are voting Democrat because your father, grandfather and other relatives were democrats believe me, they would be ashamed that you are supporting what is happening.

Laurie Crossley,

Warren

Truth at border

Dear Editor,

The border. Illegal immigration. A huge issue in the election discussion. Caravans. Crooks. Rapists. Drug dealers. All we get are the undesirables from other countries. They send us their worst.

Is it true? Or are they tall tales, tales made up by people with an agenda? Here are some examples I am sure you have never heard of.

Good luck trying to get a roof on your house in a southern state without a crew from Central America. Why are they good at roofing? I don’t know but they have done two of them for me and their work is excellent.

They work hard. For $10 an hour. No taxes. No workman’s comp. No health insurance.

If a guy falls off a roof he is scraped up, heaved in a truck, driven to an ER, and then tossed out at the entrance. The roofing company? Well, they never heard of the guy.

The guy gets treated but can’t afford to pay. Good news. You do!

Think of it. A $15,000 roof with $3,000 for materials at $10 an hour. Ten hours for $100 a day for each worker times 10 guys in a crew — $1,000 labor. Net profit — $11,000.

Now there is a group that wants illegal immigration enforced. Keep illegals illegal!

But it gets worse.

My buddy was a roofing materials supplier in Texas. Roofers there have it figured out. Illegals work two weeks before getting a paycheck. But instead of a paycheck the company tells the workers, “We are cash short this week. We’ll give you a 20% bonus if you work 2 more weeks and we’ll pay you for the month.”

The workers can’t complain. They have no rights!

Four weeks rolls around. Does the company cut paychecks? Heck, no. They call immigration! These guys are illegals. Ship them back. Labor costs? Zero. Nothing! Zippo! Nada!

Can they sue? Of course not! They have no rights!

There are some companies that try to look good. They even withhold taxes for their workers. But they are illegals so they cannot get any benefits. Not to worry. The company withholds the taxes under fake Social Security Numbers. Taxes are never filed. Money is never paid in. The company withholds it, and the company KEEPS IT!

Can the workers sue? Of course not. They are illegals. They have no rights.

There is a saying in Florida. What do you call a guy in Florida with a lawnmower, an edger, a leaf blower, and three illegals? Answer: A millionaire!

What do you call a roofer with a truck and a crew of illegals? A multimillionaire!

Their message to you. Make sure this border crisis isn’t fixed.

There are plenty of employers counting on you.

James Spangler, OD,

Warren