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Magic money
Dear Editor,
Here are just three of the economic goals of the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America).
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants free bus rides and rent control, but bus drivers still must be paid. Buses must be fueled, maintained and insured. Where will that money come from?
Mamdani wants the tax burden carried by high earners. But the highest-earning 10% already cover 67% of New York City's expenses, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Rent control sounds kind; some residents are struggling. But landlords have maintenance, taxes and insurance to pay for. If electricians and plumbers raise their rates, landlords can take a loss. In some cities, this leads to building decay, possible condemnation and less available shelter.
Bernie Sanders, the "godfather" of the DSA, wants legislation that would provide free education at public colleges and universities to 95% of students.
But professors, custodians and cafeteria staff will still need to be paid. Utility costs will continue. Textbooks and computers are needed. Science and engineering labs are not cheap.
Who will pay for this, Bernie? Also, if college is a "freebie," there will be a greater number of "professional students." They will attend for the "experience" and still be on campus at age 35, some majoring in "protest poster art."
In 2006, President George W. Bush signed the "Secure Fence Act," authorizing 700 miles of border security. Then-Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden all voted in favor. But once Biden became president, he allowed millions of people to cross the border illegally without being properly vetted. Some were felons.
Most of these trespassers were not medically screened. At the same time, citizens were burdened by restrictions caused by COVID-19.
The motto of the Biden "oligarchy" could have been: "We'd rather endanger our citizens than agree with Donald Trump." And it was an oligarchy, including political assassins like Alvin Bragg and Letitia James.
Attacks on wealth by DSA figureheads are amusing. Mamdani's family was in the top 1% income bracket in Uganda. Bernie Sanders used to attack millionaires until he became one; now, he targets billionaires. Hassan Piker owns a $2.7 million home. Piker has called white people "crackers" and once said America "deserved 9/11." AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) attended the 2021 Met Gala wearing a dress imprinted with "Tax the Rich." She was a nonpaying guest, but tickets cost $35,000.
In conclusion, the hypocrisy of the DSA and of "weak border" advocates is undeniable and rivaled only by their warped economic views.
Terry D. Hallock
Warren
Opportunity with vote
Dear Editor,
It has been just heartbreaking to watch America falling into such darkness at the hands of a malignantly narcissistic sociopath (the classic psychological profile of all cult leaders and brutal dictators, by the way) who continues to twist our nation to suit his own insatiable needs for wealth, power, and others bowing down to him and his self-proclaimed greatness. This is a man with no empathy and no moral center, who sees himself as above any laws and as worthy of worship and obedience from us mere mortals, and thus as entitled to do whatever he wants with no consequences or consideration for others.
He has openly used the powers we entrusted him with to enrich himself, his family, and his billionaire buddies, at the expense of the rest of us. He has bullied, threatened, and alienated our allies, and cozied up to the world's most brutal dictators. He has promoted hatred, bigotry, cruelty, and violence, and used his power to go after any who question or criticize him. His priority is only himself, his needs, and his wants – everyone and everything else is secondary and only there to serve him.
It has been said that a narcissist will sell you a dream, and deliver a nightmare. And here we are.
But there is hope. Assuming our upcoming midterm elections proceed as they should, we have a priceless opportunity to begin restoring our nation's integrity and true values, and to bring light back into this darkness. It will take years, if not decades, to heal and repair all the damage that has been done, but we will become a stronger and wiser nation by doing so. And we must learn the lessons needed so that we do not lose ourselves on such a dark path again, for history shows us where such a path inevitably leads.
So please vote and do so wisely, for America desperately needs us to stand up for our democracy right now if we are to keep it. We must not waste this precious opportunity.
Dale E. Buonocore,
Warren