Trump is the outsider who can make a difference
This is why I would vote for Donald Trump and why I believe you should also.
Unlike his several opponents, Mr. Trump is not a career politician. Trump is a political outsider who has created a myriad of jobs. Trump is pledged to bring about aggressive pro-American changes. Trump is independent of special interests, taking no donations for his campaign but donating any monies to veterans organizations. This country does not need another establishment politician in the White House.
I note that many people are more upset about Mr. Trump’s tone than about the destruction wrought by open borders, race baiting and international corrupt glad-handing, which tells us everything we need to know about the corruption in Washington.
We desperately need a person in the White House who doesn’t fear the media, who doesn’t embrace political correctness, who doesn’t need the money, who is familiar with success, who won’t bow to foreign dictators, who is pro-military and values law enforcement, who is a proponent of small government, who is a supporter of the Constitution and who is angry for America and not subservient to the interests of other nations. Read his book, “Time to get Tough.”
We need a man who can responsibly delegate authority to properly vetted managers for the various cabinet posts as opposed to inexperienced social engineers to run sensitive government agencies. Donald Trump is such a man.
Mr. Trump is as bold and outspoken as other world leaders who put their country’s interests ahead of all else. Donald Trump is also a skilled negotiator. Read his book, “The Art of the Deal.”
Americans should benefit for once from its largess to all the countries it supports with millions of dollars instead of always paying and apologizing. Our current political establishment has bled this country dry, sees our power evaporating, and isn’t listening to voters who pay the bills.
Donald Trump is opposed by the established powers because they know he is the only candidate who actually threatens those that have betrayed this country. You can judge a man by his opponents: all the people responsible for the problems plaguing America today are those opposing Mr. Trump. It is those without political power the workers, the law enforcement officers, the everyday families and community members who are supporting Trump. Note the protesters who are not even citizens in many cases.
On April 19, please get out and cast your vote for Donald Trump on the Republican ticket.
Gray Pitkin
Gloversville
Reproductive issues shouldn’t be political
This primary season has dealt not only with the views of the candidates on political issues, but has focused again on women’s reproductive health care rights.
A woman’s right to use contraceptives, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and not funding Planned Parenthood are taking center stage.
First of all, the right of women to use contraceptives in the United States began in 1912. It is incomprehensible that we are still discussing this issue. However, there are candidates who oppose having these covered by insurance companies while at the same time remaining silent on male enhancement drugs being covered by these same companies. They oppose contraceptives being covered, but do not want women to protect themselves, while men are using Viagra, etc. In addition, statistics show that 31 percent of women use contraceptives for a plethora of medical reasons.
Abortion is a difficult topic because there are a wide range of views involving this issue. No matter where one stands on this issue, most would agree that there are legitimate medical reasons for a woman to contemplate the need for an abortion. Prohibition of alcohol did not eradicate alcoholism and neither will abolishing Roe v. Wade eliminate abortions. Bootleggers profited from Prohibition, and there will be individuals profiting from performing illegal abortions while endangering women’s lives. We should learn from history rather than ignoring it.
Planned Parenthood has been a valuable asset for women’s health care. Statistics show that the abortion component is limited in comparison to the health care benefits derived from this organization. Most clients are low-income women.
Maybe political candidates from both major political parties should stay out of women’s reproductive health care issues. Whether they are pro or con, they should not interject these issues into their campaign speeches. These issues are best placed in the hands of health care providers and not in the hands of politicians.
What female political candidate from either major party or what women’s group have interfered with male reproductive health issues? I can’t name one.
Linda Rizzo
Niskayuna
The writer is vice president of Public Policy for the Schenectady County AAUW [American Association of University Women].
Sanders can’t be bought
I intend to vote for Bernie Sanders in the upcoming Democratic primary because he isn’t beholden to special interests like his opponent.
He’s a man who’s been fighting for the average American all his life and had the good judgement to vote against invading Iraq in 2003. Sanders says this country is not a democracy, but an oligarchy. He also understands the danger posed by banks that are “too big to fail” and would work to break them up.
Clinton, on the other hand, is in the pocket of Wall Street; she refused to divulge any information about the $220,000 speech she gave to big-shot investors.
Clinton’s record as Secretary of State is downright scary. First Benghazi and then Honduras, murder capital of the world. Then there is the 2009 U.S. sanctioned coup that ousted President Zelaya, replacing him with a conservative government. In 2012 while Clinton was secretary, the State Department spent $26 million on a propaganda program through the department of the United States Agency for International Development.
The stated purpose of the program was to promote alliances between community groups and the local police and security forces and, in my opinion, make Honduras a safer place for corporations to do business. Critics of the program say its real purpose was to whitewash the image of a country where security forces have killed hundreds of its own citizens.
On March 3, the renowned environmental activist Berta Caceres was murdered in her home by unknown gunmen. Two weeks later, Nelson Garcia, another important indigenous leader was shot dead. “With the coup, Clinton had a real opportunity to do the right thing and shift U.S. policy to respect democratic processes,” said Alex Main, an expert on U.S. policy in Central America at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, after being told of the program.
“But she completely messed it up, and we’re seeing the consequences of it now” (“How Hillary Clinton Militarized U.S. Policy in Honduras,” Shorrock, Tim, “The Nation,” April 5, 2016). “Honduras is also a staging ground for one of the largest deployments of U.S. Special Forces outside the Middle East” (Shorrock).
I hope that Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic Party primary in New York. A woman president would be nice for a change, but that, in itself, is not a good enough reason to vote for Clinton.
Fooled me once, shame on you; fooled me twice, shame on me.
Barbara Trypaluk
Saratoga Springs
Capitalism and socialism can co-exist
The socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is now running for president as a Democrat, referred to General Electric as an example of corporate greed. Chairman and chief executive officer Jeffrey Immelt responded (Opinion April 10) with how his company takes risks, innovates and produces 125,000 jobs in the United States.
This kind of conflict between socialism and capitalism is not necessary. They can synergistically co-exist. A century ago General Electric Company was a startup company. The headquarters were in Schenectady along with most of its manufacturing, engineering and research. A few wealthy executives and upper managers built stately homes and private recreational facilities and schools, while the majority worked hard to survive, in humble conditions, with limited opportunities for their children’s education and development.
This situation of a few rich and many poor led to the election of the socialist mayor George Lunn, the minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. His initiatives included city parks and playgrounds, public health centers and garbage collection.
Partnering with Lunn was the socialist Charles Proteus Steinmetz. He was receiving popular fame as the “Electric Wizard” of Schenectady. It was a time when much of the country and world was not yet enjoying and benefitting from the miracle of electricity. Getting electricity to the people was a new kind of social work.
As an engineer, scientist, mathematician and socialist, Steinmetz was helping launch General Electric as the global industrial giant that it is today. Meanwhile, Steinmetz had management’s encouragement to start electrical engineering at Union College, while also working tirelessly on his other passions of improving the public schools and the quality of life throughout the city.
Frank Wicks
Schenectady
The writer is a Union College professor.
Kasich is the most qualified for president
Gov. John Kasich knows the formula to turn our country around: Empower individuals, including small business owners, to revitalize communities, grow our economy and create jobs. I’ve seen this work in Ballston Spa; it was the people who transformed our village into a thriving and growing community.
As governor, Kasich secured the largest state-tax cut in the nation — providing $5 billion worth of critical tax relief for Ohioans. More than 400,000 jobs were added to the economy, giving working class people better access to greater opportunity and higher-paying jobs.
In Congress, his leadership balanced the national budget for four straight years and created a $5 trillion surplus, which became tax relief for middle-class families and job creators. Gov. Kasich is the only candidate with measurable results of success.
I served in the small business community for nearly eight years and watched how hard my family works at their 15-year-old business; I know that when people are able to retain their own hard-earned income they invest back into creating jobs or improving our communities. Gov. Kasich understands that empowering individuals strengthens our country at the grass roots level.
This is why I’m voting for Gov. John Kasich on April 19.
Bernadette D. VanDeinse
Ballston Spa
Categories: Letters to the Editor
