Yes, America, it can indeed happen here

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Yes, America, it can indeed happen here

Bravo Sara Foss! Thursday’s [Nov. 10] column, “What Trump’s victory means,” was spot on. As usual she hits the mark and has evidence for her opinions.

Over the years, we have said in this country, “It can’t happen here.” But with Trump’s election, it looks like it has happened here. The phrase, “It can’t happen here,” meant we would never have a dictatorship and government would never be weakened. Now it looks like, with what we know about Trump, he is going to try to make the presidency more powerful than it is and push his own ideas.

It could happen because he’ll have a Republican Congress and also public support from the way things have been going. So alas, it looks like it did happen here.

Adele Helt

Rotterdam

America needs leader to actually fix things

The day after and forever.

When Bill Clinton was president, he disgraced himself and the office. The Republicans ran Clinton “to ground.” The Republicans went too far and Clinton was not man enough to fall on the sword. Hillary was savaged over health-care proposals. Anger set in on the Democrats.

George W. Bush, a bad president, was a good man. Bush was savaged by Democrats bent on revenge. This did not do the nation any good. Republicans dug in.

When President Obama arrived, “hope and change” turned to “elections have consequences.” The consequence was a failed health-care plan, increased race- and class envy. President Obama acted out against his own nation.

The election of Donald Trump is America crying out — enough.

With a majority across the board, will Republicans actually do something? History tells me no. Will Democrats work with Republicans on issues of common agreement? Probably not.

Donald Trump is not an ideologue or a party hack. There is opportunity to fix a lot of problems. Will the politicians take the bait?

Mr. President-elect Trump, we do not need a conservative, liberal or social progressive Supreme Court appointment. We need a judge who believes in the Constitution as written. Mr. President, if it is sold in America, it can be manufactured in America. Mr. President, abolish the Department of Homeland Security; it is a tool of fascism. Take a long look at the Patriot Act. Mr. President, stop referencing Americans by race, color, creed as YOU all do. We are Americans who wish to live in a sovereign and secure land.

Mr. President, don’t lie to us as your predecessors did. Mr. President, God bless America.

Edmond Day

Rotterdam

Call for impeachment incites more division

With only about two months left before President Obama leaves office, I was shocked to see the “Impeach Obama” sign recently posted on the window of the local gun store in Glenville. Is this because people still think that his advocacy supporting stricter gun regulations is a threat to their Second Amendment rights? Really?

Shame on you for suggesting such drastic moves at this point in time. I know there are many out there that support this rhetoric to begin with. This just incites more hatred. Keep in mind, this is a president who has displayed class and dignity even during the most brutal character attacks that a president has ever had to endure.

This is the kind of language that has just led to the election of a man who instilled fear, hatred, racism and ignorance in the minds of millions of Americans.

Take that sign off. Stop the hatred. No one wants to take your rights away, so get real. Really.

Maria Mercedes Karr

Glenville

America must come together to survive

The election is now over. So let’s take a breath, and don’t despair.

We’ve been told before that it can’t happen here. I never believed that. In a way, I’ve always been preparing for this; what I study in school, why I write, the type of person I’ve tried so hard to become.

But I truly did not think this would happen so soon, right now. I was deeply wrong. Fascism, or something as yet unnamed, has come to us and I do not feel ready. I don’t feel strong enough alone.

But I’m not alone. We’re told that we’re a country because we all live in this common place, marked with borders. But these walls are not what bind us. We are not a map. We are not a government. America will remain America as long as we are together.

I think of my friends who are more vulnerable than I am, and I fear for them. I fear for my family and myself.

The world will suffer immeasurably for this. In a way I even pity the ones who so easily made such a horrible mistake. Many of them truly do not know what they’ve done.

We need to come together for our friends and neighbors, for people of color, for the undocumented, for Muslims, for Jews, for the safety and dignity of women, for the sake of us all. It is time to show our community that there’s another side to this. Do not give in to despair.

The sun sets now, but that’s not all it does. I’m writing this on the night of the election, and I’ll sleep as well as I can, because we have a lot to do when it’s bright again.

Julian Mostachetti

Albany

Repealing Obamacare will harm poor, sick

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to “repeal and replace Obamacare.” The benefits of the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” are described in an excellent Nov. 9 Daily Gazette column by Topher Spiro.

In contrast, Trump’s health care plan, which consists of: a) health savings accounts; b) the ability to purchase insurance across state lines; and c) repeal of the health insurance “mandate” that is part of Obamacare; will help only higher-income Americans.

Health Savings Accounts, which already exist under Obamacare, have little benefit for people with lower incomes and no benefit for people whose income is so low that they do not pay federal income tax. Insurance companies are already allowed to operate in all 50 states, as long as they follow the laws of those states. The mandates are necessary so that people do not abuse the system by purchasing health insurance only after they become sick.

Why are Donald Trump and other Republicans so eager to repeal Obamacare and cancel health insurance for 20 million people, when they do not have a plan for people with low incomes or those with pre-existing conditions?

Perhaps the answer is that Obamacare imposes a 3.8 percent surtax on investment income for households with annual income of $250,000 ($200,000 for single filers), plus a 0.9 percent increase in the employee share of the Medicare tax for those same households.

These taxes affect only 2 percent of all households, but almost 100 percent of the people leading the fight against Obamacare.

It seems clear that Donald Trump and the Republican leadership are more interested in reducing their own federal income and Medicare taxes than the quality of health care provided to people who currently get health insurance under Obamacare.

Victor Roberts

Burnt Hills

Grateful for care at new Ellis Emergency

Recently, my husband had a minor accident which required a trip to the new Ellis Hospital Emergency Room. He received wonderful quick, caring efficient care. The entire stay was only an hour, and it included stitches and a CT scam.

We really praise the new facility and are thankful that it is in our community.

Eleanor Rowland

Niskayuna

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