Letters to the Editor Sunday, March 12

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Help other people to help themselves

We are fortunate in the United States to have a Constitution that grants us many rights that individuals in other countries do not have.
In the same respect, we are also eligible for many privileges that we can earn. Many of these privileges go unused due to the fact that people are unaware of their options, or unwilling to do what is required to achieve these privileges.
Rights are granted to us, while privileges must be earned. Earning a privilege may take a bit of work but ultimately can help us to achieve a better quality of life.
Driving a car is an example of a privilege that people may earn and can possibly help them to have an easier time with common transportation issues. It is also a privilege that can be revoked if abused.
We all have the ability to grant others the privilege of our assistance and friendship if they have earned it. We also have the ability to revoke these privileges if people do not appreciate what we do or if they disrespect us.
I, for one, truly enjoy helping others in their everyday efforts, as well as improving their quality of life. On the other hand, I always try to help the people that are doing the most to help themselves.
In your everyday life, you have the opportunity to help others and improve their quality of life. Grant others a privilege, reach out and help others to help themselves.
Eddie Brush
Schenectady

Stefanik must come clean on lies or quit

Now that the mask is off of Fox News and their game plan of craven lying in the name of greenbacks, isn’t it time for the network and the politicians who’ve sold the Big Lie about election fraud to come clean with the public?
Rep. Elise Stefanik has reached a high perch in Congress with her fealty to Trump and his lies. Like Fox News, she has catered to the wishers of her voters. That’s a road to perdition.
It’s fine to respect the wishes of voters, as she has indicated is her reason for stated views. That should not include spreading lies and misinformation — especially a blatant lie about election fraud.
A true leader tells the truth to his or her constituents, even if it’s not what they want to hear. The ramifications of this lie have threatened our democracy and led to violence.
If this supposed devout Catholic and esteemed graduate of Harvard has any ounce of integrity left, she needs to unequivocally issue a statement admitting the lie and setting the record straight that the last election was legitimate. And she needs to do it repeatedly so that the admission is disseminated properly.
If she’s not willing to do that, she should resign from office.
Al Singer
Ballston Spa

Speaker chooses his party over integrity

Thus far, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has declined to call for Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) to resign over fabrications about his résumé and questions about his finances.
McCarthy has justified his position by saying that, “The voters elected him to serve. I try to stick by the Constitution.” McCarthy’s justifications require scrutiny.
First consider the comment that the voters elected Santos. In fact, they did not elect the “real” Santos but rather a “fictional” Santos, a totally fabricated version of the man. If someone was hired with a falsified resume, would not the employer fire the employee?
McCarthy has refused to condemn Santos because he understands that the Republican majority in the House is quite tenuous and he does not want to risk losing even one member. In this context, McCarthy knows that he can count on Santos, who voted for him in each of the 15 ballots for House Speaker.
If McCarthy had a moral compass, he would ask Santos to resign. However, McCarthy cares more about party than integrity.
Next, consider McCarthy’s comment that he tries to stick to the Constitution. However, he did not “stick to the Constitution” when it involved the 2020 presidential election. McCarthy joined with a majority of Republican lawmakers to reject the election results. Following the insurrection, McCarthy said that Trump needs to “accept his share of responsibility for the uprising.” However, he voted against impeachment, once again demonstrating that he cares more about party than integrity.
Don Steiner
Schenectady

Missing views of late columnist Noonan

So sad to see no Florida exploits of Ed Noonan this year and thinking many of us lived vicariously with him through the years. He’s probably landing a big bass above. R.I.P.
Peter P. Persico
Schenectady

Do your part to reduce pollution from plastics

A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds.
The birds identified as having the disease, named plasticosis, have scarred digestive tracts from ingesting plastic waste. Plastic pollution is becoming so prevalent that the scarring is widespread across different ages of birds.
When birds ingest small pieces of plastic, it inflames the digestive tract. Exposure of all organisms to plastic is inevitable, because plastic emissions are increasing, and plastic pollution is becoming prevalent in all environments.
Ingestion of plastic has severe consequences, many of which we are only just beginning to fully understand.
Plastic debris litters our streets and shorelines: plastic bags, bottles, packaging, cigarette filters, and other garbage. Birds inadvertently feed on plastic floating on the water, mistaking it for food. The storm drains in our neighborhoods go directly to our local waterways/streams. So, the more we collect and prevent litter from going down the street drains the better.
We can all do our part to prevent or minimize plastic pollution.
First, we need to reduce our use of disposable plastic products; reuse and recycle what we can. Second, do not litter. Third, pick up litter in your neighborhood.
Nancy Tudor
Clifton Park

Don’t be so quick to condemn plastic

In response to Jahnn Swanker-Gibson’s March 7 letter, (“Don’t buy items in prepackaged plastic,”) the writer paints a much too simplistic picture of simply vilifying big oil and big plastic.
I do not refute there are issues with plastics, but the reality of the situation is how much food gets wasted in this country, prepackaging fresh produce in plastic actually helps keep it fresh and usable far longer than not.
And let’s be honest; they have those rolls of plastic bags for everyone to use picking out their fruits and veggies anyways.
Elimination of single-use plastic bags was a political stunt more than a significant step. Now we are throwing out paper bags again.
I remember when they went from paper to plastic bags to save all the trees. What is the total environmental impact of growing produce, harvesting it and shipping it to stores, only to have it spoiled and thrown out vs. significantly increasing the shelf life with a little inexpensive plastic wrap?
Joe Tanski
Glenville

Can’t stop fighting Putin’s aggression

Several speakers at the recent “conservative” CPAC conference said they want to abandon Ukraine.
Apparently, the dictator Putin has more friends in the United States than just Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump. Hitler had friends in the United States too, including the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh and other Nazi sympathizers.
Other parallels between Putin and Hitler are many. Putin was aggrieved that the Soviet Union collapsed, and many European countries were free again. Hitler was aggrieved that Germany lost World War I. Putin invaded Ukraine in 2014 claiming Russian speakers were being prosecuted. Hitler invaded Poland claiming that German speakers there were being attacked.
Putin thinks he’s the next Peter the Great and will rebuild the Russian empire. Hitler wanted to take over Europe to establish his Greater Germanic Reich.
After World War II, Russia took over a dozen formerly independent countries in Europe. After many years, they regained their independence and formed a defensive alliance, NATO, to protect themselves against future Russian aggression.
That’s why European countries are uniting to aid Ukraine’s defense of its sovereignty. If they surrender Ukraine to the Russian dictator, who will be next?
The $80 billion of military and humanitarian aid given to Ukraine so far is less than the United States spends subsidizing sports teams.
That’s nothing compared to the blood and treasure our country expended helping to stop the evil Hitler. If America is still an honorable country that can, sometimes, do the right thing, we will not abandon Ukraine to the evil Putin.
Tom Holland
Ballston Spa

Stefanik is fighting to control inflation

The House has just passed Rep. Elise Stefanik’s Rein In Inflation Act. Hopefully the administration will start to realize the American people do not want our government to continue spending us into a recession.
This act will put a check on the executive orders of the Biden administration to ensure they are releasing the economic effects of their orders.
The Biden administration will no longer be able to gaslight the American people about the effects of their spending on inflation.
For months they have been spending billions of dollars while claiming it has not only no negative effects on the economy but going as far as to say it is a productive way to fight inflation.
Anyone who has a basic grasp of economics can understand that this is a bold faced lie. I commend the great work of Congresswoman Stefanik and I’m so thrilled to finally be represented by someone looking out for everyday Americans.
Jay Pasinello
Brunswick

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Categories: Letters to the Editor, Opinion