Letters: More choices needed at University Park Airport; Trump always ‘one step from anger’
More choices needed at University Park Airport
I planned a trip to meet my sister and her relatives in Hawaii in November. I was supposed to be there at night and enjoy the Thanksgiving meal together. However, my flight with American Airlines was delayed and to my dismay, I had to spend Thursday night in a hotel in Los Angeles.
In December, I had booked a trip with AA to go to Tampa. However, when I got to the airport in State College, the flight was delayed to the point that I missed my connection from Philly and had to sleep there.
On Jan. 17th, I set off on a trip by plane to Quito, Ecuador, with AA. Again, a delayed flight prevented me from boarding my scheduled connection to Quito; as a consequence, my luggage was “mishandled” and lost.
All these inconveniences with American Airlines from State College made me think of all the times my plans were ruined in the past. Although I believe that Mother Nature has its ways, the delays with AA occur frequently that I am concerned about our local airport in State College. Moreover, I learned that residents drive to other airports because of the common delays from State College — not always due to weather.
My experience is not an isolated one and it should be a sentinel call for concern for State College for not having an airport with more flights, more airlines, better rates, and airline commitment to our town.
Trump always ‘one step from anger’
I once had a friend who compared his exercise routine to mine. What was interesting there was, that although I exercised for health and well-being, he, a Marine of two combat tours in Vietnam, did his exercise to prepare himself to fight the enemies he sensed never far away.
Now there is a style of diplomacy which takes this attitude. It fought the Cold War and when the Berlin Wall fell, it looked around for another enemy and chose Iran.
The president follows this style, being always but one step from anger. He has been making economic war on Iran since he took office.
Facing this, we must all recall that the sovereignty here is ours and he is only our delegate.
Remembering this, we can all call Congress to evoke the War Powers Act correctly and constrain him.
For there is a way that is not fight or flight. Breathe deep now — it is the way of universal brotherhood and peace.
Senators with courage are needed
Wake up, Sen. Toomey! Until recently, I thought that the “obstruction” charge in President Trump’s impeachment from the House was some political dispute. But it’s not: It represents yet another weakening of the three branches structure of our government set up by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution. Over my lifetime, Congress has abdicated its responsibility to declare war, first by Democratic Presidents in Vietnam and then by Republican presidents in the Middle East. Now Trump, alone among 45 presidents, has forbidden every employee in every executive agency from performing their legal duty to respond to Congress’ subpoena as it investigates a possible serious violation of law. No reason is given for this prohibition: It’s not national security or executive privilege. He just dislikes the investigation.
If the Senate sets this precedent, we risk that any future Congress will lose its ability to demand that a federal employee testify to the public under oath. It will fracture the foundations of our Constitution, giving presidents yet more power to rule like a dictator. We do not need a king. We need senators with courage to live up to their oaths to defend the Constitution.