Letters: CDT readers make the case for Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and more

First, do no harm

As an RN, I am aware of this essential rule all doctors commit to. As voters, we must also commit to that creed. Each vote is precious. We dare not take that for granted.

We have only two choices for president. Trump has a track record of good work. He has not hurt us. Our lives are better because of the work he has done. Trump is safe.

Biden is not safe. Biden’s track record proves it. Biden tried four times to stifle Social Security. He sent $1.5 billion to Iran. He said he is not a socialist but wrote and signed a socialist agreement with Bernie Sanders. Evidence suggests a huge money trail from Ukraine and China leading to his family when as VP he was assigned to manage those countries. He sponsored trade deals that favored China and cost us companies and jobs but says he is all about blue collar and middle class. Open borders would strain border security and increase MS13, drug cartels, drugs, sex-trafficking and criminals. Reducing police departments will escalate crime, endanger policemen and discourage young people from joining law enforcement. Medicare for all will take away our choices and diminish quality of care. He has a 10-year plan to raise our taxes.

Please, if you are a Democrat, wait four years to let the party reform under sensible moderates. I implore my fellow citizens, do not harm our country. Power in Biden’s hands will hurt us. Trump is safe!

Do the right thing, vote for Biden

This is the most important election in our lives. America cannot endure another four years of Donald Trump. The president is a habitual liar, cheat and racist. Trump has been impeached and is severely flawed. Do the voters of this country really want to re-elect such a person? The country needs to re-establish integrity, honesty and truthfulness. Trump has failed our nation by first saying COVID-19 was a hoax and then not acting soon enough to mitigate the nation’s response. This failure resulted in 200,000 U.S. deaths (and counting).

America sorely needs Joe Biden as our next president. As Biden has said, “We are voting for the soul of our country.” Our nation needs a president who obeys all laws to rebuild our infrastructure, create millions of jobs and save Social Security and Medicare. Biden has a tremendous amount of experience in government as a long-time U.S. Senator and eight years as vice president.

Under Biden, our country will rejoin the Paris Accord, WHO, NATO as a full-time fair share paying member, adhere to the reality of climate change, and restart the Iran Nuclear Deal. Biden will increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, protect and expand the Affordable Care Act, provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship including DACA, and close all business and corporations’ loopholes to ensure they pay their fair share in taxes.

Please, voters, do the right thing and vote for Biden and Kamala Harris. You’ll be glad you did.

Trump doesn’t exhibit GOP values

As we approach fall and the increased threat of COVID-19 in our community and worldwide, our schools, economy, and most importantly our health and welfare, depend on controlling its spread. Scientists and medical professionals agree that masking, proper separation, and avoiding large groups are the keys to safety. It is disturbing and even alarming to see all three of these keys ignored as Donald Trump continues to hold “super spreaders” across our state and country. His disregard for the health of his followers, their families and communities, as well as schools and the economy nationwide is unbelievable.

In addition, his push for the Senate to pursue political issues, ignoring long-proposed legislation to support local needs created by the virus is nothing short of criminal.

These actions do not exhibit Republican Party values. Donald and his Trumpsters do not represent the GOP that has been respected for years.

Please don’t support him. If you can’t vote for the Democrats, write in John Kasich or a similar true Republican.

Chance to elect a real leader to Harrisburg

If you live in the 171st Pennsylvania House district, you have the chance to send a real leader to Harrisburg, Peter Buck.

I have known Peter for about 15 years but got to know him well during my time on State College Borough Council, while he served on the Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors.

We served together on a number of committees in the Centre Region Council of Governments. Peter has had a profound influence on my work on Borough Council and he has been a “go-to” person for me on environmental issues. The resolution I wrote in 2019 pledging State College borough to carbon neutrality by 2050 was modeled after a similar resolution Peter wrote for Ferguson Township in 2017. Those resolutions prompted the Council of Governments to form a Climate Action committee (on which Peter serves) in order to meet those pledges.Peter will go to work on other issues as well. He is a strong advocate of fair legislative districting, of investments in broadband (much needed in rural parts of the 171st) and in public health, of transparency (he has pledged to make his calendar public) and of getting big money out of politics.

The incumbent legislator in the 171st district is one of five Pennsylvania legislators to obtain the support of Charles Koch’s anti-environmental, anti-labor PAC Americans for Prosperity. That tells you what you need to know.

Peter Buck’s support is entirely from individual donors and his priority will be the people of the 171st district.

Floyd not deserving of honor

Memorial scholarships in his name have been established by North Central University, Ohio University, University of Minnesota, Bethel University, Hamline University, University of Mary Washington, University of Utah, University of Massachusetts Boston, Binghamton University, Madison College, Washington & Lee University, Marquette University, University of Toledo, Augsburg University, Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College, Penn State University and the Minnesota Vikings football team. Minneapolis city officials are considering creation of a memorial and renaming a street to honor him. Minneapolis Star Tribune editors editorialized in support of those actions by the city.

The focus of all that attention is George Floyd, a black man who died from a heart attack as he struggled with white Minneapolis police officers who had arrested him for passing counterfeit money at a grocery store.

Floyd was not an admirable man. During his adult life he used and sold illegal drugs. He was arrested at least nine times in Houston where he grew up. He served five years in prison for armed robbery of a woman. He fathered three children with three different women and abandoned all of them. On the day he died he drove a motor vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs and passed counterfeit money.

Because of Floyd’s appalling record of unlawful actions and irresponsible debauchery, it’s insanely inappropriate to honor him by creating a memorial and renaming a street in Minneapolis and establishing scholarships in his name.