Letters: MAGA uses tragedies to promote brand; Don’t be fooled by ads
MAGA uses tragedies to promote brand
It’s heartbreaking to see the path of destruction left in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Make no mistake, past political decisions created this mess; future political decisions will determine if the pattern accelerates.
Despite incontrovertible evidence that burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming, increasing the number, intensity and destructiveness of hurricanes, Trump and MAGA Republicans steadfastly insist that climate change is a “hoax.”
Democrats recognize the dangers of climate change and, despite enormous obstacles, work effectively to develop clean sources of energy, which also create high-paying jobs and boost the economy.
Republicans consistently oppose regulations aimed at addressing climate change. As documented by the New York Times, for example, North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature prioritizes the construction industry over taxpayers, refusing to pass homebuilder legislation aimed at reducing hurricane risks, weakening environmental protections to mitigate stormwater runoff, and refusing to enact building codes that would have made the state eligible for federal climate-resilience grants. Not surprisingly, the NC Home Builders Association spends heavily on political donations and their dollars hold sway!
The federal government is there to help Americans affected by hurricanes. But MAGA uses these tragedies to promote their brand. Trump and cronies spew endless lies about the federal response, jeopardizing the safety and livelihoods of those they claim to protect. Elected officials on the ground — including Republican governors, legislators, and local officials — all praise the Biden administration’s response.
If you think elected officials should serve constituents, not themselves, vote for Democrats.
Don’t be fooled by ads
MAGA Republicans think Pennsylvanians are foolish, gullible and unworthy of respect. Just look at their political attack ads and signs; they lack context or are outright lies.
What fool believes that Harris, a former district attorney and attorney general, cares more about criminals than she does about us? Or that she laughs about economic woes? Unfortunately, truth-in-advertising rules don’t apply to political ads; broadcast stations must accept all ads. Don’t be bamboozled; verify claims made in Republican political ads.
Trump will keep us safe? FBI statistics show that violent crime spiked under Trump and fell consistently after he left office. Trump favors low taxes? Yes, but only for the very wealthy. Tariffs will cost ordinary Americans thousands of dollars per year. According to Bloomberg and other business leaders, Harris’ policies will help Americans; Trump’s will hurt us.
We shouldn’t be surprised by MAGA deception. Trump feeds on lies even though lies hurt those he says he’ll protect. His false claims about FEMA’s recovery efforts endanger those providing aid — and prevent those who desperately need it from getting it.
Trump demeans anyone who opposes him. He’s an authoritarian and a tormentor who intimidates others with slurs and childish name-calling. He has vilified critics, entire ethnic groups and even countries.
Pennsylvanians don’t want a president who traffics in lies and insults. We want someone who cares about Americans and provides a role model for our children.
Trump can’t con us. We’ll elect Kamala Harris.
Lies that hurt
Some of Donald Trump’s defenders say they’re unconcerned that he tells dozens of lies and misleading statements at rallies and other public appearances. The Washington Post reports that he actually told more than 30,000 lies during his presidency. Despite clear evidence of deception, his supporters often yawn or chuckle, “that’s just Trump being Trump.”
It would be one thing if Trump lied about trivial things, but he reflexively lies about critical issues that have real world consequences. Consider his lies about the seriousness of COVID, the availability of FEMA aid to hurricane victims, or his lies about immigrants from Haiti eating people’s pets. His lies turn innocent lives upside down — and cause incalculable damage to our country.
Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, he now claims to have no connection to Project 2025, the fascist proposals for a second Trump administration.
After losing in 2020, Trump told supporters the election was stolen, inciting rioters to attack the U.S. Capitol. Now he’s lying that January 6 was “a day of love.” Evidence shows Trump clearly knew he lost in 2020, but pushed the Big Lie anyway. Now, he’s setting the stage to make those claims again if he loses in November. “The only way we lose,” he says, “is if they cheat.”
According to presidential historian Michael Beschloss, “I have never seen a president in American history who has lied so continuously and so outrageously as Donald Trump. Period.”
Trump’s abject dishonesty makes him totally unfit to be president.
MAGA equals authoritarianism
Donald Trump, JD Vance, and MAGA colleagues give new meaning to MAGA: Make Authoritarianism Great Again. Authoritarians suppress freedoms and civil rights, ensuring that power is removed from the people (and their representatives) and concentrated in their hands.
Trump/Vance epitomize authoritarianism.
Authoritarians politicize independent agencies, such as the Justice Department, and concentrate power in the executive (President). This is specified in Project 2025, written by Trump’s former advisors, and endorsed by MAGA clone Vance. Plans include abolishing the civil service and firing experts who challenge MAGA positions on climate change, health policy, education, and more.
Authoritarians spread disinformation. Trump told more than 30,000 lies during his presidency. Vance quickly caught on, saying anything to win. Most recently, they brazenly claimed January 6 was peaceful, and hurricane victims were left to drown. They scorn fact-checking.
Authoritarians quash dissent. MAGA discredit media as “fake news.” Trump promises to withdraw licenses from outlets that don’t praise him. He vilifies political opponents as “enemies from within,” promising military actions against them.
Authoritarians scapegoat vulnerable communities. Trump/Vance regularly demonize immigrants and proudly threaten LGBTQ rights.
Authoritarians dispute and discredit elections. Trump/Vance deny incontrovertible evidence of Biden’s 2020 victory, pressure election officials to reject votes, and change election rules to benefit Trump.
Authoritarians stoke violence. Trump incited the J6 Capitol attack. He inflames police and rallygoers to “knock the crap” out of protesters.
These behaviors are scarily evocative of Putin and Hitler.
This election’s a five-alarm fire. Reject MAGA before it’s too late. Elect Harris.
Candidate scorecard
It’s time to vote for our president. Thank God we live in a free country where we have that right.
Here’s my scorecard:
Taxes – Trump plans huge tax breaks for the top 1% of earners. That’s the failed supply side approach that helps the rich. Harris proposes restoring some taxes on top earners. Most economists agree that Trump’s plan will result in much larger national debt that will be passed on to our kids and grandkids.
Invasion of the Capitol – Trump encouraged the Jan 6 mob, was unhappy that VP Pence “didn’t have the courage” to subvert our electoral system, and says he wants to imprison his political opponents. Harris supports free elections and maintaining our freedoms.
Position on sexual assault – At least 16 women have accused Trump of sexual assault. He’s on tape (Access Hollywood) bragging he can grope and kiss women because “when you’re a star, they let you do it.” Harris spent much of her career prosecuting sex offenders.
Dementia — Trump’s mental decline is pretty apparent.
Experience governing — A growing number of ex-Trump staffers, including top generals that he selected, say Trump was dangerously uninformed and irresponsible. Harris has decades of relevant experience and has been endorsed by many military leaders.
The differences in character and experience between VP Harris and Donald Trump are stark. Many disaffected Republicans are choosing country over party. Please join them and vote for Kamala Harris.
Message to the undecideds
As we approach the 2024 election I would like to make a few points for those who are still undecided. Although there are many issues that are important, including the economy and immigration, it’s difficult for me to believe there is anything more important than the environment and the treatment of all human beings who live in it. Issues such as: the environment, women’s rights, and kindness to all human beings regardless of gender, race and religious belief should be of the utmost concern. Improving the economy by increasing our carbon footprint is not the prudent solution. For those who are still deciding, think about what Republican Liz Cheney said, “If you wouldn’t hire Trump to babysit your kids, don’t make him president.”
Far from a ‘garbage can’
Garbage in. Garbage out.
Recently, Mr. Trump, the current GOP nominee for President of the United States, has called our country a “garbage can for the world.”
The United States of America is a nation of immigrants, all coming to America for a better life, bringing their considerable skills with them. We are, together, a textbook study in cultures and communities, overcoming challenges and forming new syntheses. We are a country of rights and laws, sometimes deeply flawed but magnificent in our collective efforts to have kept our democracy alive for 248 years.
Trump is coming to our lovely town to make trouble. He will encourage disunity and chaos, as he has done in multiple other places across this beautiful country.
Don’t let him. He has seemingly been welcomed to the Bryce Jordan Center on Oct. 26 and also to the Ohio State game on Nov. 2, the guest of a wealthy donor. Don’t protest. Don’t engage his supporters.
He hates to be ignored.
Just take a little time to look around at the people in our town and at the stadium. A rainbow of America. Students, parents, and teachers. Staff and service members. Past, present and diverse futures in their faces. There are teachers and doctors and architects and builders and brick layers, and restaurant staff and philosophers, and writers and painters and plumbers and historians, theologians and soldiers of many generations.
Our country lives on in them. And our country is not a “garbage can.”
Vote like your life depends on it
We are experiencing a blitzkrieg of lies, distortions and fear mongering, supported by some super wealthy that are undoubtedly hoping to become oligarchs in what will be an oppressive autocracy under Trump. This propaganda is affecting huge swaths of ignorant American citizens to vote for him. It’s a sad day, for fear is more effective than hope.
Hopefully there are enough educated, intelligent and wary individuals around to vote against this narcissistic convicted felon and sex offender in order to preserve “liberty and justice for all.” Now it is probably up to those who normally don’t vote. I know things are not perfect, and there’s much room for adjustment and improvement. But please save us from a party that is willing to subvert democracy just because they’re in the minority. Vote because your quality of life is at stake, in fact, your life itself might be at stake.
Narcissists like Trump want ultimate power. As autocratic leaders they will ignore human rights, their concern is only for themselves. They ultimately will support greater abuse, violence, oppression and mass killings in order to stay in power. Autocrats now support one another with technology and techniques to oppress their citizens. Populations are already fleeing other autocratic societies.
Also, ignoring climate science, a stated Trump policy, will definitely make the climate worse. Climate change is already causing mass extinctions, killingly high temperatures, drought, famine, massive hurricanes, and flooding, leading to even greater mass migrations. The total destruction of societies would be inevitable.
Keep Trump from Beaver Stadium
So a “private citizen” has ruined the Penn State-Ohio State game for millions of people, by inviting Donald Trump to his private stadium box. By inviting a convicted felon, a person found liable of sexual assault, a person obviously guilty of insurrection, tax fraud, and crimes too numerous to mention here, the private citizen has made the most important game we have played in many years a stage for a criminal to promote himself. Why does every U.S. military man who has worked with Trump call him a fascist? Why do none of his family members campaign for him? Why do dictators all support him?
Go Penn State! Stay away Trump!
The choice is blue
A major motivator in this year’s presidential election is the economy. The majority of citizens in Centre County are middle class so it’s important to look at what each candidate’s economic plan will do for the middle class. The Harris plan calls for tax cuts for the middle class, extensions of the child care credit, and help with in-home health care for the elderly. Harris will offer incentives to the housing industry and help citizens with home purchases. She will go after companies for price gouging and raise the minimum wage. The Trump plan would give tax cuts to the wealthy (earnings above $300,000) and tax increases for everyone else. His plan to raise tariffs on foreign goods would cost the average household $2,600 according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
The Republicans ask us to ask ourselves if we are better off now than four years ago. I would say yes! Four years ago I was stuck in my house afraid to go out and when I did, I wore a mask to protect me from the virus that was rampant. I saw grocery shelves dwindle and prices rise due to “supply chain” issues. I watched as thousands of people died and refrigerator trucks turned into morgues. Now our economy is one of the strongest in the free world.
It’s time to look beyond party. If you are a millionaire, by all means go red, but if you are a middle class worker, the choice is definitely blue!
Casey a clear choice
We are in danger of letting our PA Senate seat be bought by a candidate with a $7 million house in Connecticut and wealth of $123 million. He and Elon Musk and other billionaire friends are financing relentless constant ads of lies about Bob Casey. The Casey Senate seat and four others in battleground states are up for grabs since Republicans have identified multi-million dollar candidates to buy their way into control of the Senate by unseating five great hard-working senators. Vote for Casey for many reasons (we know almost nothing about the opponent’s views — his ads are entirely smears against Casey). My two biggest reasons for a Casey vote are the economy and reproductive freedom. The economy is strong — but inflation is very noticeable and worrisome. Current inflation is a global phenomenon and is the direct result of COVID. Inflation is now decreasing and the U.S. is doing far better than all other countries in stemming the cost increases on consumer goods. The Republican plan to charge tariffs to other countries is absolutely haywire — the tariff charged on Chinese and other imports will be passed along to consumers directly, adding that entire extra cost to the price we pay in stores — and creating steeper inflation. Reproductive freedom is my other key concern in this election. Abortion bans will harm women. Going back 50 years to abortion bans and restrictions affects the medical choices women need to make for themselves. Vote for Casey to protect women’s right to choose their own beliefs about contraception and family planning and pregnancy.