Letters: Know the ‘4 B’s’ of calling your legislators; America’s Red Guards

Trump can do no wrong with his supporters

Trump supporters unquestioningly believe in anything Trump says or does. It is amazing. When Trump speaks of taking over the Gaza strip and forcing out 2 million Palestinians with no plans of what to do with them, his supporters love it. When he speaks of invading Greenland or Panama — or making Canada the 51st state — they think those are good ideas. When Trump cuts off veteran benefits or Medicaid health care to impoverished or elderly people nationwide, Trump supporters cheer him. When Trump directs immigration officials to raid schools or churches to seize immigrants, his supporters regard it as wonderful. When Trump appoints ill-qualified leaders to head federal agencies, Trump supporters are not worried about how devastating government workers could affect their benefits. When Trump cronies invade FBI headquarters and force agents to complete McCarthy era-style questionnaire, resulting in a lawsuit against Trump joined by 5,000 FBI agents, Trump supporters think it was just great. Trump’s proposed tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China would raise grocery prices — and prices on many other goods — for all Americans, and yet his supporters love the move. (What happened to Trump’s vow to lower the price of eggs?) When Trump’s people gain access to the U.S. Treasury records, which pierces the privacy of all Americans, his supporters are delighted. Nothing Trump does is wrong to his supporters. The same unquestioning feeling Trump supporters express for their Dear Leader was also expressed by the supporters of Germany’s leader in the 1930s.

Know the ‘4 B’s’ of calling your legislators

Here’s a Valentine’s Day resolution: Call your legislators. Let them know that you love, or are dismayed by, their policies.

Elected officials work for you, even if you did not vote for them. That’s how representative government works!

When you call, consider using the “4 B’s” approach:

1. Be prepared. Write brief notes to yourself which you can consult during the call.

2. Be specific. A “kitchen sink” list of complaints is less effective than mentioning 1-2 issues you support or dislike.

3. Be sure to include why you are personally interested in the topic.

And the fourth, most important “B”:

4. Be polite but be persistent.

If you call outside of business hours, leave a message, including your name, address, ZIP code, and phone number. Search the DC, Harrisburg, or local phone numbers of your mayor, senator, supervisor, House representative, council or school board member. Put those numbers in your phone. Use them often. (The White House comment number: 202-456-1111: Tues-Thurs 11 a.m.-3 p.m., no message option).

Elected officials need to know that voters are paying attention. Call them if you support or disagree!

America’s Red Guards

What’s happening now with Chairman Musk’s takeover of our government reminds me of the Cultural Revolution in China when the Red Guards, all young people, invaded homes and institutions and dragged people into the streets and mocked them as Capitalist Roaders and tortured them (1966-68). Many people died. Now we have America’s Red Guards weeding out supposed waste in government and trampling on our right to privacy.

The Red Guards were wrong as are Elon Musk’s acolytes. Will any elected Republican speak out before it’s too late?

YMCA showed disrespect with coach’s firing

I am writing to express my disgust with the YMCA leadership staff to fire the head swim team coach. The timing and the communication are both unprofessional and disrespectful to the swim team.

The firing was unexpected and the brief email sent to parents had no explanation thus causing confusion and concern. I am thankful to the Swim Team Parent Board who demanded the YMCA leadership provide parents with confirmation that the character of the swim coach was not a factor in the firing. The timing of this firing is during the current swim season and many swimmers still have meets, now without the support and guidance of their head coach. This is comparable to firing any head coach before the championship events of any sport.

The YMCA Aqualions swim team is huge and while not every swimmer has a relationship with the head coach, some swimmers spend more than 10 hours a week with this coach. The abrupt firing was disrespectful to the head coach, the swimmers, and the parents that support the YMCA with their swim team fees.

Parents were encouraged by the Swim Team Board to email the YMCA leadership, specifically the CEO. However, I do not believe my email would be read and as the YMCA is a community resource and well utilized, I would like the community to know about this experience for the swim team.