Letters: Trump’s policies are un-American; Silence, inaction are not options
Trump’s policies are un-American
President Trump has become the ultimate “ugly American,” threatening and bullying allies, friends and neighbors to extract concessions — a foreign policy that calls to mind Germany in the 1930s. That’s un-American.
We traditionally have stood up for the little guys like Ukraine and defended democracy wherever it was threatened and regardless of cost. Trump is now putting that support on a cash and carry basis by trying to extort a mineral payoff from Ukraine. His disinformation and smear campaign against President Zelensky is a new low and indecent. It is an attempt to justify the coming betrayal of a fellow democracy. Every veteran that fought and died for the principles of the United States has been degraded by this horrific turnaround — must more so those that returned maimed.
Domestically, there’s Elon Musk. His ready, fire, aim, break-it-first-to-see-what-happens approach, is the opposite of any rational definition of efficiency. Musk is many things, but accountable is not one of them. He has sworn no oath to preserve, protect or defend the Constitution. Does he even have a security clearance? He can hire an army of lawyers and run circles around the legal system, just like his appointing patron.
Our federal representatives need to get their heads out of the sand, stop worrying about being “primaried” and do their jobs. Nathan Hale’s legendary words: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Should be their guide, not, go along to keep my job safe.
Silence, inaction are not options
The Trump administration has sought to freeze funding for central Pennsylvania businesses and governments. This freeze will harm rural and urban economic development, impact clean energy, transportation, environmental remediation, resilience and other infrastructure. These attacks will negatively impact our region’s goals in economic development, including — but not limited to — climate-related investments.
The environmental media outlet Grist has developed a tool to track awards from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It aggregates information from multiple datasets to show where $300+ billion in IRA and BIL funds have been awarded across the United States. The tool shows $153,693,908.90 funding 92 projects distributed across urban, suburban and rural communities and across sectors within 25 miles of State College. Nearly $9 million of that is in clean energy, buildings and manufacturing. It shows over $1 billion were committed across the 15th Congressional District, represented by Glenn Thompson. $200+ million of that is in clean energy, buildings and manufacturing.
Where is Representative Thompson on this? These funds were committed by Congress. I encourage all people to call his office, visit his office, and demand what was promised to us by the Constitution. Silence and inaction are not options.