Letters: Shameful meeting in Anchorage; Defunding of Social Security next?

Shameful meeting in Anchorage

The meeting in Anchorage this month was possibly the most shameful single presidential act in American history. Ukraine was promised unfettered sovereignty and independence by all sides when they relinquished nuclear weapons on Ukrainian soil after the Soviet Union disintegrated. Vladimir Putin has spent the last two decades trying to undo that Ukrainian sovereignty, to restore the Russian Empire of the tsars. Both Trump and Vance evidently think America has nothing to do with Europe, despite the investment of two world wars and the hundreds of thousands of U.S. battle casualties incurred there, many buried in cemeteries near the battlefields. MAGAworld wants us to return to the American worldview of 1920-1940, which led directly to catastrophe.

Trump wants you to believe he is a tough negotiator, but in every encounter with Putin, he shows cowardice and acquiescence. TACO: Trump Always Chickens Out. He did it again in the Anchorage meeting. Russia was going to suffer terrible “consequences” if Vlad the Poisoner didn’t agree to an immediate cease-fire. Then as the meeting drew near and the Great Leaders met, the consequences melted away. Putin got his red carpet treatment and his meeting on American soil, which was dishonored by his presence. He insists on nothing less than making Ukraine a Russian province again. We must stop him, because nobody else can do it. Trump will not, because ... TACO, when it comes to confronting Putin. At least, that is what Putin thinks, and in itself, that is one of the most dangerous outcomes of this entire episode.

Steven Smith, Houserville

Defunding of Social Security next?

As the immediate past chair of WPSU’s board, I’m very disappointed that Rep. Thompson chose to defund public broadcasting with his vote. The GOP talking point that it saved taxpayers significant money is frankly, incredulous, given the passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” which added nearly $4 trillion to the national debt. It will mean layoffs at WPSU and will have a very detrimental effect on the services that the station provides to his constituents.

But I’m writing today with my very real concern that Social Security is next to be defunded, even if it’s by neglect.

As one of the millions of Americans counting on Social Security, and as a constituent who has entrusted Congress and Rep. Thompson to manage our nation’s social safety net, I oppose fundamental changes and reductions to benefits. In just eight short years, the current funds will not be enough to pay full benefits to those who have earned them. Congressional inaction has made the situation a crisis.

More than half of Americans have no savings at all and most older beneficiaries rely on Social Security for the majority of their income. Protecting and strengthening earned benefits is more important than ever to ensuring seniors’ financial security and well-being.

I remind Rep. Thompson that Social Security is an earned benefit, not welfare, and should not be used to balance the federal budget or pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and huge multinational corporations.

Greg Petersen, State College

Stand up for what’s right and fair

Mr. Trump’s top-honors welcome of a dictator, enemy of the United States, and the director of the deliberate mass murder of Ukrainian civilians is un-American and deserves the outrage and denunciation of all. It presents the appearance of hero worship by a wannabe dictator for the real thing.

Although he tends to move back and forth depending upon whom he talked to last and/or who flatters him the most, the general direction of Mr. Trump’s message and actions clearly favor Mr. Putin and harm our security interests. He is doing that just so he can take personal credit for peace at any price deal — for someone else. His advice to Ukraine is like the police suggesting to victims of home invasions that they allow the invaders to not only keep what they stole, but to give them even more, in exchange for an empty promise not to do it again.

Americans would not stand for that program a single second if the safety of our people and the integrity of our territory were at issue.

Speak up. Tell Mr. Trump to get back to our traditional American values and support our Allies. Tell our Congressional Representatives to stand up for what is right and fair, not lay down for the Trump sell out.

Gary V. Hoover, Bellefonte