Letters to the editor: Trump, senators, affordable housing
Quiz
Idaho or Third World Country?
As a 4th generation Idahoan, I am having a hard time recognizing the state I was born and raised in; not because of people from outside Idaho moving here, but because of extreme policies from our legislature. To illustrate this, I will list a fact, you guess if it is true in Idaho or a third world country:
No minimum age for marriage.
Idaho. The Idaho State Legislature refuses to pass a law making 16 years old the minimum age for marriage. Parents can legally marry off an 8-year-old child in Idaho.
Proposing to take away all education standards while mocking requests from educators for funding for suicide prevention.
Idaho. The Education Committee in the House of Representatives has an extreme agenda to gut public education.
Proposed a law that would allow people to carry guns on K-12 school campuses, regardless of school district wishes.
You guessed it, Idaho.
It is critical that everyone pay attention to what is happening in our Legislature. Proposed laws are not reflecting Idaho values. Go to legislature.idaho.gov, find what legislative district you are in, then contact your legislator. All state representatives are up for re-election this year.
Jenny Lingle, Boise
Trump
“We can have democracy... or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both,” Brandeis, Supreme Court justice.
Mitt Romney once said the poor are dragging down the economy -- an example of how many wealthy people (1%) think. They view life differently from us 99%. No empathy -- but they haven’t gotten where they are on their own; they owe all of us.
The 1% have intentionally kept people poor because they need minions to work for $7.25 @ hour so they can hoard their BILLIONS: Bezos--over a TRILLION; Gates and the 4 Waltons (Walmart)--BILLIONS each ( we taxpayers subsidize Walmart employees) . CEO’s rake in MILLIONS while their workers choose between food and rent. Warren Buffet pays lower taxes than his secretary.
Trump wants to stay in power so he reverses regulations that help the 1%, plus he gave them a huge tax break. Politicians want to stay in power so they kowtow to Trump because he’s supported by the 1% who pay to keep them all in office.
Robber barons are now the norm.
Very scary. Unless great wealth is reined in, are we facing the end of our republic? Solutions anyone?
Lois Morgan, Boise
Trump
Every woman he kissed against her will with his ugly little butthole of a mouth was someone’s daughter, and therefore my daughter.
Every woman he groped with his tiny hands was someone’s daughter, and therefore my daughter.
Every girl whose dressing room he walked into uninvited was someone’s daughter, and therefore my daughter.
Every woman he cheated on during the course of his multiple marriages and affairs was someone’s daughter, and therefore my daughter.
And every woman he called fat, or a pig, or a cow, or a bitch, or a whore, or a cunt was someone’s daughter, and therefore my daughter.
The question is not why I despise Donald Trump; it is how any rational, intelligent person can possibly do otherwise.
Bob Sisco, Mountain Home
Trump
Senators Crapo and Risch:
I was appalled, though not really surprised, that barely 48 hours after President Trump was acquitted, in an act of vindictiveness, fired two loyal Americans that testified to the truth before House Committees on impeachment.
Lt Colonel Vindman has served his country with bravery and valor. He stated in his testimony that only in countries like Russia, would there be serious adverse repercussions to testifying to the truth regarding actions of the head of state. He was wrong. The leader of the United States is as bad as Putin.
In similar fashion, Ambassador Sondland also testified truthfully before the house impeachment committees. He was also fired by Trump for stating the truth.
Our president continues to run rough-shod over our constitution and democracy and the military and civil servants that do their jobs responsibly. The Justice Department is in bed with the President and will do nothing. The Senate and people like you must rein in this lawless man. You voted for no witnesses and to acquit, but I haven’t given up hope for you to find some courage. Our democracy and constitution are at stake. Find your place in history, and STAND UP. PLEASE!
Carl Erling, Boise
Affordable housing
El-Ada Inc. CAP, a local community action agency, is grateful to have been selected as a recipient of a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Funding Award, from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA). These funds will help build a critically needed 28-unit, “below market rate”, affordable housing development. Without an additional $750,000 in funding that was committed by the City of Boise, Housing and Community Services Department, this affordable housing development would not become a reality. We especially appreciate the advocacy displayed by City Housing Staff, Anna Marie Guiles and Rhiannon Avery, for their diligent efforts to help address this urgent community need.
When complete, these housing units are intended to provide housing to those who most require some assistance to become economically self-sufficient. It is the mission of El-Ada Inc. to assist people in becoming self-reliant, and as a result, realize the opportunity to become full and equal partners in the obligations and joys of civic responsibility.
Tim Lopez, Garden City
Trump
As the dust settles,there emerges the CHOSEN ONE, who will lead our nation on his own tract.
With nearly half of the nation and the blessing of our senate leaders supporting the Trump regime, we need not fear global warming. Our nation will be destroyed from within long before any warming threatens us.
Politically, Idaho remains the Mississippi, nay Kentucky, of the West complete with Senator Risch as our very own Moscow Mitch. (But not to worry, he will still be reelected in this dogmatic, red state.)
With their silence, inaction, or disregard for caged children, the rule of law,or common decency , our senators have overtly mirrored the American Psyche. Ostensibly we are either too busy, too lazy, or simply too stupid to actually care.
Idaho has no LTC Vindman or Fiona Hill to champion truth and right ; we instead have Risch and Crapo to embolden Trump.
Distinguishing between good or evil requires contrast. Trump and his ilk provide that contrast.
Now we as a nation must decide which one we do we choose.
Remember, individual karma or national karma is like nature : it bats last.
Jim Franklin, Vietnam veteran, Meridian
Values
Idaho family values are often mentioned by state lawmakers. These values provide guidance, taking us down the path toward laws that support Idaho values. Lately, I am wondering if my idea of Idaho values matches our legislators’ idea of values. Please help me understand how Idaho values line up with signing an oath to uphold the Constitution “so help me God”, and then ignoring the promise of that oath? Or, how does swearing in to be a fair and impartial jurist “so help me God”, fit in with a predetermined verdict? That doesn’t match my values. Do your values allow military or public service men and women to be smeared in the media or fired from their positions after serving honorably for our country? My values tell me to honor our heroes, pursue truth, guard freedom, and do what my heart knows is right. One Utah senator’s integrity and values led to an unpopular vote within his party. God bless Mitt Romney for showing his convictions. Show me yours. Which values allow you to smear a colleague for exercising his moral convictions? I’d like to see more integrity from all of you. God bless America!
Lynn Olson, Middleton
Senators
I want to thank senators Risch and Crapo, and the rest of the Howdy Doody senate republicans for their cowardly votes to reject impeachment witnesses and coddle up to the president, the trueless, clueless Damien Trump. I am grateful because, regardless of their excuses, these senators have contributed to the upcoming party election failure and loss of the senate majority to the democrats nationwide. Way to go, Jim and Mike; don’t send more response templates. Your actions speak louder than words.
Louis N. Yannotta, Eagle
LGBTQ rights
Mike Bloomberg supports the US Equality Act, which is currently stalled in the Senate. This act would provide some level of security for my family. Mike’s plan to ensure coverage of gender-affirming healthcare would also help reduce anxiety and frustration I have experienced when trying to access routine health care coverage. More generically, a presidential candidate, and hopefully a President, with detailed plans to reverse course on recent LGBTQ+ policies and legislation gives hope to thousands. While I have personally been the target of violence, received unfair and hostile treatment by medical professionals, I remain hopeful that federal policies and protections like what Mike is proposing will help families like mine to be optimistic about the future.
As a transgender woman, I am passionate about ensuring my fellow LGBTQ+ team members have a voice and are treated fairly in the workplace. I currently serve as a board member for Micron’s PRIDE+ Allies Employee Resource Group. The mission of the PRIDE+ Allies Resource group is to foster connection, learning and community engagement for Micron’s LGBTQ+ employee base and their allies. Specifically, I am tasked with identifying and promoting community activism opportunities for LGBTQ+ issues at Micron.
Shannon Hansen, Boise
Trump
The impeachment hearings and trial told us nothing new about Trump. We already knew he is a crook. We already knew he is willing to enlist a foreign country to assist with his campaign. We already knew he is a liar. We already knew that all Trump really cares about is Trump. We already knew he has absolutely no respect for democratic institutions or traditions.
What this really showed was the depth of the depravity and cowardice of the GOP controlled Senate. Yes, we had seen hints of it with the refusal to hold hearings for Merrick Garland, the rubber stamping of clearly unqualified judges for Federal courts, and the Kavanaugh hearing. However, I naively thought that when it came to impeachment the GOP Senate would take their role seriously and abide by their oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution. I naively thought that, when forced to vote, they would have concern for their legacy, and would not further enable the most dangerous president/wanna-be dictator the US has ever seen.
Other than Mitt, every GOP Senator should be ashamed and embarrassed by the role they played and refusal to follow the facts. Risch and Crapo must go.
Dave E. Leppert, Boise
Congress
Recognition is due for our elected Representatives and Senators after the recent unpleasantness in the US Congress. Thanks to the unflinching commitment of Senators Crapo and Risch to the future of our country in acquitting Trump of any and all wrongdoing aided by the moral(?) support of Congressmen Simpson and Fulcher, we can all breathe easier knowing the President is now free to deal with our untidy democracy. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for us. Annoying liberals, Democrats, Congressional members, former disloyal White House staffers and supporters, and, of course, the media, can all be dealt with by the stroke of a pen. The list goes on. Soon, there won’t be any unpleasant people left to deal with. I wonder who’s next.
Good night, America.
Jim Schneider, Boise
Trump
It was too much to hope for but I did hope the Senate would hold a fair trial. I hoped enough Republicans would want a fair trial despite Moscow Mitch. But no, republicans follow their Lying Leader like Lemmings. Trump lies and republicans swear to it. Trump publicly admitted to Obstruction of Congress; Trump publicly admitted coercing a foreign nation to interfere in our 2020 election. These two things are impeachable offences according to the US Constitution but the republicans don’t want to uphold the law – it’s too messy, too much work. I pray Americans will be very careful when they next go to the ballot box. Fellow Americans, we have two choices. If you want continued bullying, anarchy, and a dictatorship in the United States, put these same people back in office. If you want children in cages, religious hatred, and mass shootings, keep the same idiots in office. But if you think for yourself, value morality, want an end to bullying, respect the Rule of Law and want to retake United States democracy vote these people out of office! Please, think carefully before you put your X on your ballot.
Joan Ehrnstein, Meridian
Trump
Has he “learned his lesson” yet? Have we “learned our lesson” yet? We have nine months to figure it out.
Ken Butler, Boise
This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 5:28 PM.