Letters to the editor: Ultra-partisanship, election, Social Security, Second Amendment Sanctuary City
Ultra-partisanship
I was disappointed in Wayne Hoffman’s opinion piece. He could have saved time by saying, “Mayor McLean is liberal and, therefore, bad. I am conservative and, therefore, good.” Hoffman follows the partisan story line. If you are on the other side, you are the enemy.
But we are not enemies. We are fellow citizens living under the same constitution trying to do our best in a complex world. Looking through the partisan lens we see enemies. Looking through the citizen lens, we see fellow travelers interacting daily capable of solving problems in a peaceable constructive manner.
Ultra-partisanship has led to a national political discussion that is filled with disinformation, misinformation, disrespect and unfair attacks on political opponents. Why would we want to bring that to local politics? We have real problems to be solved, and need to talk to each other with collaboration, new and old ideas, creativity to find common ground, and mutual respect. How about we agree to fight fair with a desire to understand what others think and why? Labeling is too easy and destructive when we need to strengthen our bonds of citizenship.
Rob Hanson, Boise
Election
As the Idaho congressional delegation continues to support Trump’s attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 general election I would remind them that three of them are up for reelection this year and their reelection legitimacy will also be in question if the presidential election is in question. Mike Simpson, Jim Risch, and Russ Fulcher are all running for reelection this year. If the results of the election show them all being reelected, why should we believe it? The election is being run by Lawerence Denney, Secretary of State, part of the Republican machine so is as likely to be rigged as the presidential election.
Steven D. Simpson, Boise
Social Security
There are so many issues to write a letter about: our nationwide pandemic with so many infected, dead, and so poorly handled on many levels, millions of lost jobs, many homeless, loss of health insurance and Trump attempting to destroy the Affordable Care Act, imminent danger of losing Social Security and Medicare, foreign cyber warfare on our election, schools reopening...
Wait, what? I’m a senior — loss of Social Security and Medicare? How did that get in there and why aren’t we hearing more about it? Trump, instead of supporting the HEROES Act, did a couple of executive orders, one temporarily halting the collection of the FICA tax which supports Medicare and Social Security. He’s promised to continue that if he wins reelection.
If he wins, we lose. The FICA tax is like an insurance premium for Social Security programs and Medicare. It not only helps seniors but younger people with disabilities. These are two of the most successful programs in our country’s history and hated by Republicans since their inception.
Do you really want Granny and Gramps moving in because we did not care to help our elderly?
One of many reasons to vote Trump and his Republican Cult out of office.
Dallas Chase, Boise
Sanctuary city
Now that both Star and Eagle have declared themselves a “ Second Amendment Sanctuary City,” the good folks of Meridian can finally sleep well at night, knowing their neighbors have their backs. Their police must be thrilled to have the extra support of the armed citizens to keep everyone in line. It’s good to know that during these uncertain times, one thing is certain — guns for everyone 18 and over. This will liberate people to focus on lesser issues, like the pandemic, unemployment and food uncertainty. Heck, there may even be time left over to educate themselves on racial inequality and election issues!
Lori Poublon-Ramirez, Meridian