Letters to the editor: Trump’s rhetoric, fragile democracy, right to vote and others

Trump’s rhetoric

Some people never disappoint you, like the insulting person who will always finish your sentence for you or give the punch line to the joke you’re telling a breath away from your big moment. But Trump is different. He will say and do things so completely removed from logical thinking or rational behavior that the only explanation one can give is, “Well, it’s just Trump being Trump.”

Predictably, the billionaire court jester struck again, but fewer and fewer people are laughing. Just when you hoped he fell in one of his manicured sand traps never to emerge, he gave his unsolicited and unwanted opinion on Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. While Vlad’s professional army defiles Ukraine’s territorial integrity, indiscriminately murdering soldiers and civilians alike, destroying more civilian than military targets, devastating the country’s infrastructure and economy, and displacing hundreds of thousands of people, the cretin Trump decrees Vlad to be a “genius,” “smart,” and “savvy.”

If inciting his groveling militia of crazed brownshirts to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with the intention of overthrowing the US government wasn’t enough, he keeps throwing more idiocy into the face of America.

Tom Yount, Boise

Fragile democracy

As I watch the attack by Putin on Ukraine, I have been reflecting on how fragile any democracy can be. Our democracy in the USA is under attack in a different way. The voter restrictions being proposed and passed in state legislatures and in Congress are a direct attack on our democracy. The justification for these restrictions is that the 2020 election was stolen despite mounds of evidence that prove otherwise.

The voter restrictions proposed in the Idaho Legislature include prohibiting using student ID to vote, eliminating drop off ballot boxes, eliminating same-day registration, requiring address verification that would prevent unhoused people from voting, eliminating the right of a voter to sign an affidavit that they are eligible to vote as long as they provide their ID to their county clerk within 10 days of the election, and restrictions on absentee voting.

If you value the right to vote consider contacting the people that represent you in the Idaho legislature and in Congress and let them know.

Jane Gheen Post, Boise

Right to vote

America’s history is full of patriots, immigrants and ordinary citizens who fought for the right to vote. Other countries around the world have fought to create, instill and retain democracy, including the right to vote. They look at America as an ideal.

There is no evidence of voter fraud in the United States or in Idaho. Interested, energized and forward-thinking people take the right to vote seriously. It’s what separates the United States from an autocracy.

Mail-in and absentee ballots have given the right to vote to Idaho citizens who otherwise cannot get to the polls in person. Families, friends and neighbors can further facilitate voting for those physically unable to access the polls.

Given the facts in the above three paragraphs, it’s totally amazing and disgusting to me that the Idaho Legislature is trying to enact laws to make voting more difficult. Was long as they are all valid, what difference does it make whether one ballot or ten ballots are delivered to the polls?

Idaho Legislators should be encouraging citizens to vote, not placing roadblocks.

Linda Simmons, Boise

White supremacy

Another low spot in Idaho politics. Just when I thought we couldn’t get any lower along comes Lt. Gov. McGeachin. At times this state has been the laughing stock of the United States, Aryan Nations, defacing of the Anne Frank memorial, etc. McGeachin recently told a white supremacist to “keep up the good work.” This is both sicking and vial. Hopefully, the citizens of this great state will denounce her and send her packing. A word to McGeachin: I am married to a Jewish lady, and she is a proud veteran of the United States Army.

Stephen Flake, Boise

Gold investment

I’m writing to urge the Idaho state senate to have a hearing on, then pass, HB 522. HB 522 allows our state treasurer to protect Idahoans from deepening negative real rates of return on paper financial instruments by including precious metals as state financial investment options. Currently, the real (inflation-adjusted) rate of return on paper assets may be negative seven percent or more. That means Idaho is losing money on its investments. How can our state prosper when we’re literally throwing tax dollars down the drain? In times of high inflation and geopolitical risk, precious metals are superior investments that protect our economic base. But opportunity is growing short as COMEX appears to be running out of silver and sovereign governments, wealthy families and central banks are purchasing large quantities of gold. Idaho must act swiftly to diversify away from paper at a time when paper investments are guaranteed to lose value. As our investments lose value, guess who will be hurt? Average Idaho families. Precious metals can be sold and paper later re-acquired if the economy changes, the bill doesn’t prevent this. So please call your state senators and urge them to hear and vote yes on HB 522.

Jennifer Christiano, Boise

Abortion bill

I am lifelong Idahoan and I am writing say that SB1309 should be voted down. The bill is badly conceived, badly written, and bad for Idaho.

This bill is not about protecting fetuses - to say it isn’t about controlling pregnant people’s bodies is disingenuous.

It has no realistic help for victims of rape or incest.

It emboldens and empowers abusers with a new mechanism of coercion and control over their victims.

It turns community members into vigilantes to discourage medical professionals from providing safe abortion care banning Idahoans from accessing essential care.

Contrast that to Idaho law (16-2422) which explicitly prohibits family members or anyone else from interfering with a parent’s decision to refuse lifesaving care for the living child.

This also runs contrary to the Idaho ideals of honoring and upholding privacy and freedom from big brother.

I encourage all legislators to vote no on this bad bill Texas copycat bill.

Kristen Cheyney, Boise