Letters to the editor: Supreme Court justice, RINOs, taxes, Brad Little, Lawrence Wasden, teacher bonuses

Supreme Court justice

What’s happening to this country? Why are so many in our nation, and especially in Congress, so prejudiced, closed-minded, uncaring, selfish, self-centered? Why does Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson begin with two strikes against her? She’s Black, she’s a woman. Listening to the recent hearing for the Supreme Court nominee was sickening as Graham, Grassley, Hawley, Cruz and their ilk revealed more about what they are. Their lies, distortions, scurrilous comments and attacking her on her integrity and competence speaks to the prejudice, pettiness and despicableness which are way too prevalent in our political system and typical of way too many of our elected officials. Their desire for cruelty and simplistic “solutions” is inexcusable considering what we should receive from political leadership. It reflects on the lack of intelligence, honesty, and patriotism by too many in Congress and in our nation who are American only because of birth. Politicians like Graham, Hawley, Cruz and Grassley have no business on the public stage. Though somehow elected to represent their state, hopefully they are not representative of most of us. They represent the worst in human dignity.

Lilburn Wesche, Boise

Teacher bonuses

Giving teachers a $1,000 state bonus is a slap in the face of all the hard-working people who deserve it. Teachers had more paid time off than anyone. They got raises last year. They still get way too much time off. My wife and I were teachers, retired. Teachers are well-paid. Great retirement and the best vacation package in existence. If anyone deserves money it is health care workers, those who lost their jobs. People whose businesses were forced to close or cut back in hours. Give it to people who don’t make a decent wage. Teachers are on the gravy train. Vote out anyone who supports or votes for this disgraceful idea. Stop the handouts. Put the money that was going to be used for this to cut gas taxes.

Gary Norman Schaeffer, Boise

Brad Little

Soon Idaho Republicans will elect a candidate for governor. Good judgment will make Brad Little your choice.

Idaho’s economy is among the most vibrant in the nation. Compared with other states, tax rates are light and regulations are being trimmed back by legislative and public review with Gov. Little’s discretion to enforce. The opportunity was given, and Gov. Little exercised his authority to lighten the burden of regulation on Idahoans. Idaho has been praised as a model for other states.

In response to COVID, Little found a good balance between public safety, left largely to local governments, and the economy in which Idaho ranked fourth among states in GDP and job growth. Most states suffered economic loss, but Idaho continued to prosper.

Family choice in education is an important freedom. Our family has home, charter, private and public schooled in Idaho. We are grateful for the choices. We are confident that Gov. Little will continue in this tradition.

The Little family has been ranching in Idaho since the state was founded. They have served in politics for 50 years. To be so rooted is to understand even deeper than politics its traditions and ways. We will confidently vote for Brad Little.

Fred and Lynaire Banks, Moscow

RINOs

I am very concerned about the vetting and communication with voters done by the Idaho Republican Party. Idaho’s two senators (Crapo and Risch) have consistently voted with Democrats on important bills which are pro-China and pro far left agenda items. They voted against Republicans on the passed infrastructure bill. This bill was huge and only contained less than 10% on infrastructure. When I contacted Sen. Crapo about his vote, his response was “Idaho needs the money.” No concern over the massive spending in the bill having nothing to do with infrastructure. They both voted for the passed bill HR 4521 again with the Democrats and against Republicans. “The Republican Study Committee put together a seven-pager on the House Democrats’ bill, noting provisions going far beyond boosting international competition and instead advancing Biden’s climate extremism, including implementing the Paris Climate Treaty, paying out climate change foreign aid, authorizing the military to response to climate crisis, and more spending on clean energy and solar.” They are Republicans in Name Only! I am afraid that Idahoans are not informed. Republicans are naively voting for RINOs who are actually liberal globalists. I am concerned that this conservative state is being undermined by our own party!

Janice Quinn, Nampa

Lawrence Wasden

Please join me in supporting Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s bid for reelection to represent the citizens of Idaho. Mr. Wasden has shown his propensity to enforce the rule of law during his career as Attorney General. He is incredibly supportive of law enforcement and makes decisions showing his support. I was impressed when he showed the courage of his convictions by not allowing the state of Idaho to be sucked into a political decision of supporting another state when faced with overthrowing the last presidential election. He believes states can govern their own political views, laws, and shouldn’t sue other states because of a political decision they made. As far as I’m concerned politics has no business in the Attorney General’s office and Mr. Wasden agrees with that. Simply put, his interest is enforcing the rule of law.

Tom Carter, sheriff, Twin Falls County

Taxes

Wayne Hoffman says that taxes are nothing more than a theft, that we are being “robbed” and that taxes should be reduced by two thirds.

Ammon Bundy does even better and promises that when elected (at the same time hell freezes over) the Idaho income tax will be abolished.

Absent from these nutty positions is what government services should be cut.

Well, we could empty the prisons. It must cost a lot of money to keep criminals behind bars. We could defund the police, not build or repair roads, close our universities, abolish fish and game regulations, close the courthouses and fire all the judges, allow anyone to drive a vehicle at any speed, anywhere, anytime and allow the sale of booze and drugs to children with no sales tax.

These are my suggestions. Wayne and Ammon, what are yours? Do tell. Come out of the cave, guys.

Don Lojek, Boise