Give me Jimmy Carter over any of the so-called Christians of today | Opinion

Jimmy Carter

With the results of our recent elections and President Carter’s passing, I have had to call into question this whole philosophy of Christianity. The United States was not founded as a Christian nation. The US was founded on one main principle: freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom from taxation without representation. The founding fathers were not all Christian, and some denied that title. Many were in fact deists. They believed in a supreme being who left humans to their own accords.

Today, a significant portion of the so-called ‘Christians’ choose to subjugate us to their interpretation of Christianity. They disregard the teachings of Jesus when it conflicts with their own ideas. To them, it is okay to denigrate others, belittle the less fortunate or afflicted as long as others do what they say and want. In other words, it is a world in which others are subject to their views. Sound familiar? Remember, Germany, Italy, Japan and modern Russia? Those countries do not fit my view of freedom. Thank God for Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and the other deist founding fathers. If Christianity is what the current majority reflect, then I say no thank you. Give me Jimmy Carter any day – a truly Christian, humble man who worked to better the lives of others.

John Thompson, Boise

Explicit facts

America’s first: a self-admitted sex offender, a twice impeached, convicted felon has been re-elected to the U.S. presidency. Donald Trump is cognitively, psychologically, and morally incompetent to hold this revered office. He is absolutely devoid of personal integrity and values.

In 2020, 38 times over an eight-month period, Trump continued to declare that “Covid-19 was either going to disappear” or “It will be gone in two weeks.” His suggested inquiry: “Injecting bleach?” Hundreds of thousands of Americans died as the result of his narcissistic depravity.

He contemptuously disgraces our military. Those killed/wounded in combat he calls “suckers and losers.” General John Kelly, Trump’s former Chief of Staff stated: “He is the most damaged person I have ever known.” Additionally, 21 former members of Trump’s previous administration acknowledged his unfitness to serve as president.

Only 49% of our nation’s registered electorate returned this behaviorally self-confirming narcissist to the U.S. presidency; an ultimately perilous position for the future of our nation and the free world. To those 49% and those choosing not to vote, I offer the following: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of millions who perished in a Nazi concentration camp).

Joel A. Price, Boise

Carter vs. Trump

Comparison: Former President Carter was happily married for 77 years. Incoming president has been married three times and was found liable for sexual assault. Carter served in the military. Incoming claimed he had bone spurs so did not serve. He said veterans are losers and suckers. Carter was a man of faith and protected the right of all to follow their own consciences. Incoming has lied to us over 40,000 times and thinks White Christian Nationalism and racism give him the power to defy the First Amendment’s separation of church and state. Carter was proactive about having a balanced budget. Incoming wants to give the richest more tax loopholes while eliminating affordable health care. Carter divested himself of his peanut farm so there would be no conflict of interest. Incoming sells everything from gold tennis shoes to his own version of the Bible for profit. Carter devoted his life to serving humanity. Incoming serves himself, Putin, oligarchs and other dictators. How low we have fallen in the eyes of the world and how far away from the ideals of a true democracy. Sadly, there is no comparison!

Sheila Robbins, Boise

Elon Musk

Hmmm. I never saw Elon Musk’s name on the ballot this fall. So why the heck is he acting like the leader of our country?

First, he blows up months of negotiations on a budget bill and nearly causes the government to shutdown. Then he insults the leader of one of our allies and inserts himself into Germany’s internal political affairs. Let’s not forget his threats to fund primary opponents against any legislator who shows independent thought. What a twisted way to try to run the country.

Republicans have railed against the power of “unelected bureaucrats”. At least government employees have to undergo background investigations and swear an oath of allegiance to the Constitution. In contrast, there has been no such vetting of Mr. Musk.

For a moment, imagine that the president elect was a Democrat and George Soros assumed a similar role as Mr. Musk. Would you be OK with that?

It is time for Republicans to show some spine and rein in this guy before he does irreparable damage.\u0009

Al King, McCall

Congress

Our Idaho congressmen have seemingly lost the ability to think for themselves. They are all simply bowing before their future Dear Leader and acquiescing to his every whim, including rubber stamping all his unqualified cabinet picks. They have apparently forgotten that one of their most important duties as defined in the constitution is to hold hearings and evaluate these nominees’ fitness for their positions and then give advice and/or consent. Time to clean house!

If you don’t think we’re heading straight for an authoritarian government or even a

dictatorship run by oligarchs, you’re living in a bubble. Please read history books rather than the internet. Also, “On Tyranny,” a very small book by Timothy Snyder, is a MUST READ. In it he explains why we must never obey in advance. Would-be rulers are eager to get all the power they can, especially that which is simply handed to them on a silver platter, which is exactly what our Idaho Congressmen are doing. Trump’s cabinet nominees were selected based on their net worth and how much money they have given and will continue to give to Trump — not on qualifications. Don’t just sit back and let this happen; be vocal!

Pat Entwistle, Boise

This story was originally published January 4, 2025 at 4:00 AM.