Another day, another reminder the president lacks basic decency | Opinion

President mocks Reiners’ deaths

Just when I thought that this administration’s leader couldn’t get more despicable, he did just that. He made a family’s tragedy all about him. And he blamed the victim’s political activism as the reason for their deaths.

My disgust for this individual has grown over the decade when he rode the golden escalator and declared 20% of our population “rapists and murders.” His demeaning of U.S. citizens, legal immigrants and refugees has only increased over the years. His public remarks have become cruder, ruder and spread into overt misogyny as well as racism over the past 11 months. I cannot help but wonder what he says about his constituents in privacy amongst his fawning sycophants.

Congress has abrogated their powers to him and SCOTUS has knuckled their forelock to his desires. The ‘lame stream media’ must end show the American people, and the world, just what a corrupt, uncouth and terrible human being that this individual is. Late night comics cannot do all the heavy lifting.

Congress, you can save us if you listen to your constituents and have a spine transplant. Don’t make us wait for the 2026 elections to start impeachment proceedings.

Gil Beyer, Sandpoint

Need higher birthrate

Many countries have a negative birth rate, where the number of babies born each year is lower than the number of deaths. Most of Europe, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States are all in this situation. While environmentalists may argue this is good because fewer people means less stress on the environment, economically, it’s really serious. Economic output will shrink as there are fewer producers and fewer consumers. More importantly, schemes such as Social Security, that only work if there are more people paying into it than taking out, will collapse.

What we have is a baby conundrum. For any given couple to decide to have a baby (or more than two to reach the replacement rate), it will hurt them financially. Raising a child costs a lot. It is a financial sacrifice to raise a family and everyone knows it. But on the other hand, it is financially beneficial to our country and our economy when people decide to have babies. Bad for me; good for everyone else. That’s the conundrum. Now as a parent, I will say that raising a family is a blessing that goes beyond finances, but no one can ignore their finances.

John Crow, Boise

Victimizing children

Imagine you’re watching armed officers drag your parents away amid shouting, handcuffs and fear.

No warning. No compassion. Just trauma.

This chaos is no accident and results from morally bankrupt enforcement tactics that value speed over child welfare, imposed nationwide and funded by our tax dollars.

Reports by The New York Times and ProPublica show more immigrant children entered the federal shelter system this year than the prior four years combined. Roughly 600 children — some as young as five — have been placed in shelters since the start of 2025, some left terrified and confused for four months.

Idaho is not immune. Local children in Wilder were caught up in enforcement failures. Promises to focus on convicted criminals were broken.

Families cannot face this alone. Protecting children requires planning, guidance and legal expertise — which costs money. Schools, faith communities and civic groups can connect families to reputable legal resources like Legal Aid offices, nonprofit immigration law clinics, immigrant-rights organizations, the ACLU, bar association referral services or the ConsulApp Contigo for emergency support.

Protecting children caught up in immigration enforcement is the right thing to do — and since taxpayers are funding this system without a choice or a voice, we have a moral responsibility to act.

Georgia Smith, Boise

Letting down schools

The federal Department of Education has announced it will cancel the Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) grant, which provides critical educational and other support for families in need, in Idaho and across the country. People do not freely choose to become less fortunate. It is a fate that befalls them out of circumstances beyond their control. They are our friends and neighbors, and the least we can do is support funding that helps them manage the difficult challenges they face every day. In their place, we would be grateful for the kinds of help the FCS grant provides. I’ve written to both senators and both congressmen to urge them to intervene, If we care about our neighbors, we all should do that. ‘Tis the season to be kind and caring. Let us join together in support of our less fortunate neighbors.

Charles Yates, Caldwell

Restore SNAP benefits

Hunger around the Holidays is a serious issue. And to the 130,000 Idahoans whose SNAP benefits were halved at the beginning of November, Holiday meals are becoming less and less likely. This crisis is putting a strain on not only families in need, but our local food bank and resource distribution centers. In Valley county alone, 40% of our population meets the requirement for SNAP benefits. Our community cannot function on scraps. Although the government re-opening means that SNAP recipients can re-apply and earn benefits again, they are still only 65% of what they used to be. And in future emergencies and shutdowns, who knows what will happen to benefits again?

SNAP has now also been limited to many recipients on terms like work hours per week and age, leaving many ineligible people hungry. Children cannot learn on an empty stomach. Babe Vote and students from McCall-Donnelly High call upon our senators to help advocate for Idahoans affected by this serious issue. Hunger helps no one. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, on behalf of the many hungry Idahoans, help advocate to restore SNAP benefits in full.

Anna Morgan, McCall

Politicians don’t fulfil promises

Aren’t we all tired of what’s happening with our elected officials at every level of government? Too many campaign on empty promises, then govern based on personal or party agendas with little regard for the people they represent. Once in office, they dismiss our concerns, deny obvious realities and tell us we simply “don’t understand” their decisions.

We’re told affordability isn’t real and that families should just do with less. We’re promised better healthcare while existing coverage is dismantled — without any replacement. Pushing millions off insurance will only increase medical debt, bankruptcies, force hospitals and clinics to close — especially in rural areas — and raise costs for everyone else. Basic healthcare is already out of reach for far too many.

Despite claims that the U.S. has the best healthcare system in the world, care is clearly being rationed. People delay treatment, skip needed surgeries, and turn to fundraisers to survive. This burden falls hardest on working families, people on fixed incomes, and those in essential but lower-paying jobs.

Wake up. Your representative is not the exception — they are the problem. If we want change, we must vote them out and send someone else. Hold them accountable for their actions.

Deirdra Burgess, Franklin