In a recent issue of āMy Sunday News,ā there were two letters of interest. One from Larry Delk, stating that we all need civility with our neighbors, even when we disagree. Larry is correct, we need to get along, but that doesnāt mean we canāt respectfully disagree, as I do with the letter from Steve Klein. His vision of the incoming administration is a wishful one, which is short on supporting facts.
Many of Steveās statements are debatable, but Iād like to focus on the environment. He says the incoming administration will have āreal environmental solutionsā and bring about a āpristine world.ā All indications are to the contrary. I am a supporter of several environmental groups, including The National Resources Defense Council, The Environmental Defense Fund, The Sierra Club, and other groups. No major environmental group supported Trump in the election and all are preparing to oppose environmentally destructive policies.
According to the nonpartisan Brookings Institute, the first Trump administration took at least 74 actions seen as weakening environmental policy. In his first term, he moved to gut the Migratory Bird Treaty and Endangered Species Act. He also withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. He moved to open protected lands, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling. With a slogan of ādrill, baby, drillā and the belief that climate change is a hoax, Trump is very unlikely to bring about āreal environmental solutions.ā It will be incumbent upon us, as concerned citizens, to promote environmental protections by supporting environmental groups and opposing destructive policies. We canāt count on the government to do it for us.
Richard J Quigley
Huntley resident
A recent submission to the Political Place Column criticized the selection of President Trumpās nominations for various Federal positions. In a broad sweeping brush, the writer painted them as criminals, alcoholics, sexual abusers, fantasy theorists, failed candidates, billionaires and millionaires. I have to question, isnāt the writer actually referring to the existing officials in Washington DC? The writer continues by pointing out the wealth of some nominees. But to be fair, shouldnāt we also analyze the wealth of the Officials in DC?
Exactly how much is the Biden family worth? We know how much President Trump and the others are worth because itās public information. Shouldnāt we have the same full disclosure on our public officials? Just how much is Mitch McConnell, married to a Chinese shipping mogul, really worth? And the greatest stock trader in the history of mankind, Nancy Pelosi, exactly what is her real worth? How about Senator Durbin, married to a lobbyist, just how are things working out for them? And the rest?
There is an important difference to note though. One group earned their wealth in a competitive marketplace by offering consumers products and services they wanted to buy, thus helping Americans. The other group accumulated their wealth by helping themselves to American tax dollars!
By the way, I found out from this article that Iām a terrible shopper. Iāve been paying $4.00 for a dozen eggs for months, and now thereās a limit of two! Yes, letās see what the 2027 figures really look like!
Steve Klein
Sun City resident
