Is This What You Voted For?
To my fellow PA voters: did you mean to vote for Trump to send our kids in the military to the Middle East to deport the Palestinians from their homeland in Gaza? Did you mean to have our taxes used to build luxury condominiums for the ultra wealthy and create the “Riviera” in Gaza? Are you willing to use our soldiers and our tax money to create and protect this new playground for oligarchs? It certainly wasn’t what I voted for. Time to stop the takeover by the ultra-rich and get back to everyday Democracy, as flawed as it might be.
Karen Stoehr, State College
Scared Senate Republicans
Why are so many sane, normally rational Republicans in the Senate bowing down to President Donald Trump and approving the most unsavory and unqualified individuals for positions in his cabinet?
In all likelihood, it is out of fear.
Fear of being ousted from power by the MAGA cultists. Trump and his sycophants have made clear that failure to accede to his wishes will result in loyalist challengers being put on the primary ballots.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) has warned Senators that if they do not confirm nominees Tulsi Gabbard, RFK, Jr., and Kash Patel there will “absolutely be hell to pay,” adding “There is not a single Republican Senator that can win their elections without the MAGA base.”
But there is another more chilling fear which no one is willing to admit openly. That is the fear of violence. Congress members have quietly voiced concern about their personal safety and the safety of spouses, children, family, and friends if they defy Trump.
This fear is well grounded when you recall the January 6th threats to “Hang Mike Pence.” Add the fact that Trump has turned loose over one thousand violent capitol insurrectionists and has indicated a willing acceptance of violence by his followers. It is not unreasonable to think that some of his more radical followers would resort to physically harming those they perceive as enemies.
It’s a sad day for our nation when those elected to lead our government are intimidated and prevented from doing what is right because they fear retribution. It’s a sadder day when those threats are encouraged by the leader of that government.
David B. Kyle, New Columbia
USAID Saved Lives
The GOP’s pro-life voters should not be surprised by the Trump administration’s recent actions. After all, the party decided to remove a “right to life” plank from the 2024 Republican National Convention’s platform, yet they nonetheless voted for Trump.
If these voters are truly PRO-LIFE and not simply pro-birth/anti-abortion proponents, they should be outraged. Because of the USAID freeze, 600,000 Sudanese are at risk of contracting and spreading cholera, malaria and measles. That is, if they don’t first die of malnutrition.
Clinics that serve women, children and the elderly in war-torn Syria may die because of clinics being closed. Funds used to pay aid-workers in Ukraine may mean evacuees cannot flee the war. PEPFAR, an organization that has saved 25 million HIV/AIDS patients in Africa, will no longer be able to provide life-saving drugs.
Organizations in Mexico will no longer be able to help repatriate migrants looking to return to their countries of origin rather than risk crossing the border into the U.S.
Research on treatments for antibiotic resistant tuberculosis will end. Remote villages will suffer from the lack of clean water. All this, and more, thanks to Trump, Musk and the party that looks the other way while courting naïve Christians with good hearts and good intentions.
I wasn’t aware that only unborn American fetuses were entitled to life.
Norita Chyle, State College
USAID and the Decline of American Influence Around the Globe
President Trump’s command to end the United States Government’s Aid for International Development, executed by non-governmental staff Elon Musk, is both illegal and immoral. It is not within the jurisdiction of the President to unilaterally end government agencies without Congressional consent.
As a private businessman, Musk lacks understanding of the rights and benefits of governmental employees. He and Trump have ignored the additional difficulties USAID staff will face in being abruptly terminated overseas away from U.S. support systems.
Repercussions from suspended USAID development projects in Africa, Latin America and Asia will be felt for generations. USAID has been the first and largest U.S. government presence for relief from natural disasters overseas of flood, cyclone, climate change, drought, and the destructive results of conflict. The immediate and seemingly impulsive decisions to end USAID by Trump and Musk have been catastrophic on nations and their people who depend upon lifesaving treatment with no advance warning, and on U.S. relations with each nation served.
Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans who had created and empowered USAID through legislation are now doing nothing to oppose the President’s battle axe cuts to their legislated U.S. government aid to foreign allies. Besides a disgraceful disregard for the harm to vulnerable populations, a greatly reduced U.S. government assistance presence overseas directly shrinks U.S. world power and influence, and opens the door for China and Russia.
Ben Hoskins, Lewisburg
