Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Nov. 7, 2025
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
Do you feel great yet?
I have a serious question for Trump supporters: What has he ever done for you?
Trump has three bases of support: his legal enablers (Project 2025ers), his rich friends and MAGA voters. He heaps money and power on his legal lackeys in Congress and the Cabinet and on the elite. What does he offer his voters, to whom he owes his job? He offers slogans, like “Make America Great Again.” Have you seen any money or power?
Or have you seen jobs and goods and opportunities dry up, offices close, services falter? It’s deliberate. The rich don’t need opportunity or services, because they can buy whatever they want.
Does Trump’s fervor inspire you? How? Do his slogans pay your rising costs? (Example: We pay his tariffs, not the exporting country.)
In the meantime, little boats on the high seas are blown up in our names. Other nations see that our democracy is faltering.
What do you see in him? There are alternatives beyond the red hat. Thank you.
Regula Case
Midtown
Personal responsibility
We mourn three young people killed last week when a car hit them near the University of Arizona.
A young man who police said was speeding, under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and who left the scene was arrested. The driver’s lack of personal responsibility caused this tragedy.
Many want the city to install a pedestrian crossing light at the intersection, calling it dangerous. One person commenting online said, “This tragedy could’ve been prevented with a traffic light.”
Perhaps. More likely, prevention would have come from the driver slowing down or choosing not to drive impaired.
Euclid Avenue at East 2nd Street and many other high-traffic crossing spots could use pedestrian signals.
What really will make the difference for everyone is taking personal responsibility. Don’t speed. Don’t run red lights. And don’t drive under the influence.
Shraddha Hilda Oropeza
West side
Hate thy enemies
This is not new. Political mud slinging has been used repeatedly throughout our history, but only recently has it been used to this extreme. Didn’t start with Reaganm but his polished delivery certainly paved a way for what is happening now. Words have power. That is a given. As a country, we as a whole need to step back and realize what we are being fed. Lies, the spin and the divisive language coming from both sides is truly getting worse. The violence has rampant up and is a direct response from the rhetoric; 1984 has been literally here for a decade. News stations are, and have been, opinion stations long before the Bush era. That old “kill your television” saying might be the solution, or part of it, along with a focus on education. Not sure myself. But. Definitely a hard look at ourselves and our mindset is needed, now.
Michael Harrington
Oro Valley
Trump’s crew
Donald Trump is the one with his finger on the trigger, snuffing out lives with the merest flick of his digit. I believe the boats are practice targets. For any kid with a mind like Trump, it is all good fun to watch. He probably makes the noise of explosions with his mouth.
He aims to attack any boat or country small enough that they can’t hit back.
Such a one is our leader, the meanest man alive. Trump directs his small band of windbags, blowhards, braggarts, and sneaks to aid him in ruining a perfectly good country, the United States.
It is an ignoble effort they are making to devastate our land. But, when they observe what they have left, the aides and abettors of this monumental mischief, the whole lot of them will slip down in their holes they call home.
Ron Lancaster
North side
The money weapon
Trump uses money to operate his presidency. If it is a university he doesn’t like, he takes away funding. If it is a government department he doesn’t like, he takes away money. If it is a country he doesn’t like, he imposes tariffs that hurt that country and the American people. If Mamdani wins the mayor race in New York, he will take away money. If Trump doesn’t like what PBS News says, he takes away funding. He uses money to threaten, intimidate, and ruin American institutions and services. Our allies are threatened and punished with money ... our money. All he knows is the power of money and how to hurt his enemies and reward his friends by using our money. Wake up.
Richard Bechtold
West side
The Republicans’ shutdown
To the millions of people suffering under this oppression, please understand that this is a direct cause of the Republicans. Trump’s “big bag of BS” bill that Republicans tried to ram down your throats included the two things Democrats are fighting for. If Democrats had not united and stood for ACA subsidies and continuation of food benefits all who recieve those benefits would be picking lint out of your pockets to survive forever. We all paid our taxes last yearm so you would all have the care you need, and the Republicans say no. I can’t believe how absolutely cruel and uncaring of your suffering they are. I am a regular contributor to our food bank and have been for decades. People should not go hungry. Let the Republicans all over the country know the suffering they put you through. Trump and Congress, end this now.
Daniel Poryanda
Southeast side
United we stand
Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning — Albert Einstein
If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter — George Washington
We will make America great again (MAGA). I’ve always won, and I’m going to continue to win. And that’s the way it is. — Donald Trump
Diane Dailey
Southeast side
Extortion
Does that man really understand the meaning of “extortion”? I mean come on now he was impeached for that very same thing with a phone call. That is his primary “Modus Operandi” take for example his current Tariffs are a prime thing in trying to get his way by interacting with other countries. He withholds funds for anybody or anything that doesn’t do his bidding. So let’s call his actions what they truly are — “extortion.”
Fred Thompson
Midtown
America, land that I love
I am trying to keep an open mind about the directions our country is going and with the leader. It is not easy. I love America and I thank the people of the USA who have built our country from its birth to the present. These people are the immigrants of our past, of our families. We are all children of immigrants, whether we are born in America or immigrated — we are all children of immigrants, and our humbled beginnings start from our past — Native Americans, Mayflower, Jamestown, the Gold era, Industrial era … all began with immigrants. We are all immigrants, including Donald Trump and his mismatched administration. May God Bless America.
Diane Dailey
Southeast side
Feasting On $6
The average SNAP benefits paid to Arizonans in 2024 was $180 per month. That’s $6 per day. In compliance with a judge’s order, DJT expressed his delight at paying one-half of the November SNAP benefits. That’s $3 per day for an Arizonan. Difficult to not appreciate his generosity. Especially if you are trying to buy food. Can Ciscomani feed himself for $3 per day?
Kenneth Haber
Northwest side
Rushing to harmful conclusions
Regarding the Vail math teachers who wore bloody Halloween shirts: In reading about the witch trials in the early days of our country, it is striking how similar that process is to what happens now. If one thinks another has an evil motive, then it is decided. And we punish and condemn without ever seeking to understand the circumstances. There is no allowance for people to make choices that may be different, silly, or even wrongheaded, but are not evil and sinister. And we encourage others to jump on our bandwagon. Soon, lives are being destroyed, and none of us benefit in any way at all.
So I wonder: How do we get to a place where opinions can be different without immediately accusing the other as evil? I suspect that the path is found through approaching life – and each other – with humility, curiosity, and wonder. Until we can do that, we are doomed to keep on destroying one another, and in so doing, destroying ourselves.
Lori Bryant
North side
What a joke
President Trump said he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act. What does he think he’s been doing these months in office in bullying law firms, colleges and universities, setting tariffs, etc.? I would call all of that extorting. It’s a joke, but not very funny.
Don Benjamin
Foothills
Reset or recycle
I confess to being an IT troglodyte and to favoring “following edge” technology. My tech savviness consists of unplugging and then plugging in any misbehaving device. Most often, this works for reasons beyond me. If not, I recycle.
Well, I’m afraid we’ve reached a point in our history where it’s time for an existential reset.
Four thousand years ago, Hammurabi, allegedly on a stone tablet, coded the first recorded Law. Three hundred years later, Moses is said to have revised and consolidated, if not plagiarized, that work, also on stone, boiling it down to: No other God, no golden idols, no cursing, don’t forget to go to church and respect your parents, no murder, adultery, stealing, lying or … coveting.
Pretty simple.
But 3,700 years later, it’s seemingly not working. Time for a reset. It’s like the T-shirt says, “Make Lying Wrong Again,” and all that other stuff too.
A. Lawrence Glynn
East side
One reason needed
Jeffrey McConnell wants 14 reasons why Republicans are on the wrong path.
I only need one. Saying it is against the law to criticize the president. Using the DOJ to prosecute those who have said bad things about the president. These are just two recent examples of a president, fully supported by the Republican Party, that is after absolute power over everything. One might even call it fascist.
All other reasons, and there is a long list, take a distant second.
David Reynolds
East side
Aren’t you proud of DC?
Washington, D.C., spans 57 square miles, surrounded by stark reality, where people with a “what’s in it for me” attitude thrive without elegance. When it comes to money and power, rules are meaningless. There are no rules, no regulations, no ethics, despite the Constitution. And there are no ethicists to enforce them in Washington, nor heroes. Instead, there is dementia, decay, crumbling historic ruins, and hate. It’s a place where Epstein’s sex secrets are spilled, immunity granted, revenge prosecutions, and moral bankruptcy endures.
D.C. reflects American selfishness, greed, corporate influence, and political cunning — a place where ambition drives many without skills, where truth is scarce, and secrets are exchanged openly. It’s also a place where insider stock trading is commonplace, where the business of other people’s business sometimes gets handled, in a community unto itself — Capitol Hill, with afternoon highballs and famous, celebrated gatherings. Amid all that glitz, glamour, and wonder, it’s our nation’s capital. Aren’t you proud?
Jerry Wilkerson
SaddleBrooke
Incorrect water math
Deep apologies to the Star and its staff who work so hard to get things right, only to publish LTEs where the authors haven’t been as diligent.
That’s on me. I multiplied instead of divided when figuring out how to humanize the 2021 amount of water the Amazon data centers used.
My terrible math came up with 14 feet of depth that water would fill over the Tucson and Phoenix areas. It’s only 8” — still in my opinion a huge amount of water, but my bad math kicked that up to a ridiculous amount. Lesson: When something sounds ridiculous, it probably is.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
Trump: ‘Let them eat cake’
The agriculture department has billions set aside specifically for food stamp benefits to continue during a government shutdown. But Trump says no.
The Democrats want to make a deal with the Republicans so that the ACA health supplements can continue, and millions won’t lose their health insurance. This many people with no health insurance means that over 50,000 people will die for lack of health care in this coming year. But maybe even more concerning is that all medical insurance rates will increase for everyone! Most estimates say this increase may be as high as 50%.
That means if you pay $500 a month now for insurance, your new bill might be $1,000 or more.
Everyone loses!
So, what can be done?
Trump and the Republicans have no health plan to offer. And, in fact, congressional Republicans have not even been in session for over 5 weeks. They passed the BBB, giving billionaires big tax breaks, and essentially are saying no one else matters.
Shirley Pevarnik
West side
Where the rubber meets the road
After car camping across country, West Coast to East Coast and back, over the summer, the reality of our experience perfectly matched that of the Nov. 2 LTE: “Credit where credit is due.” President Biden’s Infrastructure and Jobs Act is clearly in full swing across the country for anyone who travels to see. President Biden’s positive investments in America were as real as the current economic and health care assaults being employed by this administration. His Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act were visionary efforts to keep America on a track toward progress and opportunities for future generations engaged in the American dream. This stands in stark contrast to the current administration’s efforts to return to tired and expensive policies and paradigms that they like to refer to as “Again.” The only thing that seems to be new this term is the gold-plated east wing erected to entertain the loyalists who are willing to pay to play.
Ed Waymire
Midtown
The president’s salary
Article 2, Section 1, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution says that “The President receives a fixed salary and cannot receive any additional salary, fee or profit.” That is what it says and, as we all realize, our current President pays no attention to it at all. He gains money, gifts and others which add to his immense wealth. I’m sure our founders did not have Trump in mind when they drew up the Constitution, but they probably felt that it was meant to limit any aspirations he might have of trading wealth for political considerations. Well, it hasn’t and he does. The Constitution, to Trump, is not an obstacle, he just overlooks it and does as he will. Isn’t it great to be an American?
Philip Reinecker
East side
Tucson traffic-related fatalities
This past Thursday night, three college-age pedestrians were killed by a driver who, based on a Tucson Police Department report, was impaired by alcohol and or drugs at the time of the collision.
As local news has reported, the loss of the three students to family and friends is immense. Having not lost family or friends to a tragedy like this, I can not imagine the pain being experienced by those close to the three students. Not to excuse the actions of the college-age driver, but that family is also suffering.
Since Jan. 1, 2025, 23 other pedestrians have been killed in traffic-related crashes within Tucson City limits; 290 since Jan. 1, 2017. Total traffic-related lives lost for 2025 (to date) is 78; 730 since Jan. 1, 2017.
Red light running, excessive speeds above posted speed limits and impaired drivers (250 bars in Tucson) are a given for Tucson streets. To be clear, some of the pedestrian deaths are a result of the pedestrian’s actions.
Randy Garmon
North side
Ten Commandments
Conservatives keep clamoring for the displaying of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms and on public properties. How about if they first try posting them throughout the White House? There could also be a counting meter installed to record violations (including weaseling). One piece of advice, however. Given the perverse values, worldviews, and behaviors of Trump and his accomplices/excusers, make sure this tracking system is high-powered and has plenty of back-up. The circuits will be going berserk.
Ron Rude
West side
Priorities
Kash Patel used a $60 million jet on taxpayers’ dime to go see his girlfriend over the weekend.
Trump has golfed 70 days this year, 24% of his presidency, at a cost of $98 million, taxpayer-funded.
JD Vance’s vacations with his family have cost taxpayers $35 million so far.
The single mom on food stamps s not the problem.
An immigrant at the ER is not the problem.
And a family of 4 that’s on SNAP that gets $7 per person per day is definitely not the problem.
Terry Louck
East side
Crosswalk issues
I read with sadness the recent pedestrian deaths from collisions at Euclid and 2nd Street crossing. I agree that the installation of flashing lights at crosswalks is the logical step the city and U of A should take to prevent this tragedy from reoccurring. I would also like to point out that if pedestrians were willing to walk one block to University (3rd Street) and Euclid there is a traffic signal there. Too many times, pedestrians don’t take a simple extra effort to ensure their safety. I have observed many “jaywalkers” on First Avenue.
Peter Stone
North side
Will Artal be prosecuted?
On Nov. 13, 1983, August Busch IV left a bar near the UA with a waitress named Michele Frederick. A little while later, Busch crashed his Corvette on River Road, killing Frederick. Busch was able to walk away, then went home. At the crash site, the police found a gun, some empty Bud Light cans, and Busch’s wallet and ID. After the police found Busch at his home, they pulled blood and urine samples. But the lab screwed up the blood sample, and the urine sample was lost. No one testified to Busch’s physical state at the bar, so the DA had to let him go.
The crash that killed three innocent students at 2nd and Euclid was horrible. While a person is innocent until proven guilty, I certainly hope that the Maricopa County prosecutors send the perpetrator to prison for life. It would be heartbreaking if money and incompetence once again protects another suspect over 40 years later.
Matt Somers
Midtown
East Wing demolition
Dewey, I picked the “most puerile” battle about the demolition of the East Wing of the White House because it is emblematic of the whole Trump administration: to tear down, demolish or destroy. He is like a bull in a China cabinet. Everything he touches dies. His biggest ambition is to destroy our democracy. He’s doing a good job with that. Furthermore, six trees, including two Commemorative Magnolias and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden vanished. Good heavens, I got a grip, and it’s not good.
Margaret Gordon Magruder
Downtown
John Roberts and the Supreme Court
In her book Without Precedent, author Lisa Graves suggests that Roberts has undermined US democracy. There has been an organized capture of the SCOTUS by the far right, in the form of the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo in particular. They have installed a billionaire presence in the court with the intent of perpetuating their agenda. The author says that agenda is to revert the law to the robber baron era.
I remember Roberts’ nomination hearing in which he suggested that no one is above the law. Now he seems to have made an exception for Trump. Roberts portrays himself as an institutionalist, a fair umpire but his actions are that of someone pushing an agenda that goes counter to our Founders’ ideals. Chief Justice of the SCOTUS is a critical power position, and when that position favors authoritarianism, we are in deep trouble.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
When simple lies are not enough
It’s a sad fact that the Trump administration continually feels it must bolster its image by lying and relying on social media (where fact checkers do not exist) to convince citizens of its competence.
The latest blatant examples of misdirection (that’s the polite term for sheer fabrication) are the Department of Homeland Security’s doctored videos of previous immigration operations recorded in Los Angeles and West Palm Beach, Florida, re-used as an attempt to convince the American people that ICE’s takeover of Washington, D.C. was a battle for the soul of the nation, and they’d been working ceaselessly to detain and deport “vicious criminals.”
Whatever happened to “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” since Mr. Trump seems to regard himself as today’s equivalent of Superman?
Melody Sears
North side
A rose by any other name
The proposal for five city-owned grocery stores by Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic-Socialist candidate for NYC mayor, has generated a lot of press. Democrats are ambivalent about him. Republicans are using his position to try to portray the Democratic party as ‘socialist’, ignoring the fact that NYC politics are unique, not representative of the country as a whole. The old phrase about politics being local still applies in city races.
After reading the Bloomberg News article (ADS,10/31/2025), it’s clear that Mamdani’s proposal is very small beer compared to the Trump administration’s obtaining ‘a piece of the action’, i.e. equity shares, in large US companies, with control of corporate decisions, and its plans to continue this practice. Rebranding this as “state capitalism” doesn’t change the fact that this is classical socialism, defined as state control of the means of production. So, anti-socialism Republicans might look to their own house first. Where has their support for free markets gone?
Barbara Hall
Midtown
Who’s next at QB?
Brilliant game again from Fifita against CU and he will surely be GOAT for # of career TDs by end of this year. Big question is if he steps into the NFL, who will take the reins. Surely not the ineffective, incapable Locke who could not hit the side of a barn. Is there someone in the roster coming up? If so, why didn’t he get a shot at CU?
Bowl appearance for Brennan and staff in 2025 would be stellar.
Mark Zaj
Foothills
Obit: US democracy
We know the image from history, the gilded ballroom at the White House in parallel to the palatial hallways of Versailles, in stark contrast to the rapid impoverishment of millions of Americans soon to suffer from famine. Our military is ordered to prepare an entirely unprovoked war against Venezuela, and this at the daily cost of millions of dollars, all wasted. The federal government is no longer working as the representative of the people, trying to deny them health care and basic food, hence the shutdown. In response to the brutal repression of the uprising by the East Germans against the Socialist regime on June 17, 1953, famous poet Brecht satirically reflected on this in his poem “The Solution”: “Would it not in that case / Be simpler for the government / To dissolve the people / And elect another?” I can see the big winner in all this political fiasco, orchestrated far away by Putin and dutifully carried out by his ‘student.’ The American hegemony has become wobbly, now visible to all.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
No Donald, SNAP recipients are Americans
Read where you were talking to reporters on AF 1 flying to your Great Gatsby party (at taxpayers’ expense by the way) describing most SNAP beneficiaries as Democrats. Sorry Donald, these beneficiaries are Americans. They are the people you were elected to serve as POTUS, not just your uber-rich cronies. Thanks to you and the rest of your MAGA party (I don’t believe Republican applies to anyone who adheres to your way of thinking and acting) these Americans will struggle to feed themselves and their kids. But, after all, since they’re mostly Dems, so be it. Hope you enjoyed your Great Gatsby outing. Glad I could fund your flight. Maybe next you can double the cost of health care.
Norman Patten
Midtown
Medicare For All and save billions
The simplest path to affordable health care is staring us in the face: expand Medicare to everyone and eliminate the insurance middlemen who profit from sickness. America spends nearly $5 trillion a year on health care, yet millions remain uninsured. Private insurance companies siphon off 12–18 cents of every premium dollar for overhead, advertising, and executive bonuses. Traditional Medicare operates efficiently at about 2–4%.
If every American were covered under Medicare, we’d save $500 billion annually just in administrative costs, plus another $300 billion from negotiated drug and hospital prices. That’s up to $800 billion a year, money that could go to care, not paperwork and profit.
It’s no surprise that 92% of people on Medicare say they’re satisfied with their coverage. The system works. What doesn’t work is allowing insurance companies to act as toll collectors between patients and doctors. Let’s remove the toll booths, extend Medicare to everyone, and finally make health care a right, not a corporate opportunity.
Lawrence E. Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Nothing to do with fentanyl
In 2020, a private security firm (hint, hint CIA) collaborated with Venezuelan dissidents to effect regime change and were embarrassingly rebuffed.
This time the Great Invader will get it right. Supposed fishing boats are being vaporized.
Do ya think it might be overkill when a $13B carrier with Airwing 8, several escort cruisers and fast attack subs can face off against a dinghy?
I glimpse into the future and see Nobel.
Between the $20B bailout for Make Argentina Great Again and the $6.8M to $8M per day for the strike force, it makes perfect sense to eliminate SNAP, $103B annually and USAID, $23B annually. Thank you for your attention: Trump is saving us big bucks.
A president who can differentiate between an elephant and a pachyderm will start income-taxing factory robot workers.
It will be the bestest and beautifullest the universe has ever seen.
Now we won’t have to worry about the $38T national debt, of which Mr. Trump has contributed almost $8T and counting.
Thomas J. Plesniak
Midtown
Tucson community priorities
The sadness of three U of A students losing their lives because of the irresponsibility of another college student driving under the influence is overwhelming for our community. As I waited outside of my chiropractor’s office this past Friday afternoon, watching drivers brazenly breaking the speed limit on Euclid and running the red lights at Euclid and University; I angrily questioned where were our TPD traffic cops? They were nowhere to be seen, despite the tragic losses that had just occurred in the very same area of Tucson. Why aren’t our Mayor and City Council ordering Tucson’s police chief, who works for them, to prioritize enforcing traffic laws that help to make our city streets safer and perhaps avoid losing lives to this type of careless actions? Does it have to be the loss of lives and serious injuries to force action from Tucson’s elected officials? As it did with the stabbing of a bicyclist along the Rillito’s loop. Sadly, it appears it does.
Jerry Anderson
North side
Dog safety
To keep a dog restrained in the car, use a crash-tested harness that connects to a seat belt tether, a secure travel crate, or a vehicle barrier. The safest option is a specialized harness and tether, which limits movement and can prevent serious injury in an accident by stopping the dog from becoming a projectile. Always keep pets in the back seat to avoid the risk of injury from front airbags. A secure dog won’t be able to run out of the car into traffic.
Peter Bisschop
East side
Fiddling while USA burns
Nero built the Golden Palace on the ashes of Rome while many of the people were still starving and homeless. The East Wing is demolished to put up a ballroom. I didn’t realize we had so many balls.
Food assistance and healthcare are being withheld for hundreds of thousands in our country.
By the way, Nero’s Palace was completed the year of his death in 68 AD and in 70 AD it was dismantled to erect the Colosseum.
Barbara Moore
East side
Democratic nonsense revisited
There have been three LTEs printed in response to my admittedly provocative letter of fourteen tenets why I believe the Democratic Party has lost its way.
Writer Hope Gastelum offered no counterpoint only stating that I am throwing ‘out a slew of absurd distortions of reality in a rancor-filled and truth-challenged tantrum …’
John Bingham kindly acknowledged that some of my oversimplified statements are close to reality before suggesting that I do not have the functional brain cells to determine what is right and wrong.
David Hatch dealt only with the issues and asked the purpose of my letter. The answer is in the first sentence.
Perhaps readers can offer fourteen reasons why Republicans are on the wrong path.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
Project Blue haunting
Bowled over by Dittmer’s Guest Opinion distilling fairly complex legal procedures and contract terms so I could understand it. Shame on Amazon — and shame on the Arizona Corporation Commission for failing to protect Arizonans.
It’s even worse. An October 25 Guardian article cites leaked Amazon internal memo — actual 2021 data center water use: 105 billion gallons, not PR “water positive” BS claim of only 7.7 billion gallons.
Are you sitting down? Actual water used? Would cover both Tucson and Phoenix to a depth of about 14 feet. Close your eyes: Imagine a 10-meter Olympic diving pool covering all of Tucson and all of Phoenix.
Math: 1 billion gallons of water will cover an area of about 60 sq.mi. 1” deep.
Tucson: About 240 sq.mi.; Phoenix: About 518 sq.mi.
You say data centers air cooled now? Research it yourself to see how much power will still be needed from TEP’s fossil-fuel-burning plants and know that 70% of that required cooling water is lost, bye bye.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
- Ron Rude, West side
Conservatives keep clamoring for the displaying of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms and on public properties. How about if they first try posting them throughout the White House? There could also be a counting meter installed to record violations (including weaseling). One piece of advice, however. Given the perverse values, worldviews, and behaviors of Trump and his accomplices/excusers, make sure this tracking system is high-powered and has plenty of back-up. The circuits will be going berserk.
Ron Rude
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Trump’s motive in terrifying Venezuela
Why is Trump ordering airstrikes on unidentified people in international waters, then gleefully releasing videos of their executions?
Why did he order our bombers to approach Venezuelan airspace and conduct a “bomber attack demonstration”? Why did he order troops to staging areas in the Caribbean? Why did he order an American carrier strike group to depart European waters and move toward Venezuela? Why is he suddenly so obsessed with Venezuela? Simple. It’s the oil, stupid.
Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. Trump wants it. So do his billionaire buddies. And Trump is the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful military in the world. And he has made it clear that he is willing to order that military to kill civilians without provocation. And his orders are followed.
Weaver Barkman
Midtown
More cows in US
John Leos’s article in the Daily Star reported efforts to remove grazing restrictions on public lands — the latest example of ‘bovine imperialism’. For thousands of years, cultures worldwide have favored domestic grazing animals with profound impacts on native vegetation.
Annual net productivity from cattle is often matched by government subsidies (low grazing rates on public lands, roads, water developments, etc.). In the 1800s, southeastern Arizona grasslands were lush. After Apache threats ended in the 1870s, cattle ranches flourished, and ranges were very quickly overgrazed.
The “onerous” regulations were put in place to protect grasslands. Without external grazing limits, cattlemen are often not good land stewards — ranches are for-profit businesses. Increasing cattle on public lands by slashing regulations while importing Argentine beef, along with punishing tariffs and unintentional painful impacts on U.S. businesses with no concern for the environment instead of careful planning is typical Trump chaotic leadership.
Tom Van Devender
North side
East wing demolition
The first iteration of the east wing of the White House was a terrace to accommodate guests, built during Theodore Roosevelt’s term in 1902.
White House social secretaries have long lamented the lack of entertainment space for large state dinner affairs, dating back to President Benjamin Harrison in 1891. Every piece of artwork and artifact were meticulously digitally documented by White House historical/preservationist staff before the east wing project began.
The reaction to this “demolition” has been hysterical by certain people. Hilary Clinton: “it’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.” Gavin Newsom: “literally destroying the White House.” Even the Star’s Rick Rappaport wrote that he “teared up” in a recent column.
Of all the battles to pick with Trump and his administration, this must count as the most puerile. Altering the most modern part of the White House is not its destruction. Good Heavens, people. Get a grip.
Dewey Bidwell
Northeast side
Respect is earned
I don’t give a bloody damn whether you call yourself a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent or anything else. When something is wrong and harms children, the working poor, our military, and others who depend on the government for assistance, get off your collective behinds and demand that it be rectified immediately.
Call your idle Congressional representatives and tell them to represent you because you are a person of conscience and character and not some fake, fawning loser who doesn’t care about others.
It’s a matter of respect and, if you want respect, then earn it.
Cynthia Schiesel
East side
Two peas in a pod
Both authoritarians, Trump and Netanyahu, seek to avoid jail and further court decisions against them by hurting others (Hispanics, Latinos and Palestinians), through diversions. Trump illegally kills South Americans because he believes they transport drugs — without proof. Maybe, but “where’s the beef?” (It’s in Argentina, or on its way here).
Trump and Netanyahu share another trait. Neither one can be trusted to not renege on any agreement, whether signed or not.
A Palestinian, most likely Hamas, shot and killed an Israeli soldier. Israel responded in kind by carrying out heavy airstrikes, killing 104 civilians (47 children).
We are the United States of America, not Israel. While I am an American Jewish patriot, I’m not an Israeli. But October 7 still hurts, as does 68,631 Palestinians and 6M Jews, because I am a human being and care about what happens to others.
But I cannot defend those masked men who assault us on our own streets, attacking democracy, from without or within, as we’re seeing now.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Courage for our TUSD kids
It’s easy to say “no” from behind a screen. What takes real courage is standing up for our kids and saying “yes” to a stronger future. Proposition 414 isn’t just about funding — it’s about values, priorities, and trust.
TUSD has made real progress in financial transparency and accountability. From launching its first digital budget book to earning national recognition for financial reporting, TUSD shows its taxpayers that every dollar is accounted for.
Prop 414 builds on that commitment by helping attract and retain quality teachers, and by protecting programs in fine arts, preschool, and career and technical education. As a TUSD parent, I’ve seen firsthand how my boys have thrived because of these opportunities — and every child deserves that same chance.
Saying “no” for the same tired reasons is easy, especially when misinformation spreads online, but our students — my kids, your kids — deserve better. Real courage means believing in public education and investing in our kids’ futures.
Vote YES on Proposition 414 — because our kids are worth it!
Ricky Hernandez
Sahuarita
IQ tests
Trump has repeatedly accused Congresswomen AOC and Crockett of being dumb and said they should take an IQ test. Jimmy Kimmel has offered to host a real IQ test, not the one Trump took that identifies dementia. Crockett has accepted the challenge.
Do Loyal, McConnell et al, believe the self-described genius would actually dare to show up? When I grew up, one was told to put your money where your mouth is. Trump will chicken out.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
He crossed that line
I used to take some comfort in the fact that Donald. Trump wasn’t a full-blown dictator because he didn’t have inconvenient people killed like his hero, Putin. Those days are over.
Now, Trump is having boaters executed in the Caribbean because he can. Why does the military go along with it?
Robert McNeil
Midtown
Wiffle ball
After wincing at articles like “Cops fortify deportation dragnet,” describing the use of local police, state troopers, university law enforcement and lottery investigators for immigration control, “Carrier move marks shift,” reporting the removal of one of America’s most advanced aircraft carriers from the Mediterranean Sea to fight drug cartels, and “Trump suggests US will resume nuclear testing,” detailing President Trump’s worrisome plan to restart nuclear testing, I chuckled reading “Wiffle ball pro league launches.”
The article explains Logan Rose’s passion for Wiffle ball, resulting in America’s first wiffle ball league. I remembered my brother and I spending hours as kids working on wiffle curve balls and changing the distance for base hits and home runs.
I relived my sons and I filling fishing intervals with wiffle ball games during a Madison River vacation, happily heckling the batter or pitcher. I welcomed this brief therapeutic break from the dismal local, national, and international news, like “U.S. asks judge to toss AZ’s suit over food stamps.”
Roger Shanley
East side
Dia de los Muertos
Thanks to the Star’s Caliente front page coverage in the Oct 30 issue.
It stated, “A TIME FOR LOVE AND CELEBRATION.” This weekend’s Dia de los Muertos. It says it all, and we must not forget the importance of love, celebration and memorials. We live in dark times, and I encourage all to participate.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
- Terry Louck, East side
In any true, honest and functioning democracy, Trump would be behind bars by now.
Terry Louck
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
You hit harder when you don’t hit back
I’m grateful for Tim Steller’s Oct. 29 column: “Feds trying to criminalize protest in Tucson, elsewhere.” Yes, “they are trying to figure out the shadowy entity behind the protests.” But there is none. The June and October No Kings Day marches and demonstrations have been joyful, non-violent gatherings. The celebratory costume parties and naked bicycle rides of Portland are models for effective opposition to the growing authoritarian threat of Trump’s administration.
We are blessed, all these decades later, by the example of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. John Lewis called it “making good trouble.” We need it more than ever, right now, to save our democracy.
Greg Lewis
Midtown
Vote yes on 414
It’s easy to say “no” from behind a screen. What takes real courage is standing up for our kids and saying “yes” to a stronger future. Proposition 414 isn’t just about funding — it’s about values, priorities, and trust.
Tucson Unified has made real progress in financial transparency and accountability. From launching its first digital budget book to earning national recognition for reporting, TUSD is showing taxpayers that every dollar counts.
Prop 414 builds on that commitment by helping attract and retain quality teachers, and by protecting programs in fine arts, preschool, and career and technical education. As a TUSD parent, I’ve seen firsthand how my boys have benefited from these opportunities — and every child deserves that same chance.
Saying “no” might feel easy, especially when misinformation spreads online, but our students — my kids, your kids — deserve better. Real courage means believing in public education and investing in our children’s future.
Vote yes on Proposition 414 — because our kids are worth it.
Ricky Hernandez
Sahuarita
Sarcasm at its best
Re: The letter of the “Democrats’ nonsense”
What a great sense of sarcasm! Except for the fact that you seem to be confused, even while you know the accusations to be false.
For one thing, autism is not even close to 1 in 12, nor 1 in 20,000. If you look it up, it is approximately 3 in 100.
Are you taking after your “leader” and making up your own facts?
Regarding the second statement, you were dead on.
A very famous man once described our nation as having been “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
I certainly would not deny that women played a part, but many a man “gave birth” to the idea of freedom.
And you, among many other men, have given birth, e.g., to the idea that approximately 50% of the population is loony.
My only question is, of what purpose is your letter? What does it accomplish?
David Hatch
Southeast side
Demolishing the ‘People’s House’
Not because the people wanted it, but some companies decided to fund it.
Military contractors, including ‘for hire’ military personnel and private prison contractors, Google, a tobacco company, and an AI company, among others. Lay off workers, pay off the regime.
These companies were called “Patriots” for funding this destruction.
Remember, these companies don’t pay much in taxes, have international offices and agendas, so I guess they can easily afford the $250-$300 million to bribe our government.
“Patriot” seems to be widely used to describe engaging in destruction of the WH property, the Constitution and our ‘representation’. And our government keeps wasting hard-earned taxpayer money.
Side note: We sealed the payment of $20 billion of taxpayer money to Argentina to enrich friends of the Treasury Secretary. But we can’t afford middle-class healthcare subsidies.
This is not winning.
What say you, Ciscomani? You are quiet, getting your paycheck but not working for the people.
Did the AZ Young Republicans (adults under 40) disband yet?
Carissa Sipp
Midtown
I’m a Democrat
I just read an LTE about what the Democratic Party has become. I do see the points the author makes, and as absurd as they are, some are close to reality. However, I feel it’s necessary to point out that the former GOP is now the Trump Party. Nothing shows loyalty to a dictator more than boot-licking Mike Johnson and the other “flying monkeys” representing the Trump Party. They apparently don’t have functional brain cells to determine what is right and wrong. They just go with what their glorious leader tells them to go with.
You can say what you want about the Democrats. We (or most of us) know the difference between a political party and a band of miscreants. I don’t agree with all the Democratic Party has become, but at least I know that it beats being part of the butt-kissing alternate party.
John Bingham
Northwest side
There is no future without a past
We know that Trump is destroying institutions. He is gutting the Constitution with his imperial presidency. He has gutted the Justice Department. He has demanded that colleges and universities sign his compact stipulating what may be taught and how. |He has reduced Congress to a rubber stamp to achieve his personal ends. He has made a mockery of “No one is above the law” through his pardons of criminals. He is ripping off all Americans by using his position for personal gain. And he is committing a worse crime: He is erasing our historical memory. He is rewriting our history, for example, by erasing mention of slavery and internment of Japanese Americans during WW II. Perhaps most important of all: He is destroying the symbol of our nation by adding the ballroom to the White House, which will ultimately dwarf the original structure. He is eradicating the White House, the universally recognized symbol of the United States. How will we know how to construct our future if we eliminate our past?
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
Defund Congress
This would be a good time to cut off all federal funding for elected officials because they are not able to keep the government operating anyway.
Michael Armstrong
Foothills
Immigration
Now that ICE is permitted to use language as a factor to use when stopping people, I am beginning to understand why Trump wants to make Canada the 51st state. Since Quebec province currently has a population of around 8 million people, and most of them do not speak English (their official language is French), ICE will be able to easily find many persons to stop, arrest and deport when they hear these people talking in French. Surely this will make it much quicker for Trump to accomplish his deportation number goals.
Alan Roehl
Green Valley
Democracy
In any true, honest and functioning democracy, Trump would be behind bars by now.
Terry Louck
East side
A new chorus
I am confused because the United States gives foreign aid all around the world while we have a $30 trillion dollar debt. $20 billion to Argentina for what? We are set to abandon millions of people of their health care, while spending recklessly on “pork projects” around the nation and world. Knee-jerk spending for the squeaky wheel demonstrates neglect of that wheel.
The Congress and Executive branch are like an orchestra playing whatever tune gets them the most attention. Good press, bad press, it is press no less. It doesn’t matter what you say about me as long as you are talking about me is the norm.
I have written before, re-elect no one. Send every Representative home, along with one-third of the Senate. The Electorate needs to simply act and take the power away from the status quo. Democrats are unhappy, Republicans are unhappy, the electorate is unhappy. How long can this marriage last?
Next November, bring in a new chorus. It is as simple as that.
Ed LeGendre
East side
Safe havens
I find it interesting that many of President Trump’s top aides and cabinet secretaries are opting for living on secure military bases with their families away from their actual homes and neighbors; this is reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s top aides preparing to leave Germany for a safe hideaway in Argentina at the end of WWII. Like the refugees escaping Hitler’s war-torn Germany to hide from justice and the vengeance of other nations, the present refugees hiding at a military base have no concept of the harm they are doing or have willingly participated in as they followed a corrupt Trump administration to deny civil rights, participate in unlawful actions and injure others at the behest of their leader. One aspect I’m sure they didn’t consider was that while they may feel safe now hiding behind the military on base, it will make it that much easier to find and prosecute them for their criminal actions — so their safe haven may eventually become their prison.
Richard Rebl
East side
Anti-vaxxers
The article of Oct. 28 regarding the bills allowing parents to not have their children vaccinated got me to thinking. If a parent believes the medical science of vaccines is not valid and their unvaccinated child then catches that disease, will they now take their sick unvaccinated child to the doctor to be treated with medical science? Not sure if that is being ironical or hypocritical.
In my opinion, not vaccinating your child is like driving under the influence with your child in the car. Your deliberate neglect places the child’s life at risk.
Larry Hammond
Southwest side
Opportunity for WIFA to use its funds
In a recent Star article, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA)was portrayed as unable to spend its state’s busiest allocations in a timely way because it had no feasible projects to support (e.g., desalination in the Sea of Cortez or the Pacific, importing water by truck or pipeline). Today’s Star provides help for them on page B1, in an article detailing the research projects of the Water & Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center at UA, which focus on recycling/reuse and reverse osmosis purification. These lower-cost alternatives deserve support and implementation at scale. Why is WIFA not investing in them? Too inexpensive? Not grandiose enough?
Suzanne Ferguson
Midtown
Caribbean murders by our government
I don’t understand why the American public is not outraged by the very public videos of the intentional murder of 67 human beings in the Caribbean. We are given the explanation that these are “fentanyl smugglers,” although Venezuela is not a big, active “player” in fentanyl trafficking. There is no accountability. For sure, our intelligence gathering community of the governments know “who” was on each boat. This feels like our government is facilitating the “revenge factor” for the Venezuelan government.
Mary Beth Schneider
East side
If Canada joins the Union
Consider Trump’s illusions of Canada joining the Union: Canadians seem more sensible and might be able to fix what is wrong with our system.
Each state has two senators and at least one congressman in the House. The total number of congressmen is fixed by law at 435. The allocation amongst the states depends on the latest census.
Five states have populations less than a million, and each has one member in the House. Seven of the 10 Canadian provinces have populations exceeding those five.
After Canada joins the Union, each Canadian province will get two seats in the Senate for a total increase of 20. The allocation of seats in the House is complicated, but nine of the new states will have populations greater than Wyoming and eight greater than Vermont. Therefore, the provinces will have 20 senators, and at minimum, 10 seats in the House.
It could make for a whole new ball game.
Michael Burdoo
West side
Corrupt payments for ballroom
Trump’s supporters love to point out that he is building his ballroom with private funds, not taxpayer money. Several laws and Constitutional provisions prohibit Presidents from unilaterally spending privately donated funds on government projects, including The Anti-Deficiency Act, The Appropriations Clause of the Constitution and the Impoundment Control Act. Any such expenditures must be approved by Congress. Why? Because doing so would open the door to hidden influences from donors. Because billionaires would be able to trade donations for business regulations or tax breaks. Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill gave Google an $18 billion tax break, Amazon $16 billion, Microsoft $12 billion, and Facebook $11 billion. Now they are writing checks to him for his $300 million ballroom. Wonder why? There are reasons for our laws that this President thinks do not apply to him. The corruption of this administration is the worst this country has ever seen and is blatant and unchecked. Vote accordingly.
Kathleen Harris
Foothills
Continuing government shutdown
About 15 years ago, some 50 million people in the U.S. were without health insurance. The Affordable Care Act was going to fix this problem. It made progress, but as of 2024, about 26 million people were without insurance, even though subsidies were greatly increased in 2021, on a temporary basis, by the Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act. They were extended through 2025 under the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. The expiration of these “ temporary” subsidies at the end of 2025 is the sticking point that has Democrat Senators keeping the government shutdown in place. The problem is that the individual’s insurance rates will increase greatly because health costs and insurance costs increased tremendously in the past few years due to record levels of inflation. In a nutshell, the problem that will exist after the temporary subsidies expire is a direct result of shortsighted “ solutions” put in place by Democrats in the past.
Matthew Scully
Sahuarita
Astonishing
I find it interesting that the Star recently published four LTEs concerning the construction at the White House, but there was not one peep from the same liberal LTEers regarding the current government shutdown. Saturday, assistance for many vital programs will end, and federal workers are not receiving paychecks, resulting in significant damage to the most needy amongst us. But who cares? The Democratic Senators must feel mighty proud standing up for a lost and foolish cause, particularly when it is on the financial backs of their constituents. And, oh ya, these same Senators have elected to continue to receive their salaries. This clearly indicates what is important to a liberal LTEer.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Historic building destroyed
Where is the outrage regarding the dangerous health conditions being created by the destruction of the historic house that Donald Trump does not own? This portion of our White House was constructed in 1948 and is loaded with asbestos, lead and small animal feces that could eventually cause sickness and death in the people involved in the destruction. No permit or review was conducted prior to selecting the company performing the demolition. OSHA needs to inspect the entire site and when they do, should close it down and fine the construction company. The required bidding process was completely circumvented due to the revamping of the Planning Commission by Trump. The U.S. Congress was also bypassed. So, all the members of the White House staff, members of Congress, and the entire construction crew assigned to tear down then build the monstrosity, not to mention the golfers who will eventually play where the debris is deposited, will be infected.
Thomas Wilson
Northwest side
Trump’s distraction
I agree with LTE writer Sandra Katz, who pointed out that renovation and demolition are two different activities regarding the White House. And she hopes that Trump’s attention will now be focused on his building project rather than continuing to demolish our democracy. However, there seems to be at least two other people calling the shots in the White House who are laser-focused on the destruction of our democracy. Stephen Miller and Project 2025’s key author and Trump-appointed director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought. Both are drunk with power and cruelty.
Karen Allison
Three Points
Step up to the plate, Mr. C
It’s long past time for Congressman Ciscomani to lead a congress-wide protest against Speaker Johnson’s unconscionable delay in swearing in Adelita Grijalva to her House seat. No one (not even Mr. Johnson) is questioning the legitimacy of her win. Rather, he “justifies” his delay by one transparent pretext after another, all of which are simply shams, as proven by his having sworn in two similarly elected Republican congressional winners earlier this year. Not only are all citizens of CD6 being deprived of our congressional representation, but also the strength of the entire AZ delegation is weakened. It’s time to speak up and enlist your colleagues, Mr. C. This purely political disenfranchisement must end, else who knows where, when, or to whom it might happen next?
Gerard Ervin
Northeast side
Positivity challenge
A few weeks ago, a letter writer dared us all to propose positive suggestions to deal with the current political challenges. At first, I felt she was being unrealistically upbeat, but soon realized there is little hope for progress unless we follow her advice. The Republicans wrote Project 2025 and are executing it with a vengeance. It’s time for Democrats to join Independents to develop Project 2029, a comprehensive vision that allows all Americans to realize prosperity.
The biggest boondoggle in the “big, beautiful bill” is $75 billion allocated to ICE. Most agree their methods unconstitutionally violate human rights, erode community safety, encourage lawlessness, instill fear, separate families and take a lazy approach to an enormous problem better addressed by comprehensive immigration reform.
My positive suggestion? When the Republicans lose, every dollar earmarked for ICE should be reallocated to reinvigorate public education — raise teacher salaries, improve buildings, upgrade internet and, unfortunately, install metal detectors. It is time to invest in America’s children, not Trump’s masked stormtroopers.
Jim Lombardo
Oro Valley
The means justify the end
I recently gained insight into the thought process of a Trump supporter (supporters?). In an LTE praising Trump’s accomplishments, the writer states, “Once you have set aside Trump’s ego and narcissism ...” his accomplishments “far exceed any president in history.” So the writer is implying that he doesn’t care about Trump’s moral behavior (egotistical, narcissistic) as long as he issues policies that the supporter likes.
Anti-Trump writers, who criticize Trump’s behavior, e.g., lying, pardoning convicted felons, ignoring due process, the Constitution, etc., bring up irrelevant issues for the Trump supporter. One can’t have a meaningful debate about what another person finds meaningless.
Dale Gehring
Midtown
The president gets played
In Trump’s recent visit to South Korea, he got played like a cheap violin. A military band blasted Trump’s favorite “YMCA”. Cannons pounded a salute when he got off the plane. He was presented a replica gold crown and side dishes made with ketchup (Burger King?). He was awarded a medal, The Grand Order of Mugunghwa, as President Lee said: “you have many firsts and only with you.” Getting played is one thing. Not knowing you are getting played is embarrassing. It was a replay of his visits to Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The old saying fits. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Either Trump is a brilliant strategist playing the player, or he is getting played. Time will tell.
John Kautz
Midtown
Anti-vax support
I wholeheartedly support the anti-vax and anti-science proponents in their efforts to remove themselves and their offspring from the gene pool.
John Rademaker
Foothills
Vote no on Proposition 417
If you are still undecided on Proposition 417, perhaps this might help.
There are 17 statutory requirements that the state requires cities to put into their General Plans. One of those requirements is Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization. You will NOT find that goal anywhere in Plan Tucson 2025, which the city wants you to approve. However, you will find a goal that addresses art and culture, even though this is not a statutory requirement.
So what does this mean? It means that the city is willing to ignore the law in order to marginalize the voices of neighborhoods, and the people who live in them.
Ask yourself: Is this a plan that you want to put in place for the next 10 years? If you feel it is important for you to have a say in what happens in your neighborhood, then let your Vote be your Voice.
Vote NO on Proposition 417.
Colette Altaffer
Midtown
- Sarah McKasson, Midtown
Had to respond to Linda Schaub (LTE on Oct. 26)
After reviewing your list of taxpayer-funded renovations to the White House, I noticed a common theme. All the projects listed did not require demolition of any existing buildings in the White House, for example, the East Wing. Do you think maybe that could be the cause of the uproar?
Sarah McKasson
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Destroying small boats
As long as I can remember, the U.S. Coast Guard has approached vessels suspected of transgressions and forced them to stop, boarded them and proceeded with appropriate action. Of late, Secretary of War (No longer Defense) Pete Hegseth has caused our attack ships to fire on “suspected drug smugglers,” destroying them and killing several individuals. As far as I’ve heard, they’ve located no real evidence of drugs or other illegal activities. Of course, destroyed small craft leave very little evidence to be investigated. We apparently are just firing first and asking questions, or not, later. Can you see that this is one step from ICE personnel approaching a person on the street and, without provocation, shooting him/her because they might have drugs on them or may have committed some crime? My gosh, what about the rules of law, probable cause? Are none of these now necessary? I shudder at what our country is becoming.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Just one small question
One small question: How many times will the $300 million ballroom, twice as large as the entire White House, be used in a year? In a decade? (And how many of those uses could have fit in the old ballroom?) Is there anything more urgent that money could be used for? Nah — surely that’s this country’s greatest need!
I guess that’s more than one (easy) question.
Shawn Campbell
Midtown
Universal health care
On Jon Stewart’s Daily Show on Oct. 20, he had Bernie Sanders as his guest. The subject of health care costs was discussed as the reason for “No Kings Day” and the government shutdown by the Democrats in Congress. As usual, Trump was vilified. Bernie wants “Universal Health Care.” I am also in favor and have been for many years.
In Obama’s first term, he had an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. There was a clamor to enact. He and his compatriots gave in to the lobbyists and produced Obamacare, which has never been truly successful.
The Democrats, led by people like Bernie, could negotiate for a compromise, but of course, they won’t, as hatred is their driving force. They are willing to penalize citizens rather than cooperate.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
Who are we?
Things we have lost as a nation under God: We have lost compassion and kindness for those suffering around us. People just like us, who are fleeing persecution and poverty. We need to show tolerance and understanding toward those who are different from us. We are all children of God, no matter our skin color or our sexual differences. We need to show more empathy, or at least more sympathy ,toward those in pain or in need of our help. To accomplish this, we need courage. The courage to overcome our prejudices and preconceived notions. The courage to stand up for what we know is right in the eyes of God. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment.”
Love.
Peter Morales
Midtown
Mike who?
The USDA has an emergency reserve fund of $5 billion that was designed to be used to continue SNAP payments in case of a government shutdown. The Trump administration (read that as Trump) has decided not to use that money for the purpose Congress intended. Although the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and his Republican Congress supposedly have responsibility for funding in their Constitutional job description, they have abandoned any pretense of governing and become instruments of Trump’s will. Trump himself has joked that he is Speaker of the House as well as President, making Johnson’s position in Congressional decision-making clear. Trump’s ally Steve Bannon has compared them to the Russian Duma, the ceremonial and powerless parliamentary body that rubber-stamps Putin’s proclamations.
Barbara Hall
Midtown
Autism
What causes autism? Based on my over 30 years of research and clinical experience as a psychologist, here is a brand-new hypothesis: Autism may be caused by a combination of genetic factors and hormonal changes in utero associated with exposure to light at night when our bodies expect (and need) darkness. The hypothesis is the fruit of a larger study of the human consequences of light and Neanderthal genes (we all have them). The hypothesis is explained in my new book, The Neanderthal-Human Hybrid Is Us: Bipolar Disorder A Behavioral Fossil. I don’t know if the hypothesis is correct. It is certainly plausible. Autism is associated with genes from Neanderthal; it has greatly increased in the last 50 years, and so has women’s exposure to light at night. Light influences the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which is known to affect fetal development. You can find references to my work and credentials online.
Julia Sherman, PhD
Northwest side
Democratic Party today
My parents were Kennedy Democrats, fiscal conservatives and social moderates. Today, the extreme left has dominated the party to one that believes men can participate in women’s sports, open borders, no cash bail, sanctuary cities, etc., etc.
The high-profile Democrats — A.O.C., Jasmine Crockett, Bernie Sanders — embrace socialism/communism. Mamdani, an avowed socialist running for Mayor in N.Y., was endorsed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Once he is elected, he will be the poster child of the Democratic Party. Tax the rich is their mantra, free lunch for everyone. It is shocking to see this position being embraced by part of our electorate. As we approach our 250th year next July, all of us who love America and understand we have arrived here as a Democratic Republic believing in free enterprise and capitalism, take note of what is happening to this political party. For those who identify as a Democrat, you need to open your eyes and be aware of what your party has become.
Bill Dowdall
Oro Valley
MAGA nonsense
My goodness! Methinks Mr. McConnell may need a few sessions of anger management therapy. His rage list of silly statements (Oct. 28) may be unusually over-the-top, even for him, but it still represents the usual fare of rabbit-hole nonsense regularly put forth by the MAGA crowd when a defensible position is not available to them (a frequent occurrence). Mr. McConnell has chosen instead to throw out a slew of absurd distortions of reality in a rancor-filled and truth-challenged tantrum, much like one of Trump’s “rage tweets,” and we all know how seriously any rational person takes those.
Hope Gastelum
East side
Demolition of East Wing
Had to respond to Linda Schaub (LTE on Oct. 26)
After reviewing your list of taxpayer-funded renovations to the White House, I noticed a common theme. All the projects listed did not require demolition of any existing buildings in the White House, for example, the East Wing. Do you think maybe that could be the cause of the uproar?
Sarah McKasson
Midtown
Yes on Prop 414
TUSD is asking for a budget override for more money with Proposition 414. Absolutely! The public schools have been trashed by bad policy coming out of Phoenix. Allowing seemingly unrestricted funding for almost anything is bad policy. The schools should all be held on an even keel. If TUSD wants each student to go to Disneyland under Horne’s rules for charter schools, it would be funded as an educational expense. But as a public school, it cannot be done. It should be each school gets a set amount of money per student, no extra because charters are different. Weird expenses reported for Arizona’s Parent Choice Funding include luxury items like skis and pianos, recreational activities such as ninja warrior training and trampoline parks, and expensive equipment like high-end sewing machines and hydroponic gardens. Some reports highlight a broad range of purchases, from extravagant items to common homeschooling materials like pencils and books, leading to controversy over what qualifies as an educational expense.
Peter Bisschop
East side
Resistance
Currently showing in Tucson is a remarkable movie: “Truth and Treason” documents the true story of Helmuth Huebener, a 16-year-old member of a religious community (LDS — the Mormons) living in Germany when the Nazis took over. Despite the hostility of his Nazi stepfather and some members of his church, he was determined to expose the lies and evil of the Nazis. Armed with only a typewriter and a mimeograph, he and two friends produced thousands of leaflets telling the truth about the Nazis and spreading them as far as they could. When he was finally caught, the Nazis considered him so dangerous that they tried him for treason. He was sentenced to death and executed at the age of 17. Today, we often hear that there is nothing we can do about abuse of power, about lies and hate being voiced at the highest levels. But if we have one-tenth the courage of this teenage hero, we can and we must.
Abraham R. Byrd III
North side
The sister’s heartbreak is ours, too
The deaths of these lovely young people with so much potential broke my heart, also. And rekindled my anger at the wealthy oligarchs in our country that are taking everything from us, including our lives. Decades ago, another rich boy drove his Jaguar under the influence at high speeds at night on the windy two-lane 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. He crashed it, killing his girlfriend. His parents had high-priced lawyers spend enormous sums on tests of Jaguars. They successfully convinced a couple jurors the “faulty” car “might” have been responsible and earned an acquittal.
It would be righteous if this entitled young man would plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter and spare us and the families the cost and agony of a trial but I doubt it. They probably have enough money to prove the Porsche Boxster is guilty. Can we guess their political party?
Dee Maitland
Marana
Presidential oath
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States ...” The oath does not say President of just the red states of the U.S. And what exactly are the red states? No state voted all Republican (red) or all Democrat (blue). Every state has Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and independent voters, yet Mr. Trump speaks as though states that did not have a majority of Red votes are enemies of the country, but especially of him.
While the President brags about his prowess as a dealmaker, he has also stated he will not negotiate with Democrats. Why not? This is your job. Show us what a great negotiator you are, Mr. Trump. Bring the two parties together in a deal that will benefit all residents of our great country. Show us that you will uphold the oath you took as President of all the United States. Show us you care about all of us.
Eleanor Arnold
Northeast side
1,320 feet
The construction of West 6th Street between North Stone Avenue and the old Tucson Electric Power Company building to the west is about the same distance in length as the Empire State Building is in height (1,454 feet).
This area has been under construction for five years. During this time, we’ve been zigging and zagging through the construction zone and dealing with traffic that can occasionally back up to Grande Avenue on St. Mary’s Road during rush hour.
It took 13 months to complete the construction of the Empire State Building, with groundbreaking commencing on March 17, 1930, and its completion roughly 13 months later.
Wiliam Kendall
Downtown
Hunger
What kind of president or person, for that matter, starves people to get what they want? This is insane. Cruelty is the point with the Trump regime.
Terry Louck
East side
Answer to LTE
In a letter to the editor published in the Nov. 4 Daily Star, Mr. McConnell asked readers to offer 14 reasons why Republicans are on the wrong path. I can offer 275 reasons — 53 Republican senators and 222 Republican representatives who will not stand up to an autocratic president who is enriching himself, his family and his billionaire friends at the expense of all other American citizens, and also acting as judge, jury and executioner when ordering the military to kill people in boats far away from our shores.
Gary Kordosky
West side
Cicsomani’s tipping point?
Rep. Ciscomani: Have you exceeded your personal tipping point with the actions of the current Republican administration? Have their wildly undemocratic actions finally caused you to reconsider your support for the Republican Party? Is it time for you to take action in line with your changed thinking? Are there higher values in play here than party loyalty?
Actions you could take include changing your party registration to Democrat or Independent. The most powerful thing you control are your votes in the House. Vote by vote, if you joined with other like-minded Members to make a new majority, some important outcomes could be achieved. By making this move, you might accelerate the tipping points of other Members and thereby begin the process of reasserting the powers rightly belonging to Congress. The multiple thousands of CD6 residents now in fear of or actually hurting from the actions of this overreaching government will support your principled move.
Donald Ijams
Midtown
Why not single-payer?
Like many other Americans, my health insurance premiums are about to increase dramatically. My increase is 170%. I know that others are looking at an even larger increase. I appreciate the Democrats’ call for continuing the tax credits, but what would be even better would be a single-payer system. Medicare for all. Why do we need to pay the insurance middlemen?
We pay more than any other country in the world for healthcare, and our health outcomes, including life expectancy, are not better. The US is the only developed nation in the world that doesn’t have a single-payer system. Why don’t we?
I’ve lived in two other countries that had single-payer systems. Great healthcare, affordable, and with similar wait times to here. America can afford it. Why don’t we have single-payer systems?
Melanie Bell
Midtown
SNAP benefits
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Benefits (SNAP) are provided to 45 million individuals, 17% of the adult U.S. population. Each individual state decides eligibility for this program; 45 million people receiving SNAP benefits appears to be far more than expected in a bountiful country like ours. Are there truly that many people in need who actually require assistance? Or, as in so many cases involving federal spending provided to states, have a significant number of the recipients, including illegal aliens, found that it is an easy and lucrative way to receive these benefits in lieu of actually providing for themselves? Are the states just issuing SNAP benefits without regard to the ability and requirement to work or even perform valuable public service? Is it just too easy to obtain SNAP benefits without justification? When you observe the daily demonstrations regarding ICE, one wonders how these people, day after day, are surviving without jobs. Have they outfoxed the general public by gaming the system?
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Health insurance denials
We want to thank Maria Martinez for sharing her experience with health insurance denials. We have been there too. Denials are devastating when you have a serious illness. Like Ms. Martinez, we are health professionals. We have appealed several denials and want to encourage others to do the same. With Medicare Advantage, recent studies find that most denials are overturned on appeal. If you don’t appeal, you’re giving up on good odds. It’s important that you appeal along with your physician. Only you can describe what withholding the treatment means to you. To get help preparing appeals, you can ask your health care team, consumer assistance programs, and companies that charge a small fee. Recently, someone reached out on social media for help with a denial for life-saving medication and received almost 200 responses, including offers of assistance. Insurance companies issue millions of denials every year. If you receive one, you’re not alone. Take action — it makes a difference.
Gerri Lamb
North side
America First?
In this era of America First, we can’t use the emergency $4 billion to give the needy their full allotment of aid but we can give Argentina $40 billion to prop up Trump’s buddy and import more of their beef cuz, ya know, our ranchers are just too greedy.
Rick Unklesbay
Midtown
One question
Jeffrey McConnell asks for 14 reasons why Republicans are on the wrong path. I will give him one. Republicans have replaced our Republic with a Kingdom. If we lived in a Republic, policy would be debated in Congress, voted on and implemented by the President. Donald Trump governs by executive order. Nothing he says or does is debated in Congress. If we lived in a Republic, I would have a Representative in the House. I don’t.
During Biden’s Presidency, McConnell liked to remind us we were in a Republic. So, Jeffrey, answer me this: When did you decide a Kingdom was better than a Republic?
Steven Brown
Midtown
Trump’s money tree
Trump thinks he’s a master economist. Let’s view the U.S. economy as a blue palo verde stand along the Rillito River in Tucson, gloriously flowering yellow each spring. Tariff costs to people are like sucking nutrients from plants. ICE is like a root disease or longhorn beetle larvae killing brown roots, hurting strength, and losing vitality (taxes, spending, jobs, culture). AI centers guzzle water and light (=energy). Diseases thrive with healthcare and vaccine cuts. During drought, palo verdes lose entire branches. Surviving scraggly stumps take decades to regrow. Losing branches for construction, retail businesses, agriculture, tourism, etc., as well as Medicaid, rural hospitals, hard-won disease immunities, and international trade balances will cripple the economy. Trump’s “black thumb” economy — cutting federal funds and jobs and soaring costs for food, healthcare, medicines, water, energy, Barbies, and billionaire-care — is killing the trees.
Tom Van Devender
North side
Debacle
As I reflect on Trump’s embarrassing “60 Minutes” interview, I am reminded why he has said he prefers the uneducated. If he were any other public official, the calls for his resignation would be overwhelming. But his MAGA base either does not comprehend what occurred or is willing to accept his manifest incompetence. I also note that we have not been subjected to letters from our MAGA contributors commenting on his performance. Their silence is deafening.
James Dolian
SaddleBrooke
More like this...
Do you feel great yet?
I have a serious question for Trump supporters: What has he ever done for you?
Trump has three bases of support: his legal enablers (Project 2025ers), his rich friends and MAGA voters. He heaps money and power on his legal lackeys in Congress and the Cabinet and on the elite. What does he offer his voters, to whom he owes his job? He offers slogans, like “Make America Great Again.” Have you seen any money or power?
Or have you seen jobs and goods and opportunities dry up, offices close, services falter? It’s deliberate. The rich don’t need opportunity or services, because they can buy whatever they want.
Does Trump’s fervor inspire you? How? Do his slogans pay your rising costs? (Example: We pay his tariffs, not the exporting country.)
In the meantime, little boats on the high seas are blown up in our names. Other nations see that our democracy is faltering.
What do you see in him? There are alternatives beyond the red hat. Thank you.
Regula Case
Midtown
Personal responsibility
We mourn three young people killed last week when a car hit them near the University of Arizona.
A young man who police said was speeding, under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and who left the scene was arrested. The driver’s lack of personal responsibility caused this tragedy.
Many want the city to install a pedestrian crossing light at the intersection, calling it dangerous. One person commenting online said, “This tragedy could’ve been prevented with a traffic light.”
Perhaps. More likely, prevention would have come from the driver slowing down or choosing not to drive impaired.
Euclid Avenue at East 2nd Street and many other high-traffic crossing spots could use pedestrian signals.
What really will make the difference for everyone is taking personal responsibility. Don’t speed. Don’t run red lights. And don’t drive under the influence.
Shraddha Hilda Oropeza
West side
Hate thy enemies
This is not new. Political mud slinging has been used repeatedly throughout our history, but only recently has it been used to this extreme. Didn’t start with Reaganm but his polished delivery certainly paved a way for what is happening now. Words have power. That is a given. As a country, we as a whole need to step back and realize what we are being fed. Lies, the spin and the divisive language coming from both sides is truly getting worse. The violence has rampant up and is a direct response from the rhetoric; 1984 has been literally here for a decade. News stations are, and have been, opinion stations long before the Bush era. That old “kill your television” saying might be the solution, or part of it, along with a focus on education. Not sure myself. But. Definitely a hard look at ourselves and our mindset is needed, now.
Michael Harrington
Oro Valley
Trump’s crew
Donald Trump is the one with his finger on the trigger, snuffing out lives with the merest flick of his digit. I believe the boats are practice targets. For any kid with a mind like Trump, it is all good fun to watch. He probably makes the noise of explosions with his mouth.
He aims to attack any boat or country small enough that they can’t hit back.
Such a one is our leader, the meanest man alive. Trump directs his small band of windbags, blowhards, braggarts, and sneaks to aid him in ruining a perfectly good country, the United States.
It is an ignoble effort they are making to devastate our land. But, when they observe what they have left, the aides and abettors of this monumental mischief, the whole lot of them will slip down in their holes they call home.
Ron Lancaster
North side
The money weapon
Trump uses money to operate his presidency. If it is a university he doesn’t like, he takes away funding. If it is a government department he doesn’t like, he takes away money. If it is a country he doesn’t like, he imposes tariffs that hurt that country and the American people. If Mamdani wins the mayor race in New York, he will take away money. If Trump doesn’t like what PBS News says, he takes away funding. He uses money to threaten, intimidate, and ruin American institutions and services. Our allies are threatened and punished with money ... our money. All he knows is the power of money and how to hurt his enemies and reward his friends by using our money. Wake up.
Richard Bechtold
West side
The Republicans’ shutdown
To the millions of people suffering under this oppression, please understand that this is a direct cause of the Republicans. Trump’s “big bag of BS” bill that Republicans tried to ram down your throats included the two things Democrats are fighting for. If Democrats had not united and stood for ACA subsidies and continuation of food benefits all who recieve those benefits would be picking lint out of your pockets to survive forever. We all paid our taxes last yearm so you would all have the care you need, and the Republicans say no. I can’t believe how absolutely cruel and uncaring of your suffering they are. I am a regular contributor to our food bank and have been for decades. People should not go hungry. Let the Republicans all over the country know the suffering they put you through. Trump and Congress, end this now.
Daniel Poryanda
Southeast side
United we stand
Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning — Albert Einstein
If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter — George Washington
We will make America great again (MAGA). I’ve always won, and I’m going to continue to win. And that’s the way it is. — Donald Trump
Diane Dailey
Southeast side
Extortion
Does that man really understand the meaning of “extortion”? I mean come on now he was impeached for that very same thing with a phone call. That is his primary “Modus Operandi” take for example his current Tariffs are a prime thing in trying to get his way by interacting with other countries. He withholds funds for anybody or anything that doesn’t do his bidding. So let’s call his actions what they truly are — “extortion.”
Fred Thompson
Midtown
America, land that I love
I am trying to keep an open mind about the directions our country is going and with the leader. It is not easy. I love America and I thank the people of the USA who have built our country from its birth to the present. These people are the immigrants of our past, of our families. We are all children of immigrants, whether we are born in America or immigrated — we are all children of immigrants, and our humbled beginnings start from our past — Native Americans, Mayflower, Jamestown, the Gold era, Industrial era … all began with immigrants. We are all immigrants, including Donald Trump and his mismatched administration. May God Bless America.
Diane Dailey
Southeast side
Feasting On $6
The average SNAP benefits paid to Arizonans in 2024 was $180 per month. That’s $6 per day. In compliance with a judge’s order, DJT expressed his delight at paying one-half of the November SNAP benefits. That’s $3 per day for an Arizonan. Difficult to not appreciate his generosity. Especially if you are trying to buy food. Can Ciscomani feed himself for $3 per day?
Kenneth Haber
Northwest side
Rushing to harmful conclusions
Regarding the Vail math teachers who wore bloody Halloween shirts: In reading about the witch trials in the early days of our country, it is striking how similar that process is to what happens now. If one thinks another has an evil motive, then it is decided. And we punish and condemn without ever seeking to understand the circumstances. There is no allowance for people to make choices that may be different, silly, or even wrongheaded, but are not evil and sinister. And we encourage others to jump on our bandwagon. Soon, lives are being destroyed, and none of us benefit in any way at all.
So I wonder: How do we get to a place where opinions can be different without immediately accusing the other as evil? I suspect that the path is found through approaching life – and each other – with humility, curiosity, and wonder. Until we can do that, we are doomed to keep on destroying one another, and in so doing, destroying ourselves.
Lori Bryant
North side
What a joke
President Trump said he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act. What does he think he’s been doing these months in office in bullying law firms, colleges and universities, setting tariffs, etc.? I would call all of that extorting. It’s a joke, but not very funny.
Don Benjamin
Foothills
Reset or recycle
I confess to being an IT troglodyte and to favoring “following edge” technology. My tech savviness consists of unplugging and then plugging in any misbehaving device. Most often, this works for reasons beyond me. If not, I recycle.
Well, I’m afraid we’ve reached a point in our history where it’s time for an existential reset.
Four thousand years ago, Hammurabi, allegedly on a stone tablet, coded the first recorded Law. Three hundred years later, Moses is said to have revised and consolidated, if not plagiarized, that work, also on stone, boiling it down to: No other God, no golden idols, no cursing, don’t forget to go to church and respect your parents, no murder, adultery, stealing, lying or … coveting.
Pretty simple.
But 3,700 years later, it’s seemingly not working. Time for a reset. It’s like the T-shirt says, “Make Lying Wrong Again,” and all that other stuff too.
A. Lawrence Glynn
East side
One reason needed
Jeffrey McConnell wants 14 reasons why Republicans are on the wrong path.
I only need one. Saying it is against the law to criticize the president. Using the DOJ to prosecute those who have said bad things about the president. These are just two recent examples of a president, fully supported by the Republican Party, that is after absolute power over everything. One might even call it fascist.
All other reasons, and there is a long list, take a distant second.
David Reynolds
East side
Aren’t you proud of DC?
Washington, D.C., spans 57 square miles, surrounded by stark reality, where people with a “what’s in it for me” attitude thrive without elegance. When it comes to money and power, rules are meaningless. There are no rules, no regulations, no ethics, despite the Constitution. And there are no ethicists to enforce them in Washington, nor heroes. Instead, there is dementia, decay, crumbling historic ruins, and hate. It’s a place where Epstein’s sex secrets are spilled, immunity granted, revenge prosecutions, and moral bankruptcy endures.
D.C. reflects American selfishness, greed, corporate influence, and political cunning — a place where ambition drives many without skills, where truth is scarce, and secrets are exchanged openly. It’s also a place where insider stock trading is commonplace, where the business of other people’s business sometimes gets handled, in a community unto itself — Capitol Hill, with afternoon highballs and famous, celebrated gatherings. Amid all that glitz, glamour, and wonder, it’s our nation’s capital. Aren’t you proud?
Jerry Wilkerson
SaddleBrooke
Incorrect water math
Deep apologies to the Star and its staff who work so hard to get things right, only to publish LTEs where the authors haven’t been as diligent.
That’s on me. I multiplied instead of divided when figuring out how to humanize the 2021 amount of water the Amazon data centers used.
My terrible math came up with 14 feet of depth that water would fill over the Tucson and Phoenix areas. It’s only 8” — still in my opinion a huge amount of water, but my bad math kicked that up to a ridiculous amount. Lesson: When something sounds ridiculous, it probably is.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
Trump: ‘Let them eat cake’
The agriculture department has billions set aside specifically for food stamp benefits to continue during a government shutdown. But Trump says no.
The Democrats want to make a deal with the Republicans so that the ACA health supplements can continue, and millions won’t lose their health insurance. This many people with no health insurance means that over 50,000 people will die for lack of health care in this coming year. But maybe even more concerning is that all medical insurance rates will increase for everyone! Most estimates say this increase may be as high as 50%.
That means if you pay $500 a month now for insurance, your new bill might be $1,000 or more.
Everyone loses!
So, what can be done?
Trump and the Republicans have no health plan to offer. And, in fact, congressional Republicans have not even been in session for over 5 weeks. They passed the BBB, giving billionaires big tax breaks, and essentially are saying no one else matters.
Shirley Pevarnik
West side
Where the rubber meets the road
After car camping across country, West Coast to East Coast and back, over the summer, the reality of our experience perfectly matched that of the Nov. 2 LTE: “Credit where credit is due.” President Biden’s Infrastructure and Jobs Act is clearly in full swing across the country for anyone who travels to see. President Biden’s positive investments in America were as real as the current economic and health care assaults being employed by this administration. His Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act were visionary efforts to keep America on a track toward progress and opportunities for future generations engaged in the American dream. This stands in stark contrast to the current administration’s efforts to return to tired and expensive policies and paradigms that they like to refer to as “Again.” The only thing that seems to be new this term is the gold-plated east wing erected to entertain the loyalists who are willing to pay to play.
Ed Waymire
Midtown
The president’s salary
Article 2, Section 1, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution says that “The President receives a fixed salary and cannot receive any additional salary, fee or profit.” That is what it says and, as we all realize, our current President pays no attention to it at all. He gains money, gifts and others which add to his immense wealth. I’m sure our founders did not have Trump in mind when they drew up the Constitution, but they probably felt that it was meant to limit any aspirations he might have of trading wealth for political considerations. Well, it hasn’t and he does. The Constitution, to Trump, is not an obstacle, he just overlooks it and does as he will. Isn’t it great to be an American?
Philip Reinecker
East side
Tucson traffic-related fatalities
This past Thursday night, three college-age pedestrians were killed by a driver who, based on a Tucson Police Department report, was impaired by alcohol and or drugs at the time of the collision.
As local news has reported, the loss of the three students to family and friends is immense. Having not lost family or friends to a tragedy like this, I can not imagine the pain being experienced by those close to the three students. Not to excuse the actions of the college-age driver, but that family is also suffering.
Since Jan. 1, 2025, 23 other pedestrians have been killed in traffic-related crashes within Tucson City limits; 290 since Jan. 1, 2017. Total traffic-related lives lost for 2025 (to date) is 78; 730 since Jan. 1, 2017.
Red light running, excessive speeds above posted speed limits and impaired drivers (250 bars in Tucson) are a given for Tucson streets. To be clear, some of the pedestrian deaths are a result of the pedestrian’s actions.
Randy Garmon
North side
Ten Commandments
Conservatives keep clamoring for the displaying of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms and on public properties. How about if they first try posting them throughout the White House? There could also be a counting meter installed to record violations (including weaseling). One piece of advice, however. Given the perverse values, worldviews, and behaviors of Trump and his accomplices/excusers, make sure this tracking system is high-powered and has plenty of back-up. The circuits will be going berserk.
Ron Rude
West side
Priorities
Kash Patel used a $60 million jet on taxpayers’ dime to go see his girlfriend over the weekend.
Trump has golfed 70 days this year, 24% of his presidency, at a cost of $98 million, taxpayer-funded.
JD Vance’s vacations with his family have cost taxpayers $35 million so far.
The single mom on food stamps s not the problem.
An immigrant at the ER is not the problem.
And a family of 4 that’s on SNAP that gets $7 per person per day is definitely not the problem.
Terry Louck
East side
Crosswalk issues
I read with sadness the recent pedestrian deaths from collisions at Euclid and 2nd Street crossing. I agree that the installation of flashing lights at crosswalks is the logical step the city and U of A should take to prevent this tragedy from reoccurring. I would also like to point out that if pedestrians were willing to walk one block to University (3rd Street) and Euclid there is a traffic signal there. Too many times, pedestrians don’t take a simple extra effort to ensure their safety. I have observed many “jaywalkers” on First Avenue.
Peter Stone
North side
Will Artal be prosecuted?
On Nov. 13, 1983, August Busch IV left a bar near the UA with a waitress named Michele Frederick. A little while later, Busch crashed his Corvette on River Road, killing Frederick. Busch was able to walk away, then went home. At the crash site, the police found a gun, some empty Bud Light cans, and Busch’s wallet and ID. After the police found Busch at his home, they pulled blood and urine samples. But the lab screwed up the blood sample, and the urine sample was lost. No one testified to Busch’s physical state at the bar, so the DA had to let him go.
The crash that killed three innocent students at 2nd and Euclid was horrible. While a person is innocent until proven guilty, I certainly hope that the Maricopa County prosecutors send the perpetrator to prison for life. It would be heartbreaking if money and incompetence once again protects another suspect over 40 years later.
Matt Somers
Midtown
East Wing demolition
Dewey, I picked the “most puerile” battle about the demolition of the East Wing of the White House because it is emblematic of the whole Trump administration: to tear down, demolish or destroy. He is like a bull in a China cabinet. Everything he touches dies. His biggest ambition is to destroy our democracy. He’s doing a good job with that. Furthermore, six trees, including two Commemorative Magnolias and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden vanished. Good heavens, I got a grip, and it’s not good.
Margaret Gordon Magruder
Downtown
John Roberts and the Supreme Court
In her book Without Precedent, author Lisa Graves suggests that Roberts has undermined US democracy. There has been an organized capture of the SCOTUS by the far right, in the form of the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo in particular. They have installed a billionaire presence in the court with the intent of perpetuating their agenda. The author says that agenda is to revert the law to the robber baron era.
I remember Roberts’ nomination hearing in which he suggested that no one is above the law. Now he seems to have made an exception for Trump. Roberts portrays himself as an institutionalist, a fair umpire but his actions are that of someone pushing an agenda that goes counter to our Founders’ ideals. Chief Justice of the SCOTUS is a critical power position, and when that position favors authoritarianism, we are in deep trouble.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
When simple lies are not enough
It’s a sad fact that the Trump administration continually feels it must bolster its image by lying and relying on social media (where fact checkers do not exist) to convince citizens of its competence.
The latest blatant examples of misdirection (that’s the polite term for sheer fabrication) are the Department of Homeland Security’s doctored videos of previous immigration operations recorded in Los Angeles and West Palm Beach, Florida, re-used as an attempt to convince the American people that ICE’s takeover of Washington, D.C. was a battle for the soul of the nation, and they’d been working ceaselessly to detain and deport “vicious criminals.”
Whatever happened to “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” since Mr. Trump seems to regard himself as today’s equivalent of Superman?
Melody Sears
North side
A rose by any other name
The proposal for five city-owned grocery stores by Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic-Socialist candidate for NYC mayor, has generated a lot of press. Democrats are ambivalent about him. Republicans are using his position to try to portray the Democratic party as ‘socialist’, ignoring the fact that NYC politics are unique, not representative of the country as a whole. The old phrase about politics being local still applies in city races.
After reading the Bloomberg News article (ADS,10/31/2025), it’s clear that Mamdani’s proposal is very small beer compared to the Trump administration’s obtaining ‘a piece of the action’, i.e. equity shares, in large US companies, with control of corporate decisions, and its plans to continue this practice. Rebranding this as “state capitalism” doesn’t change the fact that this is classical socialism, defined as state control of the means of production. So, anti-socialism Republicans might look to their own house first. Where has their support for free markets gone?
Barbara Hall
Midtown
Who’s next at QB?
Brilliant game again from Fifita against CU and he will surely be GOAT for # of career TDs by end of this year. Big question is if he steps into the NFL, who will take the reins. Surely not the ineffective, incapable Locke who could not hit the side of a barn. Is there someone in the roster coming up? If so, why didn’t he get a shot at CU?
Bowl appearance for Brennan and staff in 2025 would be stellar.
Mark Zaj
Foothills
Obit: US democracy
We know the image from history, the gilded ballroom at the White House in parallel to the palatial hallways of Versailles, in stark contrast to the rapid impoverishment of millions of Americans soon to suffer from famine. Our military is ordered to prepare an entirely unprovoked war against Venezuela, and this at the daily cost of millions of dollars, all wasted. The federal government is no longer working as the representative of the people, trying to deny them health care and basic food, hence the shutdown. In response to the brutal repression of the uprising by the East Germans against the Socialist regime on June 17, 1953, famous poet Brecht satirically reflected on this in his poem “The Solution”: “Would it not in that case / Be simpler for the government / To dissolve the people / And elect another?” I can see the big winner in all this political fiasco, orchestrated far away by Putin and dutifully carried out by his ‘student.’ The American hegemony has become wobbly, now visible to all.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
No Donald, SNAP recipients are Americans
Read where you were talking to reporters on AF 1 flying to your Great Gatsby party (at taxpayers’ expense by the way) describing most SNAP beneficiaries as Democrats. Sorry Donald, these beneficiaries are Americans. They are the people you were elected to serve as POTUS, not just your uber-rich cronies. Thanks to you and the rest of your MAGA party (I don’t believe Republican applies to anyone who adheres to your way of thinking and acting) these Americans will struggle to feed themselves and their kids. But, after all, since they’re mostly Dems, so be it. Hope you enjoyed your Great Gatsby outing. Glad I could fund your flight. Maybe next you can double the cost of health care.
Norman Patten
Midtown
Medicare For All and save billions
The simplest path to affordable health care is staring us in the face: expand Medicare to everyone and eliminate the insurance middlemen who profit from sickness. America spends nearly $5 trillion a year on health care, yet millions remain uninsured. Private insurance companies siphon off 12–18 cents of every premium dollar for overhead, advertising, and executive bonuses. Traditional Medicare operates efficiently at about 2–4%.
If every American were covered under Medicare, we’d save $500 billion annually just in administrative costs, plus another $300 billion from negotiated drug and hospital prices. That’s up to $800 billion a year, money that could go to care, not paperwork and profit.
It’s no surprise that 92% of people on Medicare say they’re satisfied with their coverage. The system works. What doesn’t work is allowing insurance companies to act as toll collectors between patients and doctors. Let’s remove the toll booths, extend Medicare to everyone, and finally make health care a right, not a corporate opportunity.
Lawrence E. Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Nothing to do with fentanyl
In 2020, a private security firm (hint, hint CIA) collaborated with Venezuelan dissidents to effect regime change and were embarrassingly rebuffed.
This time the Great Invader will get it right. Supposed fishing boats are being vaporized.
Do ya think it might be overkill when a $13B carrier with Airwing 8, several escort cruisers and fast attack subs can face off against a dinghy?
I glimpse into the future and see Nobel.
Between the $20B bailout for Make Argentina Great Again and the $6.8M to $8M per day for the strike force, it makes perfect sense to eliminate SNAP, $103B annually and USAID, $23B annually. Thank you for your attention: Trump is saving us big bucks.
A president who can differentiate between an elephant and a pachyderm will start income-taxing factory robot workers.
It will be the bestest and beautifullest the universe has ever seen.
Now we won’t have to worry about the $38T national debt, of which Mr. Trump has contributed almost $8T and counting.
Thomas J. Plesniak
Midtown
Tucson community priorities
The sadness of three U of A students losing their lives because of the irresponsibility of another college student driving under the influence is overwhelming for our community. As I waited outside of my chiropractor’s office this past Friday afternoon, watching drivers brazenly breaking the speed limit on Euclid and running the red lights at Euclid and University; I angrily questioned where were our TPD traffic cops? They were nowhere to be seen, despite the tragic losses that had just occurred in the very same area of Tucson. Why aren’t our Mayor and City Council ordering Tucson’s police chief, who works for them, to prioritize enforcing traffic laws that help to make our city streets safer and perhaps avoid losing lives to this type of careless actions? Does it have to be the loss of lives and serious injuries to force action from Tucson’s elected officials? As it did with the stabbing of a bicyclist along the Rillito’s loop. Sadly, it appears it does.
Jerry Anderson
North side
Dog safety
To keep a dog restrained in the car, use a crash-tested harness that connects to a seat belt tether, a secure travel crate, or a vehicle barrier. The safest option is a specialized harness and tether, which limits movement and can prevent serious injury in an accident by stopping the dog from becoming a projectile. Always keep pets in the back seat to avoid the risk of injury from front airbags. A secure dog won’t be able to run out of the car into traffic.
Peter Bisschop
East side
Fiddling while USA burns
Nero built the Golden Palace on the ashes of Rome while many of the people were still starving and homeless. The East Wing is demolished to put up a ballroom. I didn’t realize we had so many balls.
Food assistance and healthcare are being withheld for hundreds of thousands in our country.
By the way, Nero’s Palace was completed the year of his death in 68 AD and in 70 AD it was dismantled to erect the Colosseum.
Barbara Moore
East side
Democratic nonsense revisited
There have been three LTEs printed in response to my admittedly provocative letter of fourteen tenets why I believe the Democratic Party has lost its way.
Writer Hope Gastelum offered no counterpoint only stating that I am throwing ‘out a slew of absurd distortions of reality in a rancor-filled and truth-challenged tantrum …’
John Bingham kindly acknowledged that some of my oversimplified statements are close to reality before suggesting that I do not have the functional brain cells to determine what is right and wrong.
David Hatch dealt only with the issues and asked the purpose of my letter. The answer is in the first sentence.
Perhaps readers can offer fourteen reasons why Republicans are on the wrong path.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
Project Blue haunting
Bowled over by Dittmer’s Guest Opinion distilling fairly complex legal procedures and contract terms so I could understand it. Shame on Amazon — and shame on the Arizona Corporation Commission for failing to protect Arizonans.
It’s even worse. An October 25 Guardian article cites leaked Amazon internal memo — actual 2021 data center water use: 105 billion gallons, not PR “water positive” BS claim of only 7.7 billion gallons.
Are you sitting down? Actual water used? Would cover both Tucson and Phoenix to a depth of about 14 feet. Close your eyes: Imagine a 10-meter Olympic diving pool covering all of Tucson and all of Phoenix.
Math: 1 billion gallons of water will cover an area of about 60 sq.mi. 1” deep.
Tucson: About 240 sq.mi.; Phoenix: About 518 sq.mi.
You say data centers air cooled now? Research it yourself to see how much power will still be needed from TEP’s fossil-fuel-burning plants and know that 70% of that required cooling water is lost, bye bye.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
- Ron Rude, West side
Conservatives keep clamoring for the displaying of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms and on public properties. How about if they first try posting them throughout the White House? There could also be a counting meter installed to record violations (including weaseling). One piece of advice, however. Given the perverse values, worldviews, and behaviors of Trump and his accomplices/excusers, make sure this tracking system is high-powered and has plenty of back-up. The circuits will be going berserk.
Ron Rude
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Trump’s motive in terrifying Venezuela
Why is Trump ordering airstrikes on unidentified people in international waters, then gleefully releasing videos of their executions?
Why did he order our bombers to approach Venezuelan airspace and conduct a “bomber attack demonstration”? Why did he order troops to staging areas in the Caribbean? Why did he order an American carrier strike group to depart European waters and move toward Venezuela? Why is he suddenly so obsessed with Venezuela? Simple. It’s the oil, stupid.
Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. Trump wants it. So do his billionaire buddies. And Trump is the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful military in the world. And he has made it clear that he is willing to order that military to kill civilians without provocation. And his orders are followed.
Weaver Barkman
Midtown
More cows in US
John Leos’s article in the Daily Star reported efforts to remove grazing restrictions on public lands — the latest example of ‘bovine imperialism’. For thousands of years, cultures worldwide have favored domestic grazing animals with profound impacts on native vegetation.
Annual net productivity from cattle is often matched by government subsidies (low grazing rates on public lands, roads, water developments, etc.). In the 1800s, southeastern Arizona grasslands were lush. After Apache threats ended in the 1870s, cattle ranches flourished, and ranges were very quickly overgrazed.
The “onerous” regulations were put in place to protect grasslands. Without external grazing limits, cattlemen are often not good land stewards — ranches are for-profit businesses. Increasing cattle on public lands by slashing regulations while importing Argentine beef, along with punishing tariffs and unintentional painful impacts on U.S. businesses with no concern for the environment instead of careful planning is typical Trump chaotic leadership.
Tom Van Devender
North side
East wing demolition
The first iteration of the east wing of the White House was a terrace to accommodate guests, built during Theodore Roosevelt’s term in 1902.
White House social secretaries have long lamented the lack of entertainment space for large state dinner affairs, dating back to President Benjamin Harrison in 1891. Every piece of artwork and artifact were meticulously digitally documented by White House historical/preservationist staff before the east wing project began.
The reaction to this “demolition” has been hysterical by certain people. Hilary Clinton: “it’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.” Gavin Newsom: “literally destroying the White House.” Even the Star’s Rick Rappaport wrote that he “teared up” in a recent column.
Of all the battles to pick with Trump and his administration, this must count as the most puerile. Altering the most modern part of the White House is not its destruction. Good Heavens, people. Get a grip.
Dewey Bidwell
Northeast side
Respect is earned
I don’t give a bloody damn whether you call yourself a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent or anything else. When something is wrong and harms children, the working poor, our military, and others who depend on the government for assistance, get off your collective behinds and demand that it be rectified immediately.
Call your idle Congressional representatives and tell them to represent you because you are a person of conscience and character and not some fake, fawning loser who doesn’t care about others.
It’s a matter of respect and, if you want respect, then earn it.
Cynthia Schiesel
East side
Two peas in a pod
Both authoritarians, Trump and Netanyahu, seek to avoid jail and further court decisions against them by hurting others (Hispanics, Latinos and Palestinians), through diversions. Trump illegally kills South Americans because he believes they transport drugs — without proof. Maybe, but “where’s the beef?” (It’s in Argentina, or on its way here).
Trump and Netanyahu share another trait. Neither one can be trusted to not renege on any agreement, whether signed or not.
A Palestinian, most likely Hamas, shot and killed an Israeli soldier. Israel responded in kind by carrying out heavy airstrikes, killing 104 civilians (47 children).
We are the United States of America, not Israel. While I am an American Jewish patriot, I’m not an Israeli. But October 7 still hurts, as does 68,631 Palestinians and 6M Jews, because I am a human being and care about what happens to others.
But I cannot defend those masked men who assault us on our own streets, attacking democracy, from without or within, as we’re seeing now.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Courage for our TUSD kids
It’s easy to say “no” from behind a screen. What takes real courage is standing up for our kids and saying “yes” to a stronger future. Proposition 414 isn’t just about funding — it’s about values, priorities, and trust.
TUSD has made real progress in financial transparency and accountability. From launching its first digital budget book to earning national recognition for financial reporting, TUSD shows its taxpayers that every dollar is accounted for.
Prop 414 builds on that commitment by helping attract and retain quality teachers, and by protecting programs in fine arts, preschool, and career and technical education. As a TUSD parent, I’ve seen firsthand how my boys have thrived because of these opportunities — and every child deserves that same chance.
Saying “no” for the same tired reasons is easy, especially when misinformation spreads online, but our students — my kids, your kids — deserve better. Real courage means believing in public education and investing in our kids’ futures.
Vote YES on Proposition 414 — because our kids are worth it!
Ricky Hernandez
Sahuarita
IQ tests
Trump has repeatedly accused Congresswomen AOC and Crockett of being dumb and said they should take an IQ test. Jimmy Kimmel has offered to host a real IQ test, not the one Trump took that identifies dementia. Crockett has accepted the challenge.
Do Loyal, McConnell et al, believe the self-described genius would actually dare to show up? When I grew up, one was told to put your money where your mouth is. Trump will chicken out.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
He crossed that line
I used to take some comfort in the fact that Donald. Trump wasn’t a full-blown dictator because he didn’t have inconvenient people killed like his hero, Putin. Those days are over.
Now, Trump is having boaters executed in the Caribbean because he can. Why does the military go along with it?
Robert McNeil
Midtown
Wiffle ball
After wincing at articles like “Cops fortify deportation dragnet,” describing the use of local police, state troopers, university law enforcement and lottery investigators for immigration control, “Carrier move marks shift,” reporting the removal of one of America’s most advanced aircraft carriers from the Mediterranean Sea to fight drug cartels, and “Trump suggests US will resume nuclear testing,” detailing President Trump’s worrisome plan to restart nuclear testing, I chuckled reading “Wiffle ball pro league launches.”
The article explains Logan Rose’s passion for Wiffle ball, resulting in America’s first wiffle ball league. I remembered my brother and I spending hours as kids working on wiffle curve balls and changing the distance for base hits and home runs.
I relived my sons and I filling fishing intervals with wiffle ball games during a Madison River vacation, happily heckling the batter or pitcher. I welcomed this brief therapeutic break from the dismal local, national, and international news, like “U.S. asks judge to toss AZ’s suit over food stamps.”
Roger Shanley
East side
Dia de los Muertos
Thanks to the Star’s Caliente front page coverage in the Oct 30 issue.
It stated, “A TIME FOR LOVE AND CELEBRATION.” This weekend’s Dia de los Muertos. It says it all, and we must not forget the importance of love, celebration and memorials. We live in dark times, and I encourage all to participate.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
You hit harder when you don’t hit back
I’m grateful for Tim Steller’s Oct. 29 column: “Feds trying to criminalize protest in Tucson, elsewhere.” Yes, “they are trying to figure out the shadowy entity behind the protests.” But there is none. The June and October No Kings Day marches and demonstrations have been joyful, non-violent gatherings. The celebratory costume parties and naked bicycle rides of Portland are models for effective opposition to the growing authoritarian threat of Trump’s administration.
We are blessed, all these decades later, by the example of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. John Lewis called it “making good trouble.” We need it more than ever, right now, to save our democracy.
Greg Lewis
Midtown
Vote yes on 414
It’s easy to say “no” from behind a screen. What takes real courage is standing up for our kids and saying “yes” to a stronger future. Proposition 414 isn’t just about funding — it’s about values, priorities, and trust.
Tucson Unified has made real progress in financial transparency and accountability. From launching its first digital budget book to earning national recognition for reporting, TUSD is showing taxpayers that every dollar counts.
Prop 414 builds on that commitment by helping attract and retain quality teachers, and by protecting programs in fine arts, preschool, and career and technical education. As a TUSD parent, I’ve seen firsthand how my boys have benefited from these opportunities — and every child deserves that same chance.
Saying “no” might feel easy, especially when misinformation spreads online, but our students — my kids, your kids — deserve better. Real courage means believing in public education and investing in our children’s future.
Vote yes on Proposition 414 — because our kids are worth it.
Ricky Hernandez
Sahuarita
Sarcasm at its best
Re: The letter of the “Democrats’ nonsense”
What a great sense of sarcasm! Except for the fact that you seem to be confused, even while you know the accusations to be false.
For one thing, autism is not even close to 1 in 12, nor 1 in 20,000. If you look it up, it is approximately 3 in 100.
Are you taking after your “leader” and making up your own facts?
Regarding the second statement, you were dead on.
A very famous man once described our nation as having been “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
I certainly would not deny that women played a part, but many a man “gave birth” to the idea of freedom.
And you, among many other men, have given birth, e.g., to the idea that approximately 50% of the population is loony.
My only question is, of what purpose is your letter? What does it accomplish?
David Hatch
Southeast side
Demolishing the ‘People’s House’
Not because the people wanted it, but some companies decided to fund it.
Military contractors, including ‘for hire’ military personnel and private prison contractors, Google, a tobacco company, and an AI company, among others. Lay off workers, pay off the regime.
These companies were called “Patriots” for funding this destruction.
Remember, these companies don’t pay much in taxes, have international offices and agendas, so I guess they can easily afford the $250-$300 million to bribe our government.
“Patriot” seems to be widely used to describe engaging in destruction of the WH property, the Constitution and our ‘representation’. And our government keeps wasting hard-earned taxpayer money.
Side note: We sealed the payment of $20 billion of taxpayer money to Argentina to enrich friends of the Treasury Secretary. But we can’t afford middle-class healthcare subsidies.
This is not winning.
What say you, Ciscomani? You are quiet, getting your paycheck but not working for the people.
Did the AZ Young Republicans (adults under 40) disband yet?
Carissa Sipp
Midtown
I’m a Democrat
I just read an LTE about what the Democratic Party has become. I do see the points the author makes, and as absurd as they are, some are close to reality. However, I feel it’s necessary to point out that the former GOP is now the Trump Party. Nothing shows loyalty to a dictator more than boot-licking Mike Johnson and the other “flying monkeys” representing the Trump Party. They apparently don’t have functional brain cells to determine what is right and wrong. They just go with what their glorious leader tells them to go with.
You can say what you want about the Democrats. We (or most of us) know the difference between a political party and a band of miscreants. I don’t agree with all the Democratic Party has become, but at least I know that it beats being part of the butt-kissing alternate party.
John Bingham
Northwest side
There is no future without a past
We know that Trump is destroying institutions. He is gutting the Constitution with his imperial presidency. He has gutted the Justice Department. He has demanded that colleges and universities sign his compact stipulating what may be taught and how. |He has reduced Congress to a rubber stamp to achieve his personal ends. He has made a mockery of “No one is above the law” through his pardons of criminals. He is ripping off all Americans by using his position for personal gain. And he is committing a worse crime: He is erasing our historical memory. He is rewriting our history, for example, by erasing mention of slavery and internment of Japanese Americans during WW II. Perhaps most important of all: He is destroying the symbol of our nation by adding the ballroom to the White House, which will ultimately dwarf the original structure. He is eradicating the White House, the universally recognized symbol of the United States. How will we know how to construct our future if we eliminate our past?
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
Defund Congress
This would be a good time to cut off all federal funding for elected officials because they are not able to keep the government operating anyway.
Michael Armstrong
Foothills
Immigration
Now that ICE is permitted to use language as a factor to use when stopping people, I am beginning to understand why Trump wants to make Canada the 51st state. Since Quebec province currently has a population of around 8 million people, and most of them do not speak English (their official language is French), ICE will be able to easily find many persons to stop, arrest and deport when they hear these people talking in French. Surely this will make it much quicker for Trump to accomplish his deportation number goals.
Alan Roehl
Green Valley
Democracy
In any true, honest and functioning democracy, Trump would be behind bars by now.
Terry Louck
East side
A new chorus
I am confused because the United States gives foreign aid all around the world while we have a $30 trillion dollar debt. $20 billion to Argentina for what? We are set to abandon millions of people of their health care, while spending recklessly on “pork projects” around the nation and world. Knee-jerk spending for the squeaky wheel demonstrates neglect of that wheel.
The Congress and Executive branch are like an orchestra playing whatever tune gets them the most attention. Good press, bad press, it is press no less. It doesn’t matter what you say about me as long as you are talking about me is the norm.
I have written before, re-elect no one. Send every Representative home, along with one-third of the Senate. The Electorate needs to simply act and take the power away from the status quo. Democrats are unhappy, Republicans are unhappy, the electorate is unhappy. How long can this marriage last?
Next November, bring in a new chorus. It is as simple as that.
Ed LeGendre
East side
Safe havens
I find it interesting that many of President Trump’s top aides and cabinet secretaries are opting for living on secure military bases with their families away from their actual homes and neighbors; this is reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s top aides preparing to leave Germany for a safe hideaway in Argentina at the end of WWII. Like the refugees escaping Hitler’s war-torn Germany to hide from justice and the vengeance of other nations, the present refugees hiding at a military base have no concept of the harm they are doing or have willingly participated in as they followed a corrupt Trump administration to deny civil rights, participate in unlawful actions and injure others at the behest of their leader. One aspect I’m sure they didn’t consider was that while they may feel safe now hiding behind the military on base, it will make it that much easier to find and prosecute them for their criminal actions — so their safe haven may eventually become their prison.
Richard Rebl
East side
Anti-vaxxers
The article of Oct. 28 regarding the bills allowing parents to not have their children vaccinated got me to thinking. If a parent believes the medical science of vaccines is not valid and their unvaccinated child then catches that disease, will they now take their sick unvaccinated child to the doctor to be treated with medical science? Not sure if that is being ironical or hypocritical.
In my opinion, not vaccinating your child is like driving under the influence with your child in the car. Your deliberate neglect places the child’s life at risk.
Larry Hammond
Southwest side
Opportunity for WIFA to use its funds
In a recent Star article, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA)was portrayed as unable to spend its state’s busiest allocations in a timely way because it had no feasible projects to support (e.g., desalination in the Sea of Cortez or the Pacific, importing water by truck or pipeline). Today’s Star provides help for them on page B1, in an article detailing the research projects of the Water & Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center at UA, which focus on recycling/reuse and reverse osmosis purification. These lower-cost alternatives deserve support and implementation at scale. Why is WIFA not investing in them? Too inexpensive? Not grandiose enough?
Suzanne Ferguson
Midtown
Caribbean murders by our government
I don’t understand why the American public is not outraged by the very public videos of the intentional murder of 67 human beings in the Caribbean. We are given the explanation that these are “fentanyl smugglers,” although Venezuela is not a big, active “player” in fentanyl trafficking. There is no accountability. For sure, our intelligence gathering community of the governments know “who” was on each boat. This feels like our government is facilitating the “revenge factor” for the Venezuelan government.
Mary Beth Schneider
East side
If Canada joins the Union
Consider Trump’s illusions of Canada joining the Union: Canadians seem more sensible and might be able to fix what is wrong with our system.
Each state has two senators and at least one congressman in the House. The total number of congressmen is fixed by law at 435. The allocation amongst the states depends on the latest census.
Five states have populations less than a million, and each has one member in the House. Seven of the 10 Canadian provinces have populations exceeding those five.
After Canada joins the Union, each Canadian province will get two seats in the Senate for a total increase of 20. The allocation of seats in the House is complicated, but nine of the new states will have populations greater than Wyoming and eight greater than Vermont. Therefore, the provinces will have 20 senators, and at minimum, 10 seats in the House.
It could make for a whole new ball game.
Michael Burdoo
West side
Corrupt payments for ballroom
Trump’s supporters love to point out that he is building his ballroom with private funds, not taxpayer money. Several laws and Constitutional provisions prohibit Presidents from unilaterally spending privately donated funds on government projects, including The Anti-Deficiency Act, The Appropriations Clause of the Constitution and the Impoundment Control Act. Any such expenditures must be approved by Congress. Why? Because doing so would open the door to hidden influences from donors. Because billionaires would be able to trade donations for business regulations or tax breaks. Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill gave Google an $18 billion tax break, Amazon $16 billion, Microsoft $12 billion, and Facebook $11 billion. Now they are writing checks to him for his $300 million ballroom. Wonder why? There are reasons for our laws that this President thinks do not apply to him. The corruption of this administration is the worst this country has ever seen and is blatant and unchecked. Vote accordingly.
Kathleen Harris
Foothills
Continuing government shutdown
About 15 years ago, some 50 million people in the U.S. were without health insurance. The Affordable Care Act was going to fix this problem. It made progress, but as of 2024, about 26 million people were without insurance, even though subsidies were greatly increased in 2021, on a temporary basis, by the Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act. They were extended through 2025 under the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. The expiration of these “ temporary” subsidies at the end of 2025 is the sticking point that has Democrat Senators keeping the government shutdown in place. The problem is that the individual’s insurance rates will increase greatly because health costs and insurance costs increased tremendously in the past few years due to record levels of inflation. In a nutshell, the problem that will exist after the temporary subsidies expire is a direct result of shortsighted “ solutions” put in place by Democrats in the past.
Matthew Scully
Sahuarita
Astonishing
I find it interesting that the Star recently published four LTEs concerning the construction at the White House, but there was not one peep from the same liberal LTEers regarding the current government shutdown. Saturday, assistance for many vital programs will end, and federal workers are not receiving paychecks, resulting in significant damage to the most needy amongst us. But who cares? The Democratic Senators must feel mighty proud standing up for a lost and foolish cause, particularly when it is on the financial backs of their constituents. And, oh ya, these same Senators have elected to continue to receive their salaries. This clearly indicates what is important to a liberal LTEer.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Historic building destroyed
Where is the outrage regarding the dangerous health conditions being created by the destruction of the historic house that Donald Trump does not own? This portion of our White House was constructed in 1948 and is loaded with asbestos, lead and small animal feces that could eventually cause sickness and death in the people involved in the destruction. No permit or review was conducted prior to selecting the company performing the demolition. OSHA needs to inspect the entire site and when they do, should close it down and fine the construction company. The required bidding process was completely circumvented due to the revamping of the Planning Commission by Trump. The U.S. Congress was also bypassed. So, all the members of the White House staff, members of Congress, and the entire construction crew assigned to tear down then build the monstrosity, not to mention the golfers who will eventually play where the debris is deposited, will be infected.
Thomas Wilson
Northwest side
Trump’s distraction
I agree with LTE writer Sandra Katz, who pointed out that renovation and demolition are two different activities regarding the White House. And she hopes that Trump’s attention will now be focused on his building project rather than continuing to demolish our democracy. However, there seems to be at least two other people calling the shots in the White House who are laser-focused on the destruction of our democracy. Stephen Miller and Project 2025’s key author and Trump-appointed director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought. Both are drunk with power and cruelty.
Karen Allison
Three Points
Step up to the plate, Mr. C
It’s long past time for Congressman Ciscomani to lead a congress-wide protest against Speaker Johnson’s unconscionable delay in swearing in Adelita Grijalva to her House seat. No one (not even Mr. Johnson) is questioning the legitimacy of her win. Rather, he “justifies” his delay by one transparent pretext after another, all of which are simply shams, as proven by his having sworn in two similarly elected Republican congressional winners earlier this year. Not only are all citizens of CD6 being deprived of our congressional representation, but also the strength of the entire AZ delegation is weakened. It’s time to speak up and enlist your colleagues, Mr. C. This purely political disenfranchisement must end, else who knows where, when, or to whom it might happen next?
Gerard Ervin
Northeast side
Positivity challenge
A few weeks ago, a letter writer dared us all to propose positive suggestions to deal with the current political challenges. At first, I felt she was being unrealistically upbeat, but soon realized there is little hope for progress unless we follow her advice. The Republicans wrote Project 2025 and are executing it with a vengeance. It’s time for Democrats to join Independents to develop Project 2029, a comprehensive vision that allows all Americans to realize prosperity.
The biggest boondoggle in the “big, beautiful bill” is $75 billion allocated to ICE. Most agree their methods unconstitutionally violate human rights, erode community safety, encourage lawlessness, instill fear, separate families and take a lazy approach to an enormous problem better addressed by comprehensive immigration reform.
My positive suggestion? When the Republicans lose, every dollar earmarked for ICE should be reallocated to reinvigorate public education — raise teacher salaries, improve buildings, upgrade internet and, unfortunately, install metal detectors. It is time to invest in America’s children, not Trump’s masked stormtroopers.
Jim Lombardo
Oro Valley
The means justify the end
I recently gained insight into the thought process of a Trump supporter (supporters?). In an LTE praising Trump’s accomplishments, the writer states, “Once you have set aside Trump’s ego and narcissism ...” his accomplishments “far exceed any president in history.” So the writer is implying that he doesn’t care about Trump’s moral behavior (egotistical, narcissistic) as long as he issues policies that the supporter likes.
Anti-Trump writers, who criticize Trump’s behavior, e.g., lying, pardoning convicted felons, ignoring due process, the Constitution, etc., bring up irrelevant issues for the Trump supporter. One can’t have a meaningful debate about what another person finds meaningless.
Dale Gehring
Midtown
The president gets played
In Trump’s recent visit to South Korea, he got played like a cheap violin. A military band blasted Trump’s favorite “YMCA”. Cannons pounded a salute when he got off the plane. He was presented a replica gold crown and side dishes made with ketchup (Burger King?). He was awarded a medal, The Grand Order of Mugunghwa, as President Lee said: “you have many firsts and only with you.” Getting played is one thing. Not knowing you are getting played is embarrassing. It was a replay of his visits to Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The old saying fits. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Either Trump is a brilliant strategist playing the player, or he is getting played. Time will tell.
John Kautz
Midtown
Anti-vax support
I wholeheartedly support the anti-vax and anti-science proponents in their efforts to remove themselves and their offspring from the gene pool.
John Rademaker
Foothills
Vote no on Proposition 417
If you are still undecided on Proposition 417, perhaps this might help.
There are 17 statutory requirements that the state requires cities to put into their General Plans. One of those requirements is Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization. You will NOT find that goal anywhere in Plan Tucson 2025, which the city wants you to approve. However, you will find a goal that addresses art and culture, even though this is not a statutory requirement.
So what does this mean? It means that the city is willing to ignore the law in order to marginalize the voices of neighborhoods, and the people who live in them.
Ask yourself: Is this a plan that you want to put in place for the next 10 years? If you feel it is important for you to have a say in what happens in your neighborhood, then let your Vote be your Voice.
Vote NO on Proposition 417.
Colette Altaffer
Midtown
- Sarah McKasson, Midtown
Had to respond to Linda Schaub (LTE on Oct. 26)
After reviewing your list of taxpayer-funded renovations to the White House, I noticed a common theme. All the projects listed did not require demolition of any existing buildings in the White House, for example, the East Wing. Do you think maybe that could be the cause of the uproar?
Sarah McKasson
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Destroying small boats
As long as I can remember, the U.S. Coast Guard has approached vessels suspected of transgressions and forced them to stop, boarded them and proceeded with appropriate action. Of late, Secretary of War (No longer Defense) Pete Hegseth has caused our attack ships to fire on “suspected drug smugglers,” destroying them and killing several individuals. As far as I’ve heard, they’ve located no real evidence of drugs or other illegal activities. Of course, destroyed small craft leave very little evidence to be investigated. We apparently are just firing first and asking questions, or not, later. Can you see that this is one step from ICE personnel approaching a person on the street and, without provocation, shooting him/her because they might have drugs on them or may have committed some crime? My gosh, what about the rules of law, probable cause? Are none of these now necessary? I shudder at what our country is becoming.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Just one small question
One small question: How many times will the $300 million ballroom, twice as large as the entire White House, be used in a year? In a decade? (And how many of those uses could have fit in the old ballroom?) Is there anything more urgent that money could be used for? Nah — surely that’s this country’s greatest need!
I guess that’s more than one (easy) question.
Shawn Campbell
Midtown
Universal health care
On Jon Stewart’s Daily Show on Oct. 20, he had Bernie Sanders as his guest. The subject of health care costs was discussed as the reason for “No Kings Day” and the government shutdown by the Democrats in Congress. As usual, Trump was vilified. Bernie wants “Universal Health Care.” I am also in favor and have been for many years.
In Obama’s first term, he had an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate. There was a clamor to enact. He and his compatriots gave in to the lobbyists and produced Obamacare, which has never been truly successful.
The Democrats, led by people like Bernie, could negotiate for a compromise, but of course, they won’t, as hatred is their driving force. They are willing to penalize citizens rather than cooperate.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
Who are we?
Things we have lost as a nation under God: We have lost compassion and kindness for those suffering around us. People just like us, who are fleeing persecution and poverty. We need to show tolerance and understanding toward those who are different from us. We are all children of God, no matter our skin color or our sexual differences. We need to show more empathy, or at least more sympathy ,toward those in pain or in need of our help. To accomplish this, we need courage. The courage to overcome our prejudices and preconceived notions. The courage to stand up for what we know is right in the eyes of God. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment.”
Love.
Peter Morales
Midtown
Mike who?
The USDA has an emergency reserve fund of $5 billion that was designed to be used to continue SNAP payments in case of a government shutdown. The Trump administration (read that as Trump) has decided not to use that money for the purpose Congress intended. Although the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and his Republican Congress supposedly have responsibility for funding in their Constitutional job description, they have abandoned any pretense of governing and become instruments of Trump’s will. Trump himself has joked that he is Speaker of the House as well as President, making Johnson’s position in Congressional decision-making clear. Trump’s ally Steve Bannon has compared them to the Russian Duma, the ceremonial and powerless parliamentary body that rubber-stamps Putin’s proclamations.
Barbara Hall
Midtown
Autism
What causes autism? Based on my over 30 years of research and clinical experience as a psychologist, here is a brand-new hypothesis: Autism may be caused by a combination of genetic factors and hormonal changes in utero associated with exposure to light at night when our bodies expect (and need) darkness. The hypothesis is the fruit of a larger study of the human consequences of light and Neanderthal genes (we all have them). The hypothesis is explained in my new book, The Neanderthal-Human Hybrid Is Us: Bipolar Disorder A Behavioral Fossil. I don’t know if the hypothesis is correct. It is certainly plausible. Autism is associated with genes from Neanderthal; it has greatly increased in the last 50 years, and so has women’s exposure to light at night. Light influences the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which is known to affect fetal development. You can find references to my work and credentials online.
Julia Sherman, PhD
Northwest side
Democratic Party today
My parents were Kennedy Democrats, fiscal conservatives and social moderates. Today, the extreme left has dominated the party to one that believes men can participate in women’s sports, open borders, no cash bail, sanctuary cities, etc., etc.
The high-profile Democrats — A.O.C., Jasmine Crockett, Bernie Sanders — embrace socialism/communism. Mamdani, an avowed socialist running for Mayor in N.Y., was endorsed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Once he is elected, he will be the poster child of the Democratic Party. Tax the rich is their mantra, free lunch for everyone. It is shocking to see this position being embraced by part of our electorate. As we approach our 250th year next July, all of us who love America and understand we have arrived here as a Democratic Republic believing in free enterprise and capitalism, take note of what is happening to this political party. For those who identify as a Democrat, you need to open your eyes and be aware of what your party has become.
Bill Dowdall
Oro Valley
MAGA nonsense
My goodness! Methinks Mr. McConnell may need a few sessions of anger management therapy. His rage list of silly statements (Oct. 28) may be unusually over-the-top, even for him, but it still represents the usual fare of rabbit-hole nonsense regularly put forth by the MAGA crowd when a defensible position is not available to them (a frequent occurrence). Mr. McConnell has chosen instead to throw out a slew of absurd distortions of reality in a rancor-filled and truth-challenged tantrum, much like one of Trump’s “rage tweets,” and we all know how seriously any rational person takes those.
Hope Gastelum
East side
Demolition of East Wing
Had to respond to Linda Schaub (LTE on Oct. 26)
After reviewing your list of taxpayer-funded renovations to the White House, I noticed a common theme. All the projects listed did not require demolition of any existing buildings in the White House, for example, the East Wing. Do you think maybe that could be the cause of the uproar?
Sarah McKasson
Midtown
Yes on Prop 414
TUSD is asking for a budget override for more money with Proposition 414. Absolutely! The public schools have been trashed by bad policy coming out of Phoenix. Allowing seemingly unrestricted funding for almost anything is bad policy. The schools should all be held on an even keel. If TUSD wants each student to go to Disneyland under Horne’s rules for charter schools, it would be funded as an educational expense. But as a public school, it cannot be done. It should be each school gets a set amount of money per student, no extra because charters are different. Weird expenses reported for Arizona’s Parent Choice Funding include luxury items like skis and pianos, recreational activities such as ninja warrior training and trampoline parks, and expensive equipment like high-end sewing machines and hydroponic gardens. Some reports highlight a broad range of purchases, from extravagant items to common homeschooling materials like pencils and books, leading to controversy over what qualifies as an educational expense.
Peter Bisschop
East side
Resistance
Currently showing in Tucson is a remarkable movie: “Truth and Treason” documents the true story of Helmuth Huebener, a 16-year-old member of a religious community (LDS — the Mormons) living in Germany when the Nazis took over. Despite the hostility of his Nazi stepfather and some members of his church, he was determined to expose the lies and evil of the Nazis. Armed with only a typewriter and a mimeograph, he and two friends produced thousands of leaflets telling the truth about the Nazis and spreading them as far as they could. When he was finally caught, the Nazis considered him so dangerous that they tried him for treason. He was sentenced to death and executed at the age of 17. Today, we often hear that there is nothing we can do about abuse of power, about lies and hate being voiced at the highest levels. But if we have one-tenth the courage of this teenage hero, we can and we must.
Abraham R. Byrd III
North side
The sister’s heartbreak is ours, too
The deaths of these lovely young people with so much potential broke my heart, also. And rekindled my anger at the wealthy oligarchs in our country that are taking everything from us, including our lives. Decades ago, another rich boy drove his Jaguar under the influence at high speeds at night on the windy two-lane 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. He crashed it, killing his girlfriend. His parents had high-priced lawyers spend enormous sums on tests of Jaguars. They successfully convinced a couple jurors the “faulty” car “might” have been responsible and earned an acquittal.
It would be righteous if this entitled young man would plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter and spare us and the families the cost and agony of a trial but I doubt it. They probably have enough money to prove the Porsche Boxster is guilty. Can we guess their political party?
Dee Maitland
Marana
Presidential oath
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States ...” The oath does not say President of just the red states of the U.S. And what exactly are the red states? No state voted all Republican (red) or all Democrat (blue). Every state has Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and independent voters, yet Mr. Trump speaks as though states that did not have a majority of Red votes are enemies of the country, but especially of him.
While the President brags about his prowess as a dealmaker, he has also stated he will not negotiate with Democrats. Why not? This is your job. Show us what a great negotiator you are, Mr. Trump. Bring the two parties together in a deal that will benefit all residents of our great country. Show us that you will uphold the oath you took as President of all the United States. Show us you care about all of us.
Eleanor Arnold
Northeast side
1,320 feet
The construction of West 6th Street between North Stone Avenue and the old Tucson Electric Power Company building to the west is about the same distance in length as the Empire State Building is in height (1,454 feet).
This area has been under construction for five years. During this time, we’ve been zigging and zagging through the construction zone and dealing with traffic that can occasionally back up to Grande Avenue on St. Mary’s Road during rush hour.
It took 13 months to complete the construction of the Empire State Building, with groundbreaking commencing on March 17, 1930, and its completion roughly 13 months later.
Wiliam Kendall
Downtown
Hunger
What kind of president or person, for that matter, starves people to get what they want? This is insane. Cruelty is the point with the Trump regime.
Terry Louck
East side
Answer to LTE
In a letter to the editor published in the Nov. 4 Daily Star, Mr. McConnell asked readers to offer 14 reasons why Republicans are on the wrong path. I can offer 275 reasons — 53 Republican senators and 222 Republican representatives who will not stand up to an autocratic president who is enriching himself, his family and his billionaire friends at the expense of all other American citizens, and also acting as judge, jury and executioner when ordering the military to kill people in boats far away from our shores.
Gary Kordosky
West side
Cicsomani’s tipping point?
Rep. Ciscomani: Have you exceeded your personal tipping point with the actions of the current Republican administration? Have their wildly undemocratic actions finally caused you to reconsider your support for the Republican Party? Is it time for you to take action in line with your changed thinking? Are there higher values in play here than party loyalty?
Actions you could take include changing your party registration to Democrat or Independent. The most powerful thing you control are your votes in the House. Vote by vote, if you joined with other like-minded Members to make a new majority, some important outcomes could be achieved. By making this move, you might accelerate the tipping points of other Members and thereby begin the process of reasserting the powers rightly belonging to Congress. The multiple thousands of CD6 residents now in fear of or actually hurting from the actions of this overreaching government will support your principled move.
Donald Ijams
Midtown
Why not single-payer?
Like many other Americans, my health insurance premiums are about to increase dramatically. My increase is 170%. I know that others are looking at an even larger increase. I appreciate the Democrats’ call for continuing the tax credits, but what would be even better would be a single-payer system. Medicare for all. Why do we need to pay the insurance middlemen?
We pay more than any other country in the world for healthcare, and our health outcomes, including life expectancy, are not better. The US is the only developed nation in the world that doesn’t have a single-payer system. Why don’t we?
I’ve lived in two other countries that had single-payer systems. Great healthcare, affordable, and with similar wait times to here. America can afford it. Why don’t we have single-payer systems?
Melanie Bell
Midtown
SNAP benefits
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Benefits (SNAP) are provided to 45 million individuals, 17% of the adult U.S. population. Each individual state decides eligibility for this program; 45 million people receiving SNAP benefits appears to be far more than expected in a bountiful country like ours. Are there truly that many people in need who actually require assistance? Or, as in so many cases involving federal spending provided to states, have a significant number of the recipients, including illegal aliens, found that it is an easy and lucrative way to receive these benefits in lieu of actually providing for themselves? Are the states just issuing SNAP benefits without regard to the ability and requirement to work or even perform valuable public service? Is it just too easy to obtain SNAP benefits without justification? When you observe the daily demonstrations regarding ICE, one wonders how these people, day after day, are surviving without jobs. Have they outfoxed the general public by gaming the system?
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Health insurance denials
We want to thank Maria Martinez for sharing her experience with health insurance denials. We have been there too. Denials are devastating when you have a serious illness. Like Ms. Martinez, we are health professionals. We have appealed several denials and want to encourage others to do the same. With Medicare Advantage, recent studies find that most denials are overturned on appeal. If you don’t appeal, you’re giving up on good odds. It’s important that you appeal along with your physician. Only you can describe what withholding the treatment means to you. To get help preparing appeals, you can ask your health care team, consumer assistance programs, and companies that charge a small fee. Recently, someone reached out on social media for help with a denial for life-saving medication and received almost 200 responses, including offers of assistance. Insurance companies issue millions of denials every year. If you receive one, you’re not alone. Take action — it makes a difference.
Gerri Lamb
North side
America First?
In this era of America First, we can’t use the emergency $4 billion to give the needy their full allotment of aid but we can give Argentina $40 billion to prop up Trump’s buddy and import more of their beef cuz, ya know, our ranchers are just too greedy.
Rick Unklesbay
Midtown
One question
Jeffrey McConnell asks for 14 reasons why Republicans are on the wrong path. I will give him one. Republicans have replaced our Republic with a Kingdom. If we lived in a Republic, policy would be debated in Congress, voted on and implemented by the President. Donald Trump governs by executive order. Nothing he says or does is debated in Congress. If we lived in a Republic, I would have a Representative in the House. I don’t.
During Biden’s Presidency, McConnell liked to remind us we were in a Republic. So, Jeffrey, answer me this: When did you decide a Kingdom was better than a Republic?
Steven Brown
Midtown
Trump’s money tree
Trump thinks he’s a master economist. Let’s view the U.S. economy as a blue palo verde stand along the Rillito River in Tucson, gloriously flowering yellow each spring. Tariff costs to people are like sucking nutrients from plants. ICE is like a root disease or longhorn beetle larvae killing brown roots, hurting strength, and losing vitality (taxes, spending, jobs, culture). AI centers guzzle water and light (=energy). Diseases thrive with healthcare and vaccine cuts. During drought, palo verdes lose entire branches. Surviving scraggly stumps take decades to regrow. Losing branches for construction, retail businesses, agriculture, tourism, etc., as well as Medicaid, rural hospitals, hard-won disease immunities, and international trade balances will cripple the economy. Trump’s “black thumb” economy — cutting federal funds and jobs and soaring costs for food, healthcare, medicines, water, energy, Barbies, and billionaire-care — is killing the trees.
Tom Van Devender
North side
Debacle
As I reflect on Trump’s embarrassing “60 Minutes” interview, I am reminded why he has said he prefers the uneducated. If he were any other public official, the calls for his resignation would be overwhelming. But his MAGA base either does not comprehend what occurred or is willing to accept his manifest incompetence. I also note that we have not been subjected to letters from our MAGA contributors commenting on his performance. Their silence is deafening.
James Dolian
SaddleBrooke
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