Trump vs. Biden on policy
I keep reading the same tired and shallow rhetorical attacks on Trump. Let’s compare his policies to Biden. Under Trump, the border was relatively secure. Under Biden, it is a disaster with almost 7 million having entered illegally. Trump did the Abraham Accords Middle East agreements, Biden has done none. Trump was tough on China, imposing sanctions for its unfair trade practices. Biden has appeased China by not holding them accountable for COVID, spying, Fentanyl deaths of Americans, etc. Under Trump, the inflation rate was 2% to 3%, under Biden we have had 40-year high inflation rates. Under Trump, there was no invasion of Ukraine by Russia, as occurred under Biden and again under Obama/Biden. Under Trump, there was no war declared between Israel and Hamas. Trump did not use his EPA and DOE to impose authoritarian dictates on vehicles and about every household appliance as Biden continues to do. Trump was tough on Iran, Biden continues to appease them. Trump answered all news media questions, Biden ducks them.
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Dorothy Monroe
Sierra Vista
Beginning at the end
Mike Johnson, Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has managed to herd all the Republican cats to call for an impeachment inquiry. Let the inquiry begin. But, this inquiry is not beginning at the beginning, it is beginning at the end. The end being the conclusion. And the conclusion being Biden must be guilty of something. Something!
It is just like the House Republicans to enter into what should be a solemn and grave undertaking by heading in the wrong direction.
Fran McNeely
Northeast side
Steve Kozachik
Re: the Dec. 13 article “University of Arizona cuts should start at top.”
I applaud Steve Kozachik for his guest opinion. He is spot on to say the Board of Regents must hold those who are in decision-making roles accountable. What he neglected to mention is the Board of Regents is also part of the decision-making process. Therefore, the Board of Regents failed to properly carry out fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers, employees, students, and stakeholders.
Lee Cooper
Foothills
U of A snafu
Speaking as an alumni and a basketball season ticket holder, I’m appalled at the recent news of the U of A’s financial “miscalculation” of $240 million reportedly missing from their budget. How does mismanagement on this monumental scale go unnoticed to reach this point? What’s even more disturbing is President Robbins’ plan to recover some of the money by raising ticket holders’ fees by 25%! Why should we pay for their mistakes? There has to be some accountability here and those responsible should be the ones to repair the damage. $240 million is too huge an error for the remedy to just be passed on to those who didn’t create the problem. The people who caused this terrible situation should be identified and replaced by responsible people who won’t let this happen again. I do hope this brilliant, already well-paid, high-level administration isn’t driving around in new Ferraris. If that sounds like an insult, what do you think a 25% ticket price raise sounds like to us?
Thomas Mitchell
Northwest side
DEI and University administration
The question should be, “What is the purpose of a university?” From the discussions and protests, it appears educators think their job is to create public opinion on their issues. In the past, the purpose of college was to provide students with information and the ability to evaluate for their own conclusions. High school graduates can barely read, write and do math, without knowing history because the teachers do not teach, they indoctrinate. Time for a change. Start with cameras in every classroom, with the recordings available to everyone for review, no hiding. We need end-of-year tests that will determine if the student passes, but results that can be used to evaluate the teacher’s ability to teach. We need tests that aid students in identifying the course of study to enjoy work and life, some people are blue-collar, white-collar or artistic. I used to think I wanted to be an NFL ref but the last few weeks changed that dream.
Loran Hancock
Northwest side
Unfair malevolence towards Trump
Peace on Earth .... Good will towards men. Eloquent and loving phrases, the very reason they would never come out of the former president’s mouth.
Oh, but au contraire. People of my ilk use too many negative adjectives vis a vis the Trump.
Adverbs are getting shortchanged. Some examples: Trump irritates me regularly. Fortunately, Trump will soon be wearing an orange jumpsuit. Trump plays the MAGA buffoons beautifully.
Speaking of short changed, let’s remember that Trump came to Tucson in March of ’16 and stiffed us out of $80 million for services rendered at the TCC.
Is Trump supposed to be above getting lambasted? In Trump Universe it’s OK to say “Crooked Hillary”, “Crazy Bernie” and me personally, “Vermin Tom”.
Got to keep laughing. I just found out I have Stage 3 Prostate cancer ... I say all this with a twinkle in my eye because it’s fun to be juvenile.
Life is absurd.
Thomas Plesniak
Midtown
Legislature is destroying our state
Re: the Dec. 17 article “Future of historic building in limbo.”
I was deeply saddened to see the article about the sale and closure of AZ Historical Society museums and historic properties. When I worked there in the 1970s, this once-thriving state agency brought was a gem within a state that was proud of its history and growth.
Unfortunately, this is a symptom of our legislature’s failure to its citizens. They are dismantling our public school system by giving hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds to private schools and homeschoolers. Our previous governor reduced taxes on the richest Arizonans by more than 44%, ensuring that state agencies such as Child Protective Services will be cut. They further reduce state revenue by granting tax credits to numerous non-profits, with the apparent goal of eliminating state government entirely.
This madness ensures a bleak future for our state. This race to the bottom is heartbreaking.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Reap what you sow
Former mayor Giuliani commenting on the defamation judgment awarded against him: the ‘absurdity of the number merely confirms the absurdity of the entire proceeding.’
Well, the truth is that the enormity of the fine confirms the enormity of his malevolent, racist, life-threatening actions.
Rick Cohn
West side
UA financial problem
Robbins and BOR should all be fired. BOR has never done the job a governing authority should do. Allowing all three universities to expand administration and engage in excessive spend by raising tuition and fees without regard to consequences to students. Robbins’ statement that now U of A was going to postpone “non-essential capital expenditures” is, by itself, grounds for termination. Why did UA ever spend money on non-essential items? Why did BOR approve non-essential spending? Academics seems to have taken a backseat to administration, DEI and athletics. Time to return to the real mission: education.
Ed Hubert
Midtown
Presidential politics
Did you catch any of the Trump rally in New Hampshire recently? I don’t know about you, but words matter! Since when is a maniac spouting fascism lauded in this country? What’s up with the people that come and cheer this horrible hate? I say to each and everyone of them, if this is what you want, look in the mirror. Better wake up, because there’s plenty of us, that won’t stand, for giving up our Democracy. We won’t follow an absolute madman, who wants his retribution, only, to enrich himself. Better be worried, you wealthy, that support him. The day is coming, where you absolutely, will have to pay your fair share, and be held accountable, for your lack of simple, decent, morality.
Mary Bradley
Northeast side
Hudbay vs. health
As Hudbay continues its relentless march to create an open pit mine next to Corona de Tucson, developers continue their relentless march to develop and sell real estate close to that mine and next to Copper Ridge Elementary School. There are Arizona full disclosure laws on the books that are not enforced that would alert potential buyers to the economic calamity that is lurking over their shoulders in the Santa Ritas. Who pays the ultimate costs when this mine is fully functional? The property owners. Who’s health is affected the most? Children and the elderly. Not the developers, not the mine. The money is in their pockets, and they are gone. Buyer beware.
Elaine Wolter
SaddleBrooke
Changing the Democratic Ticket
As clear by the blah blah blah of talking heads, it is never too early to start prognosticating. My own Democratic presidential ticket is Gavin Newsom for president with Biden as vice president. The legislative/policy experience, contacts, and naps of VP Biden with the energy, looks, and chops of the California gov. Newsom next to Trump would look like young, healthy, articulate, and handsome next to old, obese, bad hair, and mumblecore. His policy experience is decent, too. But alas, methinks the Dems in leadership aren’t bright enough to go that route. However get on the bandwagon, and write them letters.
Fred Miller
Bisbee
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