Tucson Speaks Out: April 28

The tariff con

The leader declared that trade imbalances required large tariffs to right a perceived wrong. The economists said this was nonsense. The leader announced his tariffs to everyone’s shock and then paused them for a few months to broker deals. Deals were done in secret. With enough money under the table and a minor tweak in tariffs by the foreign country, which were matched with much, much lower tariffs from the leader, a “deal” was announced. If countries balked, there were always large corporations who would pay up for a carve-out. Never mind that world markets tanked; that is just collateral damage that can’t be avoided.

It couldn’t happen here. The FBI and the Justice Department would investigate and expose the extortion scheme. Right?

Our best hope is a free press doing legitimate investigative reporting and following the money. This is a perfect setup for corruption.

Robert Rietschel

Green Valley

Make a better America

Like most immigrants, I considered America great enough to be the land of my choice. America was great — as I experienced it since I landed in 1959 — because it welcomed foreigners and refugees, its liberating higher education with leading scientific achievements, transformative non-violent civil-rights movement, accessible trustworthy press, and universal protection under the law; and promoting international cooperation, defending democracy (not in all cases) and helping victims of disasters around the world — all worked under a government based on the Constitution and approaching that “of the people, by the people and for the people.” Since Jan. 21, the greatness collapsed — every worthy institution is under attack, anyone could be arrested and punished by internment or deportation without due process of law, allies are despised while dictators embraced, and disasters ignored — by the stroke of a pen. Let’s follow the eternal truth: lead by being a servant (Matthew 20:26), as Pope Francis did. Let’s start treating others like ourselves, all children of God, filii dei!

Ke Chiang Hsieh

Midtown

Explain it like I’m a 5-year-old

In the hopes that my opinions will be published as often as Jeffrey McConnell’s are, here goes. JM frequently makes statements, then challenges people to “explain” to him why his statements are misguided ... but why make the effort? Things have been “explained” to Jeffrey over and over and over again to no avail — no amount of rational/factual explanation penetrates the MAGA mindset. Jeffrey once suggested (and trust me, I only minimally exaggerate here) that sinister bootcamps existed out there somewhere, staffed by maniacal Frankenstein physicians forcing children into sex change operations. I duly provided a published response to him in rebuttal, though I’m sure it made no difference to him at all. Kind of like whack-a-mole, you can “whack” one misguided notion by JM, only to have some similar Trump-speak pop up the next day. It’s pointless to provide “explanations” when they are only rhetorically sought.

Hope Gastelum

East side

Jeffrey needs an explanation

Dear “Befuddled”: Please read “our” Constitution, including all the Amendments. The Fifth Amendment, which is part of the Bill of Rights, states that “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process.” This applies to ALL residents regardless of status. The due process requirement is repeated in the 14th Amendment. So, Jeffrey, for those of us who respect the rule of law, that is what we do as honorable and patriotic Americans of all stripes. Does this include you? Hmmm. You might appreciate the “due process” if and when you face your next legal situation.

Phil “Bulldog” Bentley

Foothills

Jew-hater’s graffiti

The Jew-hater’s four spray-painted words (‘End Apartheid Abolish Israel’) scrawled recently on the wall of a Jewish house of study and worship, Congregation Young Israel of Tucson, validates much about today’s antisemite. First, there is no daylight between the Jew-hater and the Israel-hater. They are one and the same. Second, today’s antisemites are historically ignorant of Israel’s de-colonialization of the Holy Land through the return of Jewish sovereignty to the ancient and historic Jewish homeland. Third, at the heart to today’s antisemitism is the destruction of Israel and the genocide of the Jewish people. The great paradox for Jew-haters to contemplate is that though they have been around for millennia, so have the Jewish people, who continue to flourish despite them.

Kent Blumenthal

Green Valley

Party politics

It is clear from her critical exposè of the leadership of the Democratic party that Sadie Shaw has nothing personal to gain but the satisfaction of having held the powerful accountable for their defensive and slovenly management of their responsibilities to the voters of this state. She calls out the racism and other abuses of power that she sees not to cause them harm but rather to challenge them to step up and do the right thing. And, where appropriate, to step aside and allow new ideas and insights to take hold within the party of the people.

At this time, when the leadership at all levels of government is cowed by threats coming from the rich and powerful, the courage and clarity of vision exhibited by Sadie Shaw is desperately needed in those who would choose to govern us. Bravo, Sadie!

Mary Kierzek

Midtown

Apartheid

I’m old and still trying to understand what Zionism is. I do know what Apartheid is. Reading a LTE recently, the writer said Israel isn’t an apartheid state because Ethiopian Jews, gays and trans are all accepted and are living there.

What about the Palestinians that were there first?

Zionism, (from what I understand) is the belief that Israel deserves to live in the region that was formerly Palestine and it gives Jews the right for self-determination and the right to move into “their” homeland of Israel. Again, what about the people that lived there before?

The Israeli Government wants the entire land for themselves, locking out the people that were already there?

Isn’t that apartheid at its core? By definition, it is. How is it fair the Israel can bomb Palestinians without consequences?

I’m not Jewish like the letter writer, but I know what words mean. Apartheid is Apartheid.

John Bingham

Northwest side

TEP franchise agreement

The TEP franchise agreement should be shorter, as noted in the April 22 op-ed by Barbara Liguori. One issue is how to deliver more electricity to the University of Arizona. Why are the UA and TEP not building solar arrays over every parking lot and on top of every building on campus? I would also add the City and County, as well. That energy could be delivered and stored at a proposed substation north of the medical center. This is a partnership that increases clean energy generation and may reduce the need to spend ratepayers’ money to build a massive transmission system along Campbell. I don’t know if this answers all questions since questions get deflected or unanswered. If TEP does not increase clean energy as promised in 5 years, the agreement can be redone. Giving a long-term agreement can allow TEP to ignore clean energy generation longer.

William Jones

East side

U of A kowtows to bullies

President Garimella chose to ignore the sound advice of multiple faculty and is willing to sacrifice integrity for money. Apparently, although a learned man, he has not learned that the way to respond to bullies is to resist, not kowtow. By resisting, this bully will back off and the financial aid due the university would be forthcoming. As an alumnus, I am ashamed of the apparent University of Arizona creed, “money above all.” Alumni expect more from their alma mater.

Dennis Winsten

Northeast side

History matters

To paraphrase Santayana, if we don’t learn from history, we are fated to repeat it. Trump has not learned from history. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain caved in to Hitler, ultimately resulting in World War II. Even though Putin was the aggressor in Ukraine, Trump has kissed up to him, suggesting that Russia be rewarded with Ukrainian land. Putin can only conclude from this that if Russia challenges the sovereignty of former Soviet states, there will be no repercussions. Does Trump expect European powers to meekly stand by and allow this to happen when it threatens their security? History matters, and we really do need to learn from it.

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

Trump sells out completely

In order to gain an end to the war in Ukraine (not quite on Day 1), Donald Trump is proposing to give everything illegally captured to Russia. Force a democracy to relinquish lands, sovereignty, the ability to join NATO, and sell out our allies; to gain a promise that Russia will not conquer the entire country. I know that I can trust Putin’s promise. Maybe the real reason for this total capitulation, and trading sides during a war, is to set a precedent that it is ok for a dictator to conquer whatever he wants, so perhaps Greenland or the Panama Canal or perhaps Canada can be U.S. lands. Hopefully, China will not also see the opportunity.

Ronald Nowicki

Green Valley

Hegseth et al.

In my recent letter on this topic, I made a mistake. The anti-Trump letter signed by 500-plus defense people was not written by John Kerry, Trump’s onetime chief of staff. Kerry did write however in a magazine of Trump’s sneering at American soldiers buried in Normandy, calling them “suckers and losers.” and his taunting of Gold Star parents. (Trump was himself a draft-dodger — chickens have heel spurs.) Kerry also noted Trump’s admiration of Hitler, his desire to have American troops fire on political protesters, etc. etc., calling him “unfit for the office.” So I continue to maintain that Hegseth was nominated to taunt the military and break with security procedures.

Trump is, of course, correct to maintain that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a voter; this shows that MAGA is a cult, and that tariffs are Kool-Aid.

Herbert Schneidau

Foothills

Bernie Sanders ... President?

“Feel the Bern” Sanders has been a wildly popular politician, especially with the younger voters, notwithstanding the fact that he’s an independent social democrat. Just look at his attendance records for “Stop the Oligarchs” tour.

Ten years ago, he led all polling to face off against Trump. He was certainly more appealing than Hillary Clinton.

So, what happened? Debbie Wasserman Schultz was the DNC chairperson and appointed herself as kingmaker, essentially making Clinton, her friend, the nomination.

Schultz went so far as to leak data that Sanders was a Jew ... just 10 years ago. Can you believe it? And she’s a Jew.

By elimination, Trump won. This is all wel- documented by The Guardian, BBC, NYTimes and Politico.

Sanders is the only politician who speaks the truth about deficits, Israel and trade.

Thomas J. Plesniak

Midtown

Uncomfortable truths

1. Hegseth blunders twice and uses Signal rather than a secure messaging source.

2. Cost of living is rising.

3. Markets are fluctuating.

4. Trump is still guilty of 34 frauds, molestation, slander, six bankruptcies, etc.

5. The Trump administration disobeys court orders.

6. Rubio is possibly in over his head as Secretary of State.

7. China ramps up anti-Trump propaganda.

8. Telling lies supersedes telling the truth — a holdover from Trump’s first four years in office.

The Trump administration is in disarray. Will Trump be able to pull off a better four-year term than the last one?

Toni Kane

Oro Valley