Tucson Speaks Out: May 5

President Harry S. Truman made the phrase “the buck stops here” famous. He meant that he acknowledged and took full responsibility for mistakes made during his administration.

Current President Donald J. Trump will make “the buck stops here” infamous. He refuses to acknowledge or accept responsibility for mistakes he has made. He blames others: President Joe Biden, or anyone else he considers disloyal, for the negative results of his decisions.

For Donald Trump, “the buck stops here” really means the dollar bill goes to him. He’d have his name on it if he could. He, his family and cronies benefit financially from his presidency. He has turned our sacred White House into a marketplace.

President Truman was a great leader who held himself accountable and took responsibility for his decisions. Trump is a boss man, but he’s no leader. Fire the guy.

Sherry Machen

Green Valley

Advocating for death with dignity

The “death with dignity” movement champions compassion and autonomy, allowing terminally ill individuals to make personal end-of-life decisions. It provides access to regulated life-ending medication, enabling patients to bypass prolonged suffering and choose their final moments. While states like California, Oregon, and Vermont have legalized physician-assisted dying, many others remain undecided, revealing inconsistencies in policies that otherwise support personal choice, such as abortion rights. Critics argue ethical, religious, and societal concerns, fearing misuse or pressure on vulnerable individuals. However, data from states with safeguards show minimal misuse. Religious objections often cite life as sacred, yet compassion and alleviating suffering are also core values. Decisions about assisted dying should prioritize medical ethics and individual rights over singular moral frameworks. Just as we compassionately euthanize pets to spare them pain, humans deserve similar consideration. Death with Dignity affirms the right to choose, emphasizing autonomy and dignity even in life’s most challenging moments.

David Falls

Queen Creek

Advocates of anarchism

Anarchists ignore facts. The Orange King’s accomplishments are smoke and mirrors.

China does not control the Panama Canal. Trump’s words, not facts.

Trump 1.0 eliminated Obama’s financial aid to the Northern Triangle, forcing migrants to seek refuge here as undocumented immigrants. That continued to increase under Biden.

Recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic increased inflation. Who bungled that pandemic?

No updated laws exist regarding border crossings because Trump issues executive orders, blatantly illegal, replacing Congress and their control. He knows the law, but he continues to “go rogue.” And no one can stop him. He openly decides and flagrantly violates our Constitution and bylaws daily. Eight Amendments have been obliterated thus far.

Trump’s sycophants are anarchists, people who disregard laws and social norms as a form of rebellion against authority, promoting chaos and lawlessness.

Agitators lack any authenticity from Trump. He made “200 trade deals.” There are only 195 countries in the world, and he can’t name one deal. China says it has not been approached.

Sheldon Metz

Northeast side

The Faustian message

Well, Dr. Faust, what wisdom do you have for us today? What advice might you have for us today, for those who have followed your path in making a pact with the devil? When I wrote this letter, it was Easter and (with Goethe whispering in my ear), like you, I heard the church bells, but I fear democracy did not. You thought self-inflicted suicide was your only choice after your pact with the devil, but the bells of Easter changed your choice. Why?

With apologies to Hemingway, for whom did the bells toll on Easter? Was it for the salvation of the resurrection? Did your contemplation of the resurrection give you a choice you thought you didn’t have?

No suicide today, Dr. Faust. Rather, as I ponder your message: “I am part of that power that eternally wills evil and eternally works good.” We can wrestle the devil and emerge from this without becoming like “him,” the devil we ourselves have created.

Gerald Farrington

Saddlebrooke

Military parade? Really?

The man that called veterans suckers and losers wants a military parade. For what? To celebrate his bone spurs? Or because he appointed and still supports the liar for Secretary of Defense, Hegseth. The same guy that feels it’s important for friends and family to know about upcoming air strikes.

I’m a proud Marine veteran who served during Operation Desert Storm. I’m also proud of what the Marines have meant to our country. We were called “Tuefel Hunden” (Devil Dogs) by the Germans in WWI because of our furious fighting spirit at the battle of Belleau Wood. I don’t understand how those now in the military would want to honor someone that couldn’t even spend the time visiting the graves of those Marines that gave their lives for this country because weather wasn’t good for his hair. How is a draft dodger, felon and fool in charge of the our military?

John Bingham

Northwest side

Superior journalism

Congratulations to the News and Documentary Emmy nominations.

Nat Geo-46, PBS-37, CNN-33, Netflix-29, CBS-28, Univision-13. My favorite MSNBC anchors, Ari Melber and Alex Wagner, were nominated for individual recognition.

Anderson Cooper (CNN) was recognized with many nominations for his program, “The Whole Story.” “60 Minutes” (CBS) had many nominations.

FOX: 0.

Jeffrey bragged about the large number of viewers on FOX.

Quality over noise. I think this proves my point.

Trump is targeting two successful channels, PBS and CBS’ “60 Minutes.” Wrong side of history, buddy.

Margaret Gordon Magruder

Downtown

Prevention, prevention, prevention

On April 22, the New York Times devoted a full page explanation of “How Measles Attack Children”.

The article explained why an unvaccinated child is at great risk of being infected anytime, anywhere. There have been 800 reported cases of the disease from January to April 2025. The impact of the virus in a child’s body can be devastating and eventually lead to death. Robert F. Kennedy reversed his position on the vaccine and now supports getting one. However, in the same breath, he said the immunity is not long-lasting. That is flat out untrue. Measles, mumps and rubella vaccines usually protect people for life, but mumps immunity may decrease over time.

As a parent, believe the science, learn the facts and vaccinate your children at 12-15 months and again at 4-6 years. One of the most important jobs you have is to protect your children from serious and deadly diseases. Allow them to live a long and healthy life.

Sally Mayersohn

Northwest side

Most Americans deserve what’s coming

Among the 245 million Americans who were eligible to register and vote in last November’s election, 31.6% voted for Trump, 30.6% voted for Harris, and 37.8% either didn’t vote or wasted their vote on a third-party candidate. Combining those who voted for Trump with votes for a third-party candidate, plus those who didn’t vote, adds up to 69.4%. In other words, more than two-thirds of Americans who were eligible to vote deserve whatever happens in America during the next few years or decades.

Bruce Gary

Sierra Vista

Odyssey of the Mind

I was happy to see that Odyssey of the Mind is still going. Congratulations to the Tanque Verde Elementary School. My husband and I were officials for OM for 10-plus years in Montana and Minnesota. We participated in the local, state and world competitions. OM teaches youth to think on their feet for a “short term” problem that is given to them at the competition and work out a ‘long-term’ problem over a number of months. As he mentioned, the program encourages creative problems solving using science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. It brings together students with different strengths and teaches them to work together. We judged students from elementary through high school. At the World there were teams from the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico and Asia.

Sandra Gassan Joubert

Northwest side

First 100 days marked by corruption

The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been marked by corruption. Pardoning over 1,500 felons who attacked Congress, placing tariffs on some, but not on others, leading to corrupt favor-seeking to avoid paying tariffs, loosening regulations on crypto currency and creating two bitcoins, $TRUMP and $Melania to enrich himself, declaring a national energy emergency allowing fossil fuel companies to avoid permitting delays but denying avoidance of permitting delays to wind or solar companies aren’t the hallmarks of one who wants to Make America Great, they are the hallmarks of a president who wants to sell himself to the highest bidder. It is shameful.

Mike Carran

Marana

Oath of office

I, Juan Ciscomani, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

These are the words that Congressman Ciscomani said when he became a U.S. Congressman. Is the Congressman upholding his oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, including domestic ones? Is he faithfully discharging the duties of his office? Given that he has not provided checks and balances on the executive branch, has sat idly by as the president violates the Constitution, and refuses to meet with his constituents, I would say that he is not.

Gina Chorover

Foothills

Tariffs will cause over 20% inflation

Time Magazine’s interview, published April 25, gave a warning of Trump’s economic plans. In the interview, in a response to a question made by an interviewer, Trump said that if tariffs were 20%, 30% or even 50% a year from now, he would call that “total victory.” In essence, Trump wants to set up a Value Added Tax or VAT on the whole country, one that is regressive and will massively hurt the poor. In addition, in order to extend the 2017 tax cuts, which will cost $3.6 trillion through 2034, Trump wants $1.5 trillion in cuts, mostly from Medicaid and other programs for the poor.

The Peter G Peterson Foundation points out that there are $1.9 trillion in loopholes and credits for the rich and corporations this year. The federal deficit was $1.83 trillion in 2024.

Trump’s high tariffs are installing a VAT and will cause at least 20% inflation by July 2026, and his budget will inflate the federal debt by trillions.

Matt Somers

Midtown

Listening actively

Odile de Vasselot was 103 years old when she died. At the age of 18 years, she joined the Resistance fighters while living in her beloved France to oppose and defy the onslaught of the German army and the Vichy Government collaborators.

History has noted many times her courage, tenacity, and perseverance to overcome ruthlessness and unfairness both in war and in peace.

When asked about the audacity of her bravery and valorous actions during the German occupation, she answered, “One never has the right to just sit there and do nothing.”

If anyone ascribes to the leanings of the current administration and its actions, I encourage you to engage with those who disagree and share calmly that with which you are pleased.

If you are appalled by the current administration and its actions, I encourage you to move toward those same conversations to listen and offer your point of view.

After all, “One never has the right to just sit there and do nothing.”

Howie Adams

Northeast side

Trump attacks educational programming

It is no surprise that Trump would attack public television and radio. It’s educational programming. He would spend millions of dollars on a military parade on his birthday, and stop funding public television and radio. Corporate Public Broadcasting is what all television and radio was really meant to do. Only a fool would cancel the fabulous children’s programming, documentaries by Ken Burns, dozens of music programs from Opera to Austin City Limits, Nova, Nature, In the Americas, Arizona Illustrated, etc, etc. The CPB is all about local community stations caring and informing their community in a local format. Trump’s typical lack of understanding about intellectual gifts in our nation is too predictable. Trump is an uneducated rube who does not understand the value of intellectual products to enhance humanity. Intellectual and cultural education programs do not involve making money, so Trump doesn’t see the value. Big Bird loves America more.

Richard Bechtold

West side