More letters: Feb. 12

At least a year prior to the November 2020 presidential election, the former president, his trusted personal lawyer, Rudy and a host of Republican politicians at all levels of government echoed the ...If I lose, they cheated, mantra.

It came true! He lost and his prophecy proved his lie. Seventy four million Americans voted for him and his lie.

A well timed former presidential rally on January 6th, 2021 instructed the masses to go to the Capital Building and take back their government, leading to an attempt to overthrow Congress....insurrection as defined in our Constitution.

If an attempt is made to overthrow our government and is excused by a Republican Senate, our constitution is not worth the paper it is printed on. The Republic takes a hit and we become just another banana republic in name only.

Roger Engels

Oro Valley

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

It is amazing how few people understand Economics. It should be a required high school subject. Increasing minimum wages has no long term benefit to raising quality of life. It just leads to inflation, and all levels of the income ladder just get re-positioned. In 1950, I could get a haircut for $0.25. Now, it's $30. Although I have a higher income today, I don't live any better than in 1950. Statistics show that the percentage of people earning poverty level income hasn't changed over 50 years even though wages and salaries have increased substantially. Minimum wage is meant to allow low skilled people to enter the work place. The only determinant for an individual's earnings should be their talent compared to their competition.

Ken Wolfe

Marana

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

On Tuesday a writer defended keeping the US Senate Filibuster. The implication in that letter that the filibuster was an intention of the founding fathers is a misperception held by many. The filibuster is not mentioned in the Constitution, but is an artifact of the rules of the Senate.

A second misperception cited, was the assertion that Harry Reid, Democratic leader of the Senate in the Obama Presidency, did away with the filibuster for Supreme Court Nominations. Again this is a misperception. The Democrats under Harry Reid did eliminate filibustering of judicial nominations except for the Supreme Court. It was the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, who eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees in 2017, to allow for the nomination of Neil Gorsuch.

The continued use of the Senate Filibuster to require super majority support for the passage of legislation, is indeed a worthy subject of debate. To properly discuss any subject it is necessary to have actual facts, not misperceptions as a basis for discussion.

Robert O’Toole

Northeast side

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

It appears in 4 short weeks, Mr. Joe Biden has changed the definition of the word "UNITY" to IMPEACHMENT; at the same time he HAS defined the word SOCIALISM: 1) Minimum Wage to $15/hr. which will encourage small businesses to close and increase LABOR UNIONS participation. 2) $3,000+ per child which takes tax payers money and gives to individuals that couldn't afford having children in the first place. 3) Encourage immigrants (open boarders) to come to the U.S. and receive FREE medical insurance. And his Socialistic List keeps growing. Oh, and by the way, locally speaking, Automobile Gas 3 weeks ago, in Tucson, was $183.9/Gal today Gas is $231.9.

Keep an eye on your pocket book as this is just the start of the "ROBIN HOOD' philosophy called: SOCIALISM.

THANKS FOR LISTENING, AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Walt Johnson

Foothills

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

Re: letter-Defend the Filibuster or rue it later.

Regardless of your opinion on the filibuster, let’s get your facts straight. The “Founding Fathers” had no intention of filibuster and only laid out certain items for super majorities. And, although the Democrats eliminated the filibuster for certain court appointments, it did not include the Supreme Court. It was McConnell in 2017 who eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees.

Marc Goldfeder

Foothills

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

Our constitution, probably not deliberately, established the structure of government so that there are only two parties!

The bitterness in politics built from the 70s, when the rise of 'Independent' began. Prior to that time voters selected one of the two parties as their home base. My parents laughed about canceling each other's vote. She was a Republican, he a Democrat.

When voters who formerly were the broad middle of their party began choosing 'Independent' as their affiliation, they lost their influence on the most important task the party's have: the ability to select candidates.

Having no voice in choosing the candidates, Independents are forced to vote for extremists or not vote at all.

This has not been good for our country. Both parties should wage massive campaigns to bring Independents back to the fold. Only then can the bitter divisiveness now prevalent disappear.

Charles Josephson

Midtown

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.