Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to letters@bangordailynews.com
I voted for the Harris-Walz ticket with forlorn hope networking, bipartisan efforts would finally be exerted upon the several severe problems facing our nation since World War II. Instead, we have a man seemingly intent upon rooting out his political enemies. We have a party in power that underwrites his actions, which now controls both the Senate and House.
It appears that dissension and divisive political hatreds will now govern, aided and abetted by feeding our people hatreds of the different and the fear of the same. This president seems intent on taking and holding power.
After the 2016 election, we had this person in the presidency. He promised a wall to shut off the illegal influx of millions from Mexico — this wall to be paid for by the government of Mexico. Do you see a wall? I do not. Perhaps my vision is impaired.
During his tenure, the nation lost 2.7 million jobs, unemployment increased to 6.4 percent, federal debt went up approximately 50 percent, the murder rate was up, we lost 178,000 manufacturing jobs, people without medical insurance increased by 3 million and economic growth went down 2.1 percent in 2020 from the previous year.
I think none of this interested the majority that reelected Donald Trump because he deflected rational considerations by an appeal to the hatreds and fears that now govern this majority that apparently would rather have a few more pence in their pockets than face unsolved national problems that cause inflation, deficits and massive amounts of sick and poorer folk. Since we are seemingly governed by the many who appear to eschew learning, I believe we are doomed to repeat our prior history until we achieve third-world status while the privileged few wallow in luxury.
I believe this man will preside over the death of the middle class because they have some smattering of education, learning and independence of mind. But, alas, the middle class has been diminishing for the past 25 years. He is merely hurrying it along.
Frederick Mendel
Sherman