Indifference to damage

Dear Editor,

This is an open letter to Congress:

I am writing this letter to express my deep concerns over what is currently happening in Washington, especially in terms of President Donald Trump’s shameless overriding of the Constitution by freezing needed funds and slashing and dismantling needed agencies authorized by Congress, which is meekly standing aside, falling in line, and allowing him to do this.

Real people here in Pennsylvania and across the nation are being hurt by these actions, and real damage is being done in countless areas — agriculture, health care, cancer research, food supports, veteran’s services, safety inspectors, air traffic controllers, mass firings across the board … the list goes on.

And why is Elon Musk leading this effort, gaining access to our personal information, and mucking around in Federal databases? No one voted for him to have any role in our government, let alone one with such power and no accountability or oversight.

In addition, Trump recently posted this: “He who saves his country does not violate any laws.” Seriously? Are you OK with that?! Clearly he sees himself as above the law and not subject to any of the checks and balances so wisely built into our Constitution, like the Legislative (that’s you, elected members of Congress) and the Judicial branches, those other two “co-equal” branches of our government.

So, I am pleading with you to remember the oath you have all sworn to represent and serve us, your constituents, and to protect and defend the Constitution. We need you now to step up and stand against these clear abuses of power and efforts to implement unlimited “unitary executive power” and thus abolish our Constitution and shatter our democracy, before it is too late.

The welfare of our nation and its people — including generations to come — now hangs in the balance. Clearly these are incredibly difficult times requiring extraordinary courage to honor the oaths you have taken and step up to defend our democracy and the Constitution which serves as its foundation — but this is the moment when such action is absolutely critical. Please be faithful to your oaths and do the right thing — and I’m sure you know in your heart what that is.

We are counting on you. Please do not fail us now.

Dale E. Buonocore,

Warren

Biden apologists

Dear Editor,

Earlier this winter, CNN’s Don Lemon shouted an off-color insult to ‘MAGA’ Republicans. Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) made an equally tasteless comment on Elon Musk.

These two outbursts are visible examples of immature, far-left tantrums. Numerous lesser-known Donald Trump haters use cleaner language but are disingenuous in calling Trump a dictator or Hitler.

Presidents don’t become dictators due to “checks and balances” from Congress and the Supreme Court. Adolf Hitler was the perpetrator of the Holocaust resulting in 6 million Jewish deaths. But Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called Trump “Israel’s greatest friend.”

So such name-calling is grossly untrue. And the aforementioned critics can’t honestly defend Joe Biden’s record.

Some persist in calling Trump a liar while glossing over Biden’s lies, including: claiming no military lives were lost in his term; claiming he inherited high inflation; declaring he wouldn’t pardon Hunter.

He, Kamala Harris and Alejandor Mayorkas lied claiming the border was not open. He was supported by liars who invented the “Russian collusion” slander against Trump. As of this writing, Trump is only six weeks into his term;it’s unrealistic to claim his policies won’t work.

Maybe critics just want to divert attention from the failures of Biden-Harris.

Biden pardoned son Hunter after the election. In the final minutes of his presidency, he pardoned additional relatives. Unlike Hunter Biden, others were not facing sentencing for tax and gun crimes. The pardons are valid for an approximate 10-year period ending Jan. 19. Biden might deny the following, though it’s reasonable to many.

Hunter Biden’s finances are still suspect. He could be subpoenaed by Congress. He could not refuse to answer questions by “pleading the fifth” as he’s safe from conviction. He’d either answer the questions or do what James Comey did during the Russian Collusion hearings — i.e.’I don’t recall’ 245 times. Hunter’s answers could cast suspicion on his

relatives, such as Uncle Jim. This way, the relatives are safe. Of course, he’d dare not lie to Congress under oath; those dates would be beyond Jan. 19.

The Laken Riley Act is an absolute necessity. Named for the murdered victim of an illegal immigrant, the purpose is to detect and apprehend criminals before violent crimes are committed. It should also help reduce the spread of fentanyl which has killed about 300,000 Americans in recent years.

So it’s bizarre that groups like Immigration Law & Justice Network condemn Congress for passing this. And it’s warped logic embraced by the Los Angeles “anti-ICE” protesters.

This apparent approval of danger to our citizens is sick.

Terry D. Hallock,

Warren