A Trump/Vance win threatens seniors’ lifelines
Lindenhurst, L.I.: As a senior citizen who relies on Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid to survive financially, maintain good health and to be independent, I am very worried about the continued existence of these vital programs, particularly as we get closer to November’s election.
The Project 2025 leader, Kevin Roberts, whose “180-day action plan for America” during the next Republican administration includes details of significant cuts and changes to Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, is postponing release of his new book until after the election. The forward of the book was written by Donald Trump’s vice presidential candidate, JD Vance, even though Trump and his campaign staff are trying to distance themselves from Project 2025 (despite being directly connected to it). This is a clear attempt at deception, keeping many Americans in the dark about what could happen if Republicans get elected.
With all the lying and distorting by Trump and the complete turnaround of Vance (a one-time “Never Trumper” who said Trump is a threat to our democracy), who could believe that Project 2025 won’t be implemented under a Republican administration? The plan and its 900-plus pages of extreme, revolutionary change is reason for all Americans, particularly senior citizens, to be extremely worried about the future. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have both said they will protect Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid and seek to expand benefits for senior citizens, publicly supporting plans to strengthen these programs.
Playing around with these beneficial programs is short-sighted and dangerous. When it comes to vital and beneficial government programs, it’s essential to have stability over chaos. Larry D’Angelo
Things looking up
Manhattan: Ready to win / Ready to lead / Ready to help / Ready to succeed / Giving us promise / Giving us light / Giving us strength / To do what is right / Keeping us safe / Keeping us strong / Vote for Kamala / You can’t go wrong / Say yes to Kamala / Let’s help her win / Our future is waiting / So let’s begin. Phoebe Celentano
Equal-opportunity
Astoria: To Voicer Dennis Middlebrooks: Trump makes fun of everyone he goes up against, not just women. Politics is an ugly business, so if he derides women, they can’t whine that it’s because of their gender. Bradley Morris
Stay on policy
Brooklyn: As I watch the candidates for president of the United States, I see their need to throw verbal stones. Please stick to the topics at hand, there are plenty of them. The economy, this country’s relationship with other countries, etc. There are a lot of etceteras to deal with. As a registered voter, that is what I want to know about, not who is worse as a person. I, a person who is still working at almost 70, know what I see and hear. So stick to the topics and don’t throw stones at each other. Maybe my words will fall on deaf ears, but I hope it will become a needed change. Sharon Cesario
Problems abound
Atlantic Highlands, N.J.: The Democrats would have us believe that it’s been a blast for three and a half years under their administration. How can anybody who has a brain believe their propaganda? Prices are out of control on almost everything, wars are raging and they may engage with Iran for another one, crime is becoming a big issue and the country is divided. Kamala has Marxist leanings and wants to socialize the U.S. The only people who think we are okay are those with the money to afford this terrible inflation. Wake up, America! Vote for something, not against Trump! Brenda Hodgkiss
Shot himself in the foot
Fresh Meadows: When I learned that Donald Trump selected JD Vance as his running mate, I was almost hopeful. This, I believed, is a man a bit more intellectual than most Trump troubadours, but when I saw his asinine comment about childless cat ladies in a 2021 interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson, all the positives he has achieved with his quite sensitive portrayal of modern hillbillies in his work “Hillbilly Elegy” went out the window! Lesley D. Lewis
Expanded access
Manhattan: Re “Voting made easier” (editorial, Aug. 23). The Court of Appeals’ recent decision to uphold the law allowing any registered voter to request an early mail ballot is a significant victory for democracy in our state. Our democracy is strongest when everyone has the opportunity to participate. By ensuring that New Yorkers can vote by mail without unnecessary barriers, we are taking a critical step toward making our elections more inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of their circumstances. For those who wish to take advantage of this opportunity, you can apply for a mail-in ballot on the New York State Board of Elections website. Let’s continue to work together to make our elections more accessible to all, and ensure that every New Yorker’s voice is heard. Betsy Gotbaum, executive director, Citizens Union
Spiraling violence
Ridgewood, N.J.: Re “Airstrikes kill dozens in Gaza” (Aug. 25): A friend saw this article and asked me, “Will the killing ever end?” I answered her, “Only when the Israelis run out of people to kill.” The genocide in the Gaza Strip is a war of extinction. The Israeli state saw the single worst attack on Jews, by Hamas, since the Nazis and went mad. The Palestinians include the innocents caught in the middle. The world can see there is wrong on both sides. But until both sides sit at the same table and talk, all the world can do is watch and criticize. In the end, the survivors — if any — will rebuild. Peter J. Peirano
Devalued lives
Edinburgh, Scotland: How much longer before someone in authority is going to come out and say it — Westminster’s and the White House’s contradictory attitude to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza is simply racist. As a senior U.K. foreign office diplomat resigns over the ignoring of clear evidence of numerous humanitarian atrocities against Gaza’s civilians, and David Lammy, U.K. foreign secretary, is forced to embarrass himself with his word salad regarding defensive versus offensive weapons supplied to the IDF (a bullet is a bullet, David), there is only one conclusion that a normal, sentient being can come to: Slaughtering Brown civilians (as Tony Blair and George W. Bush were happy to do in Iraq) is acceptable; mass deaths of white civilians by a mad dictator in Ukraine is unacceptable. If it’s not starting to look like unacknowledged racism to you, I’d love to hear the alternative explanation. Amanda Baker
Point taken
Delray Beach, Fla.: To Voicer W.J. Van Sickle: I stand corrected, but I’m glad you read my letter to Voice of the People. Barry Rudd
Doesn’t add up
Staten Island: To Voicer Robert Damato: I suggest you check the speedometer on your vehicle. The cameras do not flash a violation until you are 11 miles over the posted limit. You must have been doing 36 mph to warrant the fine. NYC’s speed camera program uses the same radar and laser technology relied upon by law enforcement to measure a vehicle’s speed. If the radar finds that the vehicle is exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour, images of the vehicle are recorded along with an image of the license plate. Myra Goodman
Rare rabbit
Jersey City: Took a picture of an eastern cottontail rabbit in Central Park. Apparently, the last sighting was in 2020, although there is a video on YouTube from 2021. Lou Defranzo
Talk show trailblazer
Greenville, S.C.: Sad news about the death of former talk show host Phil Donahue on Aug. 18. America has lost a television legend. After a long illness, the television mogul died at 88. Donahue was one of the founders of the modern televised daytime talk show program, even before later talk show greats such as Sally Jessy Raphael, Oprah Winfrey, Jenny Jones, Ricki Lake and Martha Stewart. The legendary “Donahue” ran during the 1980s and early 1990s. Donahue interviewed many people around America who all had their own stories to tell. He leaves behind his wife Marlo Thomas and five children. He will truly be missed. Steven Hawkins
Autonomous autos
Central Islip, L.I.: Some cars now have hands-free driving. What a joke! Most drivers can’t even drive safely with their hands on the wheel. Thomas Sarc