Readers sound off on political disillusionment, Biden’s Gaza policy and congestion pricing hearings
It’s not Trump we’re sick of, it’s this system
Briarwood: Last week on one of the cable networks, there was a report concerning Trump fatigue or anti-Trump burnout. The report indicated that people were getting tired of hearing about Donald Trump. I disagree that this is fatigue or burnout. The problem is hopelessness caused by the concern of whether that the majority can have any meaningful say in our government.
To explain the lack of hope, look at what has happened since the protests, particularly by women, which occurred in 2017 after Trump was elected. Our reproductive freedom has been reduced, gay rights are threatened, and voting rights have been diminished.
Despite all our efforts, the majority have not been able to stop or discourage the minority from weakening our hard-earned rights. The minority already has total control of the Supreme Court and many state legislatures. My anticipation is that there will be further deterioration of all of our rights as the minority finds additional ways to take more control of our government.
We can protest and yell and scream all we want, but unless the people elect representatives who will represent the majority interests, there is no hope. Unfortunately, with our existing system, I’m not sure it is possible for the majority to ever have sufficient control of the government to make our lives truly better.
This is why there is hopelessness. Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Miles in their shoes
Jackson Heights: For an exciting new show, the producers of “Undercover Boss” could recruit the unhappy members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and arrange for them to live incognito in Cuba or Venezuela with regular people for 30 days. No personal security, no money. The last episode will be a nail-biter. If current events are representative, I’m thinking The Squad will do everything possible to scramble onto an overcrowded, leaking boat and try to escape. Stay tuned. Glenn B. Jacobi
Schedule change
Brooklyn: By any measure, early voting for nine days at sites different from a person’s regular polling site, some as far as a half-mile away, has been a failure. The turnouts have been nothing short of disgraceful. Your article on March 2 makes another argument against nine days in schools (“Early voting risks student safety,” op-ed). To ensure better turnout and limit challenges to school security, we should push for early voting to be limited to the weekend before Election Day and be held at regular sites. I believe this will increase voter participation and also save money for the city. Early voting has failed miserably. Robert Mascali
CRT challenge
Bronx: To Voicer Eric Cavaballo Callvado: I’m wondering if you could explain critical race theory to me. Do you even know what it is or are you just repeating right-wing B.S.? Also, do you realize that it is not taught in school until college? W. Twirley
Humanitarian aid theater
Edinburgh, Scotland: Early in Benjamin Netanyahu’s collective punishment of the people of Gaza, I referred to the West’s lament for aid while refusing to call for the killing to stop as tantamount to a human grouse shoot. The West is simply keeping people alive long enough for the IDF to use them as target practice. There is something so deeply disgusting about whining for a bit of food to get through to terrified civilians trapped in a kill zone when you won’t help stop the killing. After the “most moral army in the world” gunned down the desperate queuing for aid, and now that the slaughter has topped 30,000, mainly women and children, there is something so deeply disturbing and disgusting about the latest announcements of air drops and the accompanying pat on the back the EU, U.K. and U.S. are giving themselves, that I feel physically sick and can find no words to describe this. Amanda Baker
Too many victims
Woodside: About 30,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, have died since the conflict started. Surprise: Israel doesn’t have many more deaths than they had after the Oct. 7 attack. I guess Gazan women and children are not the enemy, but they sure do die. This is wrong! Richard Tobiassen
Cynics in charge
Brooklyn: To Voicer George Nader: I agree with all of your points and want to answer most of your questions with one simple answer: Because it’s Israel! In politics, it doesn’t matter if you’re right or wrong, no matter how barbaric. All that matters are how many votes you could gain or lose. Jim Carney
Intervene now
Hallandale, Fla.: Our government — complicit in Israel’s widespread destruction in Gaza, including the senseless killing of civilians, journalists and aid workers — can and must hasten a critically needed ceasefire with a direct and firm threat to withhold further money and armaments to their government. Whereas Israel’s leaders demand terms that appear to be rejected by Hamas, such as a complete list of remaining captives, the crisis in Gaza only intensifies. This includes growing starvation and malnutrition of 2 million civilians, along with mostly defunct or disabled hospitals unable to properly treat thousands of wounded civilians. This crisis demands a steadfast, resolute and unwavering response by the Biden administration. Sid Kurdis
Family affair
Woodside: So, the big tech companies will be sued because children are experiencing depression, sadness and suicidal tendencies. My question is where are the parents of these children? Oh, yeah — they’re too busy on their phones. Linda Carlson
Easy out
Medford, L.I.: To Judge Marva Brown: Thanks so much for releasing a repeat offender back onto the streets of Manhattan (“Woman busted in bottle bashing of cello player,” March 1). Amira Hunter had a long list of offenses before she clubbed a man in the subway station last month, and once again, she was released in your courtroom. What is wrong with you? What if it was you or one of your family members who was attacked or stolen from (she’s had several arrests for larceny)? You’re not the only person to blame — Gov. Hochul shares the guilt, as she’s the one who drafted legislation to release criminals because they can’t afford bail. Repeat offenders keep being released. New York is a toilet for criminality. Betty Miserendino
Condiment confusion
Bronx: To Voicer Mariann Tepedino: You are missing the point. It’s not about whether they taste good, it’s about where you put the condiments. Do you put mustard on your bagel? Ketchup on your pancakes? Syrup on your hotdogs? Cream cheese on your French fries? Mary Caggiano
Hearing without listening
Woodside: So they held public hearings concerning the upcoming congestion pricing. What is the point? It’s going to happen anyway, no matter what the public has to say. The cons of this pricing have apparently not been looked at. The MTA wants it, as do the transportation progressives, who say it will help clean the air, but only in Manhattan below 60th St. Never mind about the increased traffic in upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. And it will encourage people to use mass transit to get to the major tourist areas of Manhattan, although our system leaves a lot to be desired. The MTA set a goal of billions of dollars to be raised via the congestion toll, but we all know that they will still go to Albany, hat in hand, looking for funding because either not enough money was raised or the state needed it for another transportation issue somewhere else. Tom Rice
Honored institution
Staten Island: It was the late 1950s. Every weekday morning as I walked, Kings County Hospital was on my left, Downstate Hospital was being built on my right and Erasmus Hall High School had us freshmen spending our first year in the nearby public school. Years later, now a mom and registered nurse, Downstate Hospital’s kidney specialists would diagnose and save my son, who was suffering from an autoimmune condition. Personally and professionally, I hope this special hospital will remain to help other families for many years. Lynne Kessler
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