Letters to the Editor

Editor:

The letter from Diane Stanton (Sept. 5) is unfortunately a very strong and biased opinion about Democrats and the democratic government.

Maybe that’s what’s wrong with our country, too many illconceived beliefs and ideas of our government system. When the leaders are not working for the good of all the people but only for a select few, that’s not the democratic way. And no one who wants to do it all himself will make a great leader, or get all the credit for doing it.

A person running for the highest office in the U.S.A. shouldn’t behave like it’s a standup comedy act, deliberately insulting his target with offensive, derogatory behavior He definitely needs to read that very popular self-help book by Dale Carnegie, think before he speaks and ask if what he is saying is really the truth or is it helpful or is it necessary, and most importantly, is it kind. And since there is no Republican Party existing anymore, the choice is clear. We’re not going back.

Ilona Denes Mutual 6 Editor:

I’m writing to commend Service Maintenance Director Ruben Gonzalez and specifically, his employee, plumber Nathan Skaggs.

Several weeks ago, I was ill and had a serious afterhours maintenance problem, which required immediate attention. Nathan was on duty and, although I was ill, he selflessly agreed to come and help.

From the moment he walked through my front door he was professional, friendly and competent. He didn’t have the part necessary to fix the problem, but he showed me how I could get it working until the next day—when someone else was scheduled to come.

In the event no one else could come, he explained that I should let Service Maintenance know that he was willing to come finish the job.

All that to say, this young man was not only professional and competent, he was kind, friendly and selfless.

I not only believe his training in Service Maintenance has been excellent, but his “Momma” did an exceptional job as well.

Shoal Lugenbeal Mutual 3 Editor:

A resounding thank you to the Leisure World Orchestra’s 15-member ensemble, under the direction of Assistant Conductor Linda DeRungs, for its Aug. 27 concert. Nine pieces were performed to the delight of the audience for this first-ever concert inside the Leisure World Amphitheater.

The Leisure World Orchestra and its ensembles, conducted by Dr. Samuel Kim or DeRungs, performs a calibur of music that thrills me. I can hardly wait for the winter concert.

The music performances are consistently really something grand to hear and each and every LW resident is invited to the next one.

At the Aug. 27 concert, DeRungs gave this bit of trivia to the audience: in “Moonlight Beguine,” the beguine is a real dance of West Indian origin (similar to a foxtrot) and was popular worldwide in the 1930s. Now who would have guessed this information—not me for sure!

Debbie Fudge Mutual 1 Editor:

I would like to publicly express my appreciation to a lovely and kind person, Genesis Mendez, the morning manager at our local Dollar Tree store.

About a week ago, I arrived bright and early to make my usual purchase of cards, hoping to miss the long lines. However, as I closed my car door, I carelessly slammed my finger in the door. Yes, I am a senior with shaky hands that frequently do not cooperate with my intentions. Ouch! Blood spurted on my car; my finger began to throb. I thought, “OK, no big deal; just b-b-b-breathe. Go into the store and get some ice. You’ll be fine.”

That is exactly what happened, thanks to Genesis Mendez! This calm, professional manager took charge of the situation immediately. No, I did not need ice. She immediately located a box to serve as a receptacle for the blood (protecting the environment from blood pathogens in addition to calming my anxious breathing). I could tell immediately that I was in the hands of a young woman who was accustomed to dealing with surprises. She was prepared with the proper first aid supplies and very quickly had me patched and on my way.

In addition to handling my little problem, Genesis was consulting with a security guard regarding their plan of action to deal with an ongoing vagrant issue, and she politely answered questions from her fellow employees. She is a multi-tasker.

I decided to write this letter because I so appreciate reading about simple kindness and good people who do good work.

Jeanette Williams Mutual 12 Editor:

I read the letter from Earick Ward (Sept. 12) with awe at his willingness to echo MAGA messaging. The name calling and dog whistles are on point. The letter said: “The Democrat party is Marxist” and Harris “maintains her own cognitive deficiencies” and was “dumber than mud.”

Watching the Sept. 10 debate, it seemed it was the Republican nominee who failed to answer direct questions, ridiculously said “everyone wanted Roe repealed,” falsely claimed immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating neighbors pets, and disavowed any responsibility for the attack on the Capitol, which followed two months of his false claims of a stolen election and a direct plea to his followers to show up on Jan. 6. Trump wouldn’t have been fact checked if he didn’t lie.

Messers Ward and Trump seem to long for the now retired Biden rematch and resort to invoking the words of the vaccinedenying son of an iconic senator who himself has been rebuked by his family.

Republicans Dick Cheney, Adam Kinzinger and Mitt Romney endorse Harris. Half of Trump’s cabinet call him unfit for office. His own vice president does not endorse him.

Trump remains mired in the past. Harris has plans for the future. Choose wisely, my friends.

Mark Bloomfield Mutual 4 Editor:

While on vacation in New Jersey in September of ‘73, my parents had visitors that delivered the most heartbreaking news any parent can receive. Their son had been killed in action. Two months earlier my aunt and uncle had received the same news about their son. My parents had five more sons in the service, and my aunt and uncle had two sons and a daughter who was a Navy nurse serving on the USS Sanctuary.

On my father’s side, someone has served in every war since the Revolutionary War. In my family, it’s not only an honor but a duty to serve your country and every member is expected to do so, if able. I know of no one who was drafted.

I never speak of that time but now feel I must. I look around and see many signs for Trump. How can any of my fellow veterans vote for him? He considers us losers and suckers. John McCain was a loser because he was captured and tortured. He mocks Gold Star parents and thinks the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “much better” than the Congressional Medal of Honor because the CMH recipients are usually “dead” or in “very bad shape.” Trump thinks it’s okay to take a political photo shoot and give a thumbs up between graves in Arlington National Cemetery. How can you vote to make this draftdodging con-man Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces when he cares so little for you?

Carole Damoci Mutual 12 Editor:

As responsible citizens it is essential that we employ critical thinking skills when we vote.

In order to differentiate between fact and opinion we should: 1. Ignore emotionally loaded adjectives, adverbs and labels.

2. Consider source of information. What are the credentials?

3. Beware of faulty reasoning. Use logic.

4. Beware of propaganda methods:

• Gas lighting: Manipulating a person into not trusting their perception of reality.

• Ad nauseam: Repeating a lie so many times that it begins to be accepted as truth.

• Bandwagoning: Saying because some people believe something, you should believe it.

• Proof by anecdote: Using a specific example and conflating it into generalities. Example: citing a crime committed by an individual in a certain group, and then implying that all people in that group are guilty of it.

• False equivalency: Taking a minor infraction or imperfection and equating it to a deliberate, intentional and/or serious crime.

• Fear mongering: Exaggerating or misrepresenting a situation to stir up disproportional fears and claiming that they have the only solution to that “problem.”

• Scapegoating: Blaming societal problems on “others”. Selecting one or more groups they define as outsiders and demonizing them, saying they are responsible for the problems.

• Poisoning the well: Discrediting a source in advance in order to dismiss what they later say.

Valid opinions must be informed opinions.

Strongly held opinions are not necessarily valid!

Beth Winslow Mutual 8

Editor:

At a rally, presidential candidate Donald Trump stated, “We are going to be a tariff nation. It’s not going to be a cost to you. It’s going to be a cost to another country.

I’m not raising your taxes. I’m raising China and all of these countries in Asia and all over the world.”

According to Trump, foreign nations will pay the tariff tax, not Americans. Not true.

That is not how tariffs work. A tariff is a tax imposed on foreign made goods. It is paid by the importer to his home country’s government.

What usually happens is the importer raises the cost of the imported goods to cover the cost of the tariffs, and that cost gets passed on to the consumer.

Ultimately, it is the American consumer who pays the tariff tax, not the foreign country that manufactured the product.

Trump is proposing a worldwide 10% tariff and a 60% tariff on all goods from China.

Under Trump’s tariff plan, when an importer buys a product from China for $100, there will be a tariff tax of $60. It is the American consumer who will pay that tariff tax, not China.

You don’t have to be an economist to figure out that Trump’s tariff plan will drive up inflation.

Signe Merrifield Mutual 16