Letters to the Editor
Editor:
Since I retired and moved to Leisure World, weekdays and weekend days sort of blur together. Now I understand when older people say that they have trouble remembering the day of the week. I live near St. Andrews Gate and one day a week, the gate opens an hour later than the other six days of the week. I had to tape a note to the inside of my front door to remind me of th2e gate schedule.
I know reducing gate hours saves money, but is the one hour of salary/benefits saved per week worth the reduced availability of an entrance/exit, let’s say $50 salary/benefits. One hour per week would be $2,600 annually. Is there nothing less important that GRF uses our assessments for? Also, I know that the North Gate has the same hours, but there’s no rule that says both gates must abide by the same schedule. Mike Stabile Mutual 1 Editor's Note: As directed by the GRF Board of Directors, both the North Gate and St. Andrews gates open at 7 a.m. each Sunday. Effective since March 1, the hours for both gates are Sunday through Friday, from 7 a.m.-8 p.m., and Saturday, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. In an effort to save $56,300 annually in the 2025 budget, the board voted last year to reduce hours at the North and St. Andrews gates. The Main Gate has always been open 24 hours a day, and prior to January, the other gates were open from 5:45 a.m.-10:45 p.m. Editor: Could any rational person survey the chaos, fear and anxiety created in our country by the Musk/Trump administration, then describe it this way: “Other than a glitch in transmitting military plans in an unprotected phone chat, it’s been a perfect two months?”
Would a rational person void a treaty that the world agreed had ended Iran’s nuclear weapon development and then, after the weapon development, predictably, restarted and has proceeded for about nine years, ignorant of the irony, threaten Iran with “consequences” unless it ceases development?
Maybe fawning for continuation of praise from Putin, he shows he’s itching for a war with a NATO ally to acquire Greenland: “We’ll take Greenland, 100% sure.” That would delight Putin almost as much as Trump’s negotiations allowing him to take as much of Ukraine as he wants.
The America First Republican Club, in its study of the Constitution, it is hoped, is for the purpose of supporting it. The 22nd Amendment is in our President’s cross hairs. He is constantly campaigning and, in this case, is floating the idea that a third term may be in the works. Of course, this could be a distraction. He told a convention of Evangelical Christians during his presidential campaign, “If I’m elected, you may never have to vote again.” This received a rousing ovation. Evidently, a significant portion of the population hope for a dictator/ king. H.L. Menchen said: “No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.”
Lee Hoyt Mutual 11 Editor:
We are now in the Project 2025 playbook. Some of the ideas might be appealing to some. A Christian nation might appeal to some. Back up and remember why our founding fathers wanted there to be separation of Church and State. They left England and Europe. They came from countries where whoever was in charge could persecute, jail and even kill the other side. When the Catholics were in charge, they could go after the Protestants. If the Protestants were in charge, they could go after the Catholics. They did not want us to go through this turmoil.
Separation of Church and State. PERIOD.
I have been to North Korea. At all times, you must show respect to the Supreme Leader. No dissent is allowed.
I am very worried when I see law firms decide that to survive, they must do what they are asked.
Most if not all universities are toeing the line to get their grants back.
A Canadian citizen was detained and thrown in a detention center for no apparent reason. She eventually got out.
A French scientist had messages on his phone being critical of our government: Denied entry.
Th e“suspected”Venezuela gang members imprisoned in El Salvador: we don’t know who theyare. Somefamilymembers think they might recognize them. It was their tattoo. It was not a gang tattoo.
One of the problems is of a false equivalency. We want horrible people back to terrorize and rape us here. That is not true. No one wants that! We want to know their names. We want to know their crimes.
Sherry Thomas Mutual 3 Editor:
Human nature is funny.
I’ve had 15 pieces published in the LW Weekly over the past year, and the reaction from LW residents has run the gamut from icy stare to, “You wrote that piece of crap?”
Besides Stephanie, who’s the greatest volunteer ever, and Don, who always goes out of his way to say something nice, it seems like I’m making more enemies than friends.
One gentleman, who’s a friend, actually marched up to the three female residents I was sitting with, and admonished them, “Don’t bother reading his poem; it’s a complete waste of time.”
Yet another resident, a woman, came down the stairs from the gym, and said from afar, “I read your humor piece!” I asked, “What’d you think?” And she gave me a giant thumbs down, not unlike the gesture King Louis XVI used to signal the executioner to cut the guillotine cord.
Then, we have the liberal table, where about 10 individuals frequently congregate. In toto, I’ve only received one compliment from them, and 11 insults. One 88-year-old actually said to me, “I go out of my way to avoid reading your material.”
“Gee, you're very kind.” But lest we forget, there’s also a table of conservatives. From whom I’ve received just two compliments, and 13 insults.
So as usual, the Dems and the GOPs are neck and neck, which brings me to my defense. To all the residents of Leisure World, I humbly say, “I’m trying! I’m really trying.”
Jon Michaels Mutual 2 Editor:
I unexpectedly had to put my 11 year old dog down last April. It has been difficult for me, and I have not gotten another dog. I was so happy to see the article in our newspaper in February that an artist here was offering to make a memorial sculpture The sculpture Mr. Kim made for me is a comfort, looks just like Murphy, huge ears and all!
Also, as I later said to the Kims, I see the comfort his sculpture also gives to my neighbors, who also knew and miss Murphy.
Cynthia Arance Mutual 16 Editor:
How very timely was Marla Hamblin’s letter of April 17, as The History Don, Don Schwartz, who she rightly praised, will be a guest speaker at the Peace Club meeting on May 1 in Clubhouse 3, Room 2, at 2 p.m. There is no charge to LW shareholders and guests.
As Marla said, treat yourself to the Don Schwartz lecture on “The Immigration Debate in America” right here in Leisure World. See the press release in the March 24 issue of the LW Weekly.
Jacquie Clarke Senior Peace Club Mutual 5 Editor:
The point of tariffs is not accurately depicted in many letters to the editor. Yes, potentially, tariffs on imports will increase costs for a time, particularly for imported goods. A core issue, however, is that we have been steadily losing national productivity, becoming a nation of consumers of products made in other countries. We need to produce more of our essential products, especially essentials for our national defense, here. Thousands of skilled workers are available to do this work, but are at risk because foreign countries with low standards of living can make huge profits using near slave labor. At the same time, these countries hinder consumption of our products in the form of tariffs or outright prohibition.
Trump’s strategy is very likely to work.
Look what is happening in international trade, apart from the weeping and wailing from countries who want sell to us but refuse the entry of our goods.
What good will lower prices do us when things we really need, and are able to produce at home, become unaffordable because our own businesses are laying off workers?
Even more importantly, how can we remain an independent economy when we no longer can produce our own stuff because our production facilities have gone out of business?
I am not opposed to international trade. But we can’t keep buying more from other countries than other countries are buying from us.
My father used to say: “If your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your downfall.”
Dan Wilderman Mutual 14 Editor:
I am confused by the reference to NPR producers all being Democrats (Letters, April 10).
An impartial reader might assume that being a Democrat implies some sort of moral, ethical or journalistic corruption; a lack of integrity, a penchant for dishonest reporting, and a general inclination to be an intentional purveyor of misinformation.
Is that part of the Democratic Party’s pledge?
What, exactly, did the letter writers mean by the producers being Democrats?
Jeff Colflesh Mutual 6
