EDITOR
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A closer look at the Trump economy
To the editor: Believe it or not, President Trump is going to focus on the economy as the stellar achievement of his presidency.
He gave a speech in Warren, Mich., on January 30, 2020, just before the economy collapsed. He bragged, “No administration has done what we’ve done in the first three years of an administration.” It was typical Trump bluster and it was not true.
The U.S. gained 6.6 million jobs during Trump’s first 36 months in office. Lyndon Johnson added 7.8 million jobs when the nation’s labor force was less than half of what it is today. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both added more jobs during their first 36 months in office.
Trump went on to say, “We are producing jobs in this country like you have never seen.” Another lie. The 6.6 million jobs produced under Trump were actually less than the previous 36 months under Obama, when 8.1 million jobs were created. Trump inherited vigorous job growth that actually slowed under his administration.
COVID-19 stopped all job growth and, due in large part to Trump’s mismanagement and failed leadership, America’s economy collapsed. It remains in desperate straits today. 50 million people have lost their jobs, 30 million claim unemployment benefits, millions of families are looking for food and millions more are being evicted from their homes.
It is easy to understand why Trump does not accept responsibility for the condition this country is in, but what has he achieved? He cannot point to a plan for the nation to recover because he has no plan. He has no plan to defeat COVID-19 and no plan for economic recovery, much less a plan to sustain Social Security, provide affordable health care, provide affordable education, or to fix a failing infrastructure.
Trump has no plan and the country is suffering for it. This country needs a leader.
Bryce Luchterhand
Unity
There is a difference
To the editor: The difference between President Trump and Joe Biden is stark.
Some examples: Biden says climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the planet while Trump says it doesn’t exist. Biden wants to expand the Affordable Health Care Plan while Trump wants to end it. Biden would like to make voting easier and faster while Trump attempts to make voting more diffi cult, slower, and more cumbersome.
With COVID-19 killing over a thousand Americans a day, Biden is calling for a nationwide, coordinated effort to defeat it, while Trump calls it a hoax and says it will “just disappear.” Biden believes in science and supports programs based in scientific research while Trump does not believe in science, relying on disparaged medical doctors and offering debased methods of combating disease.
Biden believes “Dreamers” should be given a path to citizenship and continue to contribute to this nation. Republicans want to throw them out of the country. Democrats believe in treating people humanely, even when they come into this country illegally. Republicans believe it is okay to separate children from their parents, lock them in cells resembling cages, and to fail to reunite families.
Democrats believe the nation must end racial injustice, provide equal opportunity to everyone and bring the country together, united as a stronger, better nation. Republicans welcome white supremacists, use racially charged language and are divisive in their actions.
President Trump leads the party and is described as narcissistic, chauvinistic and xenophobic. These are characteristics the Republican Party has never openly embraced, until now, when it offers its full support of President Trump. Biden has a history of inclusion, uniting, healing, and hope. There is a difference between the two men and the two parties. Linda Osegard Neillsville
Mask-wearing is pro-life
To the Editor: A commercial came on TV this week with a heart doctor insisting you need to come in when having issues with your heart. Heart attacks are rising because people won’t come in during the virus. Mmmmm? Really? Wonder why? When you see heart doctors at political rallies and...no mask.
Within the last two weeks, the news interviewed athletes from schools in Wausau and Portage. I was very impressed. They all came out with masks and kept their distance as well as possible, and emphasized to all the parents, friends, relatives and neighbors that if you want us to play, we need to practice safety. Hats off to all those guys and gals.
And then, last week, here comes two Edgar football players (I presumed) who sat side by side, imploring that they need- ed to play football. Senior year and all. No masks. Really?
Off went the TV and out came the pencil. So, Edgar people, if you really want to have school and sports, then ask yourselves what do I need to do? It all goes hand in hand. You might ask nicely or really insist to your friends, family, neighbors, teachers and coaches to practice safe distances and reconsider going into restaurants that can’t be visited safely. Ask your coaches, wives and people who can read the sign at the grocery store that says: “please wear masks” to comply. We’re always saying it takes a village. Well, community, let’s start cracking. If you want to talk the talk, then you must be able to walk the walk.
What about the Catholics and pro-life people who insist life starts at conception and that we must keep that life alive? Once that life is born, do we just give up fighting for that life at the age of 2, 10, 16, 35, 68 or 80? When? Because you were too selfish to cherish it?
So, if you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I’ve done what I could to help,” then my mask’s off to you (at a safe distance, that is) and, if not, quit the whining, complaining and wanting, and go do. One hand washes the other.
My family, even my five- and eightyear- old grandkids, have been wearing our masks proudly for almost six months now to do our part. And if my comments bother you, then it must be hitting close to home.
Diane Bergs Town of Rib Falls
