Editor:
Years ago, I was a recycling manager in New York. After an unfortunate accident left me with broken knees, I joked about negotiating with the trash haulers.
Donald Trump now reigns as the king of mafia politics, wielding anger and fear to crush critics and sow chaos. Outrage and retribution are his tools, while civility and virtue are dismissed as weaknesses. Empathy is mocked as “woke,” and bullying is celebrated as strength. Decency, it seems, is for losers.
Trump and his allies hypocritically multiply the fraud, waste and abuse they claim to fight. The 2017 tax cuts, which disproportionately benefit the wealthy, are poised to become permanent, even as the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio climbs to a staggering 124%. The Congressional Budget Office estimates a $5 trillion increase in the debt ceiling — the largest in U.S. history — while critical government services are gutted to fund a bloated military budget.
Trump’s tariffs, or “terror riffs,” are bankrupting the nation, much like his failed casinos. Proposals to slash Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security threaten the well-being of millions of Americans. Meanwhile, absurd distractions—like invading Greenland or Panama—serve only to feed his insatiable need for attention.
The bottom line: Trump’s policies accelerate economic nonsense and environmental disaster. His incompetence has global repercussions, alienating allies, crippling tourism and devastating farmers. Children starve while trillions are wasted weekly.
From “God bless America” to “Let’s mess America,” Trump’s leadership cultivates international hate and chaos. Kiss the ring, or face the wrath of his vengeful executive orders.
Rob Arner, Edinburg