‘America First’ endangers U.S.
“America First” is simply an expanded version of what the businessman-turned-president has always practiced: “Trump First.” The Donald’s primary focus has always been himself. Doting and unscrupulous associates and lawyers covered him for pieces of action.
Despite questionable business ethics and personal immorality, his audacious, often outrageous, behavior made him money. In his wake, he left creditors in the lurch following bankruptcies and students and employees wanting as he closed businesses. His ego led him to the presidency.
“America First” now has all Americans complicit in his dealings as we: 1) criticize and abandon allies, 2) defend foreign tyrants as friends (some he’s “in love” with, others murderers), 3) follow his gut rather than experienced advisers, 4) upset world trade with new trade and tariff policies, 5) put the stock market into a tizzy, 6) stereotype Hispanics as murderers and rapists, 7) shut down the government over a grossly altered campaign promise, 8) acknowledge there are “good people” among American Nazis, 9) jeopardize the environment and 10) begin an isolationist policy that makes America first (and the rest of the world be damned).
Our role as the world’s leader is endangered with “America First.”
Grady S. Burgner
Ooltewah
What does Falwell know?
In an interview with the Washington Post, Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, claimed it is a “distortion to the teachings of Jesus to say that what he taught us to do personally – to love our neighbors as ourselves, help the poor – can somehow be imputed on a nation.”
As for helping the poor:
“Think about it. Why have Americans been able to do more to help people in need around the world than any other country in history? It’s because of free enterprise, freedom, ingenuity, entrepreneurism and wealth. A poor person never gave anyone a job. A poor person never gave anybody charity, not of any real volume. It’s just common sense to me.”
Falwell is unaware of Ken Stern’s recent Atlantic magazine report that in 2011, “Americans with earnings in the top 20 percent of income levels contributed, on average, 1.3 percent of their income to charity. Those at the bottom 20 percent donated 3.2 percent of their cash to charity – more than double of what their more-wealthy counterparts donated.”
Think about it.
Michael Loftin
Trump creating ‘dangerous world’
Not everyone who voted for Trump was deplorable! However, he does deplorable things. How could anyone still support him?
He brought us close to nuclear war, disgraced us at Helsinki, won’t read for security briefings, won’t prepare for talks with world leaders, refuses to listen to the Pentagon, shuts down the government over a wall he “guaranteed” Mexico would pay for, insults heads of state and attacks our allies. The list of insults, blunders and juvenile behavior is infinite.
His abrupt decision to withdraw troops from Syria caused chaos. It was an assault on what stability there is in the Middle East. It stunned everyone: Congress, the Pentagon, our allies and informed Americans. ISIS is not defeated. Iran and Russia win. Gen. Mattis brought sanity to a president who had no sense of history or understanding of geopolitical issues or their consequences. The general’s resignation signaled something dangerously wrong.
My wife’s only letter ever to the editor, the day after Trump’s election, stated, “He scares me as much as Japan’s Tojo did in 1941.” Prophetic words! He’s bringing our country down and creating a more dangerous world. The worst is yet to come.
Wilbourne C. Markham
Signal Mountain
Corker should exit with bit of ‘dignity’
Bob Corker was a weak, ineffective mayor who got elected to the U. S. Senate by smearing his Democratic opponent, Harold Ford of Memphis.
He is in no position to criticize Trump or anyone else and should leave office with some modicum of grace and dignity if that’s possible, which at this point probably isn’t.
Charles M. Hyder
Dalton, Ga.
Lowering the limit: Be wary of changes
I just heard the state of Utah is going to lower its legal blood alcohol content to .05 percent to combat auto accidents. Like everywhere else in the country, the reduction of legal blood alcohol content to .08 percent has resulted in an accelerated rate of otherwise law-abiding citizens being incarcerated for a technicality. They are not impaired but are over the legal limit observed by the powers that be and pushed by organizations such as MADD, officials of which have probably never even had a drink, let alone more than one.
Such officials have no understanding of tolerance with frequent use, which if you consume three or four drinks a day, you are probably over the legal limit although more safe to be on the road than a person who has consumed zero alcohol but is on a cell phone. The push against cell phone operation is not popular because it might affect you. You being almost everyone.
It’s a lot easier to target a group of people you consider somehow more deserving [of punishment] than yourself to make you feel better about yourself.
Sam Lewallen Jr.
Sale Creek
We’re supporting the wrong folks
Here is what Trump had to say about despot murderers of countless numbers:
-North Korea’s Kim Jong-un: “un and I are in love.”
-Communist China’s Xi Jinping: “He is president for life he is great.”
-President Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt: “We are very much behind him.” He seized power in a coup in which 800 protesters were killed, and with his subsequent power suppressed civil liberties.
-Erdogan of Turkey: “He does great things.” Erdogan jailed opponents, including a 16-year-old boy, while 50,000 were detained awaiting trial.
-Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: “A strong person with very good control.” He is charged with the brutal killing of Washington Post correspondent Jamal Khashoggi and is responsible for the deaths and starvation of countless victims in Yemen. Trump ignores the fact those who attacked our country on Sept. 11, 2001, were Saudi Arabians.
Trump has been short of approval for our allies compared with his praise of despots.
Here is what he had to say about Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada: “He is very dishonest and weak.”
This country does not have a stronger more loyal ally than Canada and Trudeau.
John Bratton
Sewanee, Tenn.
Was client steered wrong on purpose?
A friend of mine just bought a house. She was excited but unsure, so she relied on a local Realtor to guide her to affordable choices. She knew the Realtor casually, so she believed she would be in good hands. The Realtor steered my friend to a house with a workable price and location. Financing and closing followed, then the joyous move-in day.
Days later, a neighbor approached my friend and asked why she bought a home slated to be bulldozed for known road construction. My friend was dumbfounded. She quickly contacted local and state officials, who confirmed the project, which had seen years of public hearings, construction permit applications and newspaper articles.
The Realtor, who trades on the claim she knows everything about local home-sale listings, and the nuances and character of the area, never mentioned the home was to be condemned and bulldozed. Did she forget, miss years of published reports and local hearings, or keep quiet to make a sale?
My friend’s life is now upside down. She has lost money and the confidence expected when turning to a so-called ally and expert. Bulldozers will arrive. Draw your own conclusions. I did.
Ralph McDarmont