Tucson Speaks Out: May 12

Who’s running the show?

Transcripts of Trump’s recent interviews with The Atlantic and Time reveal his incoherent, evasive, repetitive, off-topic, grievance-filled, lying, contradictory, delusional, bumbling replies. They lay bare a disturbing lack of any kind of normal, logical thought process.

Trump couldn’t answer the simplest questions about expanding his powers, arrogating congressional authority on trade and appropriations, or firing heads of independent agencies. Instead, he veered into tirades about Comey, Mueller, the “Russia hoax,” Biden, wall building, and Afghanistan, and compared the US to a department store.

He also claimed not to know persons he’s instructed the Justice Dept. to investigate, such as Chris Krebs, and blamed his lawyers in the Abrego Garcia case.

Quoting Stephen Robinson in Public Notice: “Trump’s cognitive abilities and overall competence have always left a lot to be desired, but these interviews show a president who’s no longer capable of even the veneer of mental acuity.”

So, who’s really in charge of the dystopian reality show at the White House?

Barbara Liguori

Northeast side

Grand Review

I see that our Leader is planning a Grand Military Parade in Washington D.C. to celebrate his birthday in June. Aside from the problems of tracked vehicles tearing up the streets, and the cost, which is estimated at many millions of dollars, there is the unseemliness of the extravaganza.

The Russians, Chinese and North Koreans are good at this sort of display of force, but it is not suitable for a democracy. There is also the problem of training our troops how to goose-step. It looks pretty tricky, and I certainly didn’t learn it during my stint in the regular Army. I had trouble just keeping in step, but mastered the art through the patient tutoring of my Drill Instructor (“Yer other left, meathead!”)

Will the mayor of Washington D.C. get any of President Biden’s infrastructure money to repair the streets?

Ray Lemke

Midtown

Not tanking …

I know what I’m not doing June 14. I won’t turn on my TV, radio, laptop or iPad. Don’t bother calling because I’m shutting down my iPhone, also. I can’t stomach seeing a Russian-style military parade march through D.C., ostensibly to honor the military. A military which Trump bone-spurred out of and which he’s expressed his disdain for. The parade (just coincidentally) coincides with Trump’s birthday. Embrace silence that day. Head to Sabino Canyon, Mt. Lemmon, the Desert Museum or Tohono Chul. Nothing would bother DJT more than low ratings. I admire the people who have the energy to peacefully march in protest of what this administration is doing to our country. I don’t have the energy. But intentionally boycotting all media and spending parade day in nature is something we can all do. Please join me.

Susan Miller-Pinhey

Foothills

Plato’s Five Regimes

From the Republic Books V111 and 1X c. 375 BC:

Aristocracy: Literally rule of the best, common good, high morals, ethics, justice, happiness, peace. Plato thought this was the highest form of government.

Timocracy: Rule by love of honor/power/glory, devoted to war — Spartacus.

Oligarchy: Rule by the few, timocracy devolves into oligarchy, honor is replaced by selfish love of money/property, virtue is dishonored, privileged few have power, income inequality, revolution follows when the poor overthrow the oligarchs.

Democracy: Individual liberty, equality in citizenship/political office, excess of freedom, eventually laws are disregarded, lawlessness transpires.

Tyranny: Reaction to the chaos of democracy, the tyrant gains support of common people, he turns against them by using the courts/media, he stirs up wars to distract, so they don’t realize that their lives are miserable, when the people realize they have given the tyrant too much power, it’s too late.

Where are we?

Margaret Gordon Magruder

Downtown

Great idea?

Another great idea brought to you by your Sec. Def. Hegseth, reformed former TV news personality. Let’s purge the ranks of military veterans with actual knowledge of how to conduct and operate the defense of the country. Proposal: eliminate 4,000 4-star generals (and equivalent rank in other branches). And replace them with new recruits. Makes good sense conferring on a new recruit the task of conducting and operating our military and defending the country.

Kenneth Haber

Northwest side

How to help 9-1-1 save futures

Most horrible consequences of medical emergencies can be reduced with a quick response. Most fires are less damaging with a quick response. Most dangerous situations can be countered more effectively with a quick response.

I am not talking about the first responders. The first responders have excellent numbers for their performance — once they get the call. The problem is that they are waiting too long to receive the call.

The National Emergency Number Association recommends a minimal standard for 9-1-1 service at the Public Safety Answering Point — 95% of calls answered within 20 seconds. We must demand that our Public Safety Communications Department meet that minimal standard without diverting calls and without allowing busy signals.

This is not a crazy idea. NENA recommends the standard. The impacts on our community would be better outcomes for our families.

It costs money, so it will not happen unless you demand it.

Former Emergency 911

operator for City of Tucson, 16 years,

Michael A. LaFond

Goodyear

Tariffs and gift prices

Tariffs will up the price of imported gifts. So parents, think ahead. Imported toys are going to be expensive, consider finding a local artist, craftsperson, baker, chief, seamstress/clothing designer wood worker, dancer, drama coach, musician, who is willing to give private lessons, or team up with a few other parents and have any of the above give lessons custom designed for your group of children.

Some of my best memories of being an artist are teaching. Patrons, single dads, smart grandparents aunts or uncles all hired me over the years to teach the children in their lives. I researched what each child was interested in and off we went having a wonderful time exploring our creativity.

Joy Holdread

Northwest side

Clean-energy socialism

Regarding Scott Thompson’s appraisal of socialism and out-of-town influences on Tucson’s possible takeover of electricity generation from TEP (LTE, May 6): Perhaps referring to me, as I recently participated in a city-sponsored video conference from my rural digs, taking no pains in encouraging this transition. It’s personal, as I have friends and family residing in Tucson, after spending 42 years there. Also, energy choices made by Tucsonans affect me, as related infrastructure — desirable or not — may end up in my backyard.

The effects of climate change don’t know lines on maps defining county or country. If Arizona’s cities witness populations dispersing when summer nighttime temperatures no longer drop below 110 degrees, because citizens weren’t wise in abandoning fossil fuels, they’ll show up to my doorstep as refugees. The irony includes Scott’s undying defense of entrusting decisions to corporations, including Fortis, the Canadian concern owning TEP. Since they’ll be our 51st state before much longer, the hoi polloi can finally relax about foreign multinationals dictating their energy portfolios.

Benjamin Nead

Bisbee

Trump’s suggestions for austerity

Trump, apparently in anticipation of the inflation he will cause with his China tariffs, has suggested American children have fewer toys. What about his own household? His wife loves designer clothing — $7,000 coats, $800 hats, $1,000 blouses, a collection of shoes that amounts to $100,000, and it’s a new outfit for every occasion.

Jimmy Carter appeared on TV wearing a sweater when we were told to cut the thermostat down. What about the Trump lavish lifestyle? Austerity for the masses but not for the elite. Why is this country mimicking the European model it rejected in the Revolution, where the peasants starved while the royalty wore ermine and jewels?

Sally Wasielewski

East side

An American hero??

I just read an LTE that claimed Musk an American hero. He’s not even an American. He’s a South African who grew up with apartheid. He’s as far away from being an American Hero as Putin. But they both support the corrupt leader of the “so-called GOP.” What Putin can’t get done in America, he’s got Musk doing for him. Destabilize the markets, call into question what are “real national emergency issues” like the war in Ukraine and in Gaza, as well as the climate crisis. If Musk was a true American hero, he’d use his platform and money for good. He doesn’t. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are true American heroes, not the richest man in the world that wants to cut spending for the most vulnerable in our country.

John Bingham

Northwest side

Pima early-education program scholarships

I was very upset to discover that the board voted PEEPS down. My daughter received this scholarship halfway through her first year of pre-k and it was an absolute lifesaver. I am sure anyone who has received this scholarship will say the same. I hope that by bringing this to light it will allow the education board to reconsider, it is such a wonderful program, we all know how tough it is out there right now.

Danielle Kleven

East side

Variety of opinions

In the Wednesday, May 7, edition of this paper, all of the LTEs were from people I did not recognize their names. While I did not agree with all opinions, I was happy that I did not see any familiar names from either side.

I remain optimistic that there are enough smart folks out there who are paying attention to the radical efforts to alter our country and its trajectory toward a more perfect union, who will keep the train from falling off the bridge. We are derailed. This can be fixed with a lot of hard work. We need to stop the wanton destruction and start the repairs.

Jeff Rayner

SaddleBrooke

Local businesses

Are you disgusted with the billionaires who are getting richer by the day at the expense of average folks? If yes, join me in boycotting Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Book Club and Kindle Unlimited. As an avid reader, I will buy my books at independent local bookstores and thrift shops. Give local business your business. The public library also offers print books, ebooks and movies. Bezos won’t notice my decrease in purchases but he will notice when my family, friends and the millions of the people repulsed by political leaders serving only the rich are no longer Amazon customers.

Judy J. Gillies

Downtown

Thanks, Senator George Cunningham

I met George Senator Cunningham over 30 years ago at one of his Saint Patrick’s Day fundraisers at his house. I still say that the corned beef that his wife Marjorie and the volunteers cooked was the best-tasting corned beef I’ve ever had.

George was so much of a take-charge guy that a few decades ago, the news reported he drove himself to the hospital while having a heart attack.

If it weren’t for his pushing the funding mechanism of getting money back from the State of Maricopa legislature, the Rio Nuevo District would not have been able to be so successful.

He and the late Dr. Andy Nichols were pushing great public initiatives in the Legislature for public health and other causes for about a decade until Dr. Nichols passed in 2001.

I’ll miss his friendship.

Matt Somers

Midtown

Window dressing

Upon reading the May 8 headline and article about the reduction in speed limits on several streets, I question the effectiveness of the unanimous decision by the City Council. Without enforcement, speed limits are of limited value.

A Tucson firefighter, I know, told me both police and fire stations are chronically understaffed. Also, it is common for people to attend the Tucson Police Department Academy and upon graduation, 80% leave for better-paying jobs. I was not able to verify that statement independently.

Is there a reason Tucson cannot separately employ both patrol and traffic officers at competitive pay rates? Is there a failure to set appropriate priorities in expenditures?

Remember, STOP means “spin tires on pavement.”

James Abels

Midtown

Selling public lands

Thanks to the Star for printing Tracy Stone-Manning’s op-ed regarding selling public lands to (infinitesimally) pay down national debt and enable tax advantages for the rich and corporations.

Access to public lands is something we share equally. Poll after poll shows the vast majority of Americans value and support public lands and access to them. Legislators who support a sell-off are on the wrong side of public opinion regarding our national treasure.

Stone-Manning lauds the intrinsic value of public lands for wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, as well as value to neighboring communities. No mention that these lands already make money for Federal coffers through leases for forestry, ranching, mining, oil & gas production, etc. The people of the United States lose this ongoing income by selling property. If the U.S. does not make enough money from leases, perhaps it should drive a harder bargain, something our president feels confident doing.

Bruce Hale

SaddleBrooke