Trump isn’t a true Republican
Donald Trump has been a mixed blessing for the Republican Party. He is gaining with Black people, Hispanic people, with union members and young people. And that’s great.
In so doing, though, he’s not leading those constituencies to a specifically Republican vision of the future. He is perfectly happy to co-opt various components of traditional Republican thinking so as to give those constituencies what they think they want now. This is the mixed part of the blessing.
For example, he has no compunction about running enormous deficits and ignoring the debt. His views about being the world’s “Arsenal of Democracy” has significant limits, specifically with regard to the situation in Ukraine, which he may well sell out. His economic plan is built on tariffs, which deny the Republican belief in free markets.
His campaign is calling for the permanent extension of his tax cuts which expire in 2025. Given the estimated $55 billion a year we need to spend on getting our military to the point where deterrence is feasible, this is not a good idea. But he’s on it like white on rice.
It is ironic, then, to see Trump refer to others, with more traditional Republican views, as “RINOs.” He doesn’t do that to everyone, but he does it enough to make it ironic.
Ron Berti Orlando
Liberal/conservative role reversal
I enjoyed reading the writer’s reversal of liberal values as conservative and conservative threats as progressive in the June 27 letter “Our way of life threatened by liberalism.” Thanks to the writer for a good laugh and for giving both sides something to think about.
William Higgins New Smyrna Beach
Can’t sleep outside? You must be woke
Gov. Ron DeSantis rails against people being “woke,” but with the new law he signed making it illegal to sleep in public places: if you are homeless, you are required to be woke.
David Smiley Orlando
Kennedy’s voice should be heard
I read David Marks’ opinion in the Orlando Sentinel Wednesday (“Robert Kennedy Jr. belongs on debate stage”), and agree that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should have been in the debate Thursday. Frankly, Marks didn’t go far enough. Most people know just how bad our Republican and Democratic choices for president are, but the organizers of presidential debates perpetuate our broken and antiquated two-party system by limiting the debate to two weak candidates who are proven failures, and a feeling that we have no good options.
Donald Trump saddled America with the highest debt in any four-year term of any president in U.S. history. Biden could add billions more. Kennedy actually has a plan to turn the national debt around, along with the best solution to our immigration problem that I have heard and the most compelling arguments in favor of science-based solutions to our health problems. On top of that, America loves an underdog.
Let’s hear him out, and see what he has to say. There is no better example of a working democracy than to have a lively and public debate on solutions and policies that will make our country stronger, and to help us decide which person will protect and represent the hopes and aspirations of our people.
The most important voice is ours … and we should demand better candidates who actually offer solutions, not more failed policies and hateful rhetoric.
Collin Braynard Maitland
