A disgrace

I would like to expand on a recent article in the Sequim Gazette (Treason against humankind).

As an Army officer and government contractor, I was privileged to work with federal government employees for over 40 years.

The vast majority of these men and women were hardworking, dedicated individuals that worked to ensure that our country and the free world remained safe and secure, often going in harm’s way to get the job done.

After watching the chainsaw swinging, yelling Musk prancing on stage demonizing this great group of true Americans, I had to say something.

We all acknowledge that some fraud and waste is present in many of our agencies; however, this current approach is both ill conceived and disgraceful.

During the administration’s first cabinet meeting, the federal workforce was again demonized and humiliated with the “five things I did this week.”

All this while the spineless individuals around the table did nothing.

I have been a voting Republican for over 55 years.

However, I have never seen an administration so ill-equipped and unprepared to tackle the many critical challenges facing our country and our allies.

Seeing Musk in action and the lack of a show of proper outrage from the administration secretaries confirms that we are in for a tough time ahead.

Bob Travis

Sequim

Calm the chaos!

I don’t know where to begin, where my anger ends or when the sadness takes over.

America’s history, my history, is being erased by communities under the extortion and bribery threats from the White House.

Why are people bowing to this person like he is king?

He has continued to have no respect for the rule of law, he violates constitutional law, ignores court orders, and is demanding the history of our great nation be erased.

His orders have violated the sanctity of the Arlington Cemetery, he is erasing war heroes and heroines because they may be a woman, a representative from a minority community or just because he doesn’t like them.

An annual Marine Band concert for young talented musicians who earned their way to participate was canceled because these talented kids didn’t have white skin.

Fortunately, some wonderful, kind, true Americans are giving them a chance to perform, but not with the Marine Band.

University funding is being threatened for successful programs and degree offerings if they include diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

It’s time to stand up, stand up together, if we are not together DT will continue his rampage of destroying America.

The focus needs to be stopping him.

He has already created chaos across the world with his dismissal of world order and peace.

What kind of future are we shaping allowing one person to destroy America and the world?

What are we leaving the next generation?

Eileen Cummings

Sequim

Unsettling times

There is always something we can do to protest. Don’t feel helpless now.

There is power in collective community as we realize we are living through very unsettling times.

We are witnessing lawless, reckless, and corrupt behaviors from the president and his administration.

It is a threat to America and civil society. Institutions are under attack. It is a threat to all of us.

They have no positive agenda.

Their agenda is to hurt people who disagree with them and they are not bound by core American values, not bound by the rule of law or even knowing the difference between right and wrong.

Look at the indiscriminate layoffs, illegal funding freeze, incoherent trade war making for more pain and chaos.

They attack knowledge, public schools, curiosity, criticism, independent research that saves people’s lives, people’s jobs and livelihoods, public lands, your health care and your Social Security.

We all want to rid our government of waste, fraud and abuse.

I think a place to start is to look at the $38 billion Elon Musk has taken in taxpayer funded contracts.

That would be a fruitful place to take a big bite.

Everyday Americans are paying a big price by losing our freedoms and rights while the privileged white boys expect a big bonus and payoff.

Can we right this ship before it sinks into total oligarchy?

Bill Biery

Sequim

Thanks, thanks and no thanks

The recent garden show by the Soroptimists International was a special event filled with beauty, information and the opportunity to celebrate the changing season and meet others in a friendly and welcoming environment. Thank you to the Soroptimists for their work and devotion to the annual event and to the Gazette for publicizing it!

Also, (in the March 19 issue) the Gazette included Don Brunell’s excellent article in which he voiced intelligent, bipartisan thoughts on trade talks with Canada and Mexico. In it he both commends President Trump (“…correct to focus on growing our private sector by improving opportunities to restore American manufacturing, cutting government red tape, lowering costs and taxes, and streamlining permitting”) and suggests following up on the “harsh talk that may be necessary to stimulate initial discussions, with fence-mending and practical solutions that are needed now within our North American neighborhood.”

Thank you, Sequim Gazette, for having this writer on a regular basis! We need this voice! Change does take courage and reason to accomplish, and a willingness to find common ground.

In the same issue and directly adjacent to the article by Mr. Brunell was another regular contributor to the Gazette to whom I say no thank you! Bertha Cooper has a bad case of “Trump derangement syndrome” but it does give her something to write about even though her factless opinion piece is toxically cynical. Where’s your courage, Bertha?

Cindy Mackay

Sequim

On Saturday, I took part in a small protest against the actions of the president. I was flying an upside-down flag showing that I felt we are a country in distress. We received much support. There were some who showed that they did not agree with us. Freedom of speech – I’m all for it.

The one contrarian that stuck with me though, was a woman who rode by in her white truck and shouted that anyone who flies the flag upside-down should leave the country. I would ask her if she went to Washington to protest when Supreme Court Justice Alito and his wife flew an upside-down flag outside their house prior to the November election. I would guess she did not.

Bill Cook

Sequim