Presidential election, particularly Trump, frightens Warren man

Presidential election, particularly Trump, frightens Warren man

I’m scared because this election has been the most contentious by far that I have seen in my 78 years. I’m scared because hatred, bigotry, vile insults, unapologetic accusations and outright immorality are accepted as the norm. I’m scared because the one candidate who espouses these venomous beliefs, Donald Trump, has at this time a fairly good chance of becoming president of these great United States.

I’m scared because good people after hearing about Hillary Clinton’s email controversy over and over and over again believe that this is just as serious as the moral character and narcissism of her opponent. It’s like Hitler telling the German people in 1930 that the Jews were responsible for all their problems – over and over again.

I lose sleep at night thinking what will happen to our environment, our respect around the world, our economy, which has been growing substantially in the last seven years, and our continually increasing gun violence. I’m scared about what will happen to our public school system.

He says that all “media” is corrupt. Again we are told this over and over until many are convinced this is true. What will happen to our right to freedom of the press and free speech? I’m scared. Every responsible newspaper in this country, Republican or Democrat leaning have refused to endorse him yet many responsible Republican friends of mine still say they will vote for him. No wonder I’m scared.

Donald Trump says we should “trust his instincts.” I’m scared that he will have his hands on the keys to start a nuclear war. He trusts Putin but he says that he will not cooperate with our allies unless they meet his terms. He will do and say anything to become president. Don’t kid yourself, he will do and say anything once he assumes office.

Giving Donald Trump the power of the American presidency is like giving your 5-year old the keys to your Cadillac. Honestly, would you do that? Please think carefully about the future of our great country before you vote Tuesday.

Scott Lehman, Warren

Downfall of organized labor hurts all workers

The decline in union membership is hurting nonunion workers’ income because companies know that their employees will not try to organize and get penalized for trying to do so, but the companies’ CEOs paychecks have skyrocketed to millions but those of workers have remained stagnant.

As for health care, they would like to see their contractual obligation to health care eliminated but they will keep proposing more employee participation until they get at least 60 to 70 percent. As for pensions, they are slowly going by the way side. 401K’s are the norm for a number of reasons but No. 1 is that the companies in negotiations threaten to close their plant and move.

With our Republican House and Senate trying to put the screws to Social Security and Medicare, union employees and nonunion employees will have a rough time with no pension and reduced Social Security payments when they retire.

Privatizing Social Security and turning Medicare into a voucher system is the Republican way of saying you’re screwed. When companies negotiate with unions they always claim that they had a bad year just to try to get union officials to cave in to their demands. They must think that nobody looks into their profits and losses because most of the time they have record profits. What these companies have against American workers making a decent living I don’t know, but it’s probably greed. They’re already multi-millionaires or billionaires but when you have that kind of money, you show no appreciation for the workers who made it for you.

One more thing: Is there one lady who will vote for Donnie (Trump) after watching that tape?

Bud McKelvey, Hermitage, Pa.

Perish the thought of bringing Syrian refugees to Youngstown

Recent news reports said a group of people in the area supports bringing Syrian refugees here to Youngstown.

Oh my god, what are you people thinking? Have you lost all common sense? Have you forgotten the mass shootings in this country by radical Muslim-inspired groups. How fast are we to forget the massacre in Orlando or the shootings in Paris? There exists a clear and present danger facing this country from radical groups in the Middle East, and to bring those people into our city would be unacceptable.

Yes, these people may be oppressed, but if only one or two are radical, they would represent a danger to us all.

We must not forget the main mission of radical Muslims is to attack our way of life; this is a mission they must not win. To open the front door to them is pure insanity.

Jim Eidel, Beaver Township