Editor:

What does it say about a nation that isn’t outraged and grief stricken when over a 1,000 children have died from gun violence and counting. When a former president calls insurrectionists patriots. When he derides veterans, denies global warming, accuses immigrants of rape and murder. I think of how many immigrants are keeping this country running, especially in agriculture. When he makes fun of speech, color, and whatever else doesn’t matter except to him. Please think about who you vote for and how divided we will continue to be if Republicans and Donald Trump take us back instead of forward!

Juliet Brown
West Harwich

Editor:

I do agree with and applaud Mr. Mallowes’ summary statement (“Beware Dems’ ‘Accomplishments’,” Aug. 29) that he “urges the low-information voters to check (these) facts.” Bravo! But let’s take a deeper look at what appear to be those ugly old “alternate fact” citations that offer no historical or present veracity:

1) Inflation has been historic, that is correct, but its apex was reached under the Trump admin (just check the federal database out of that city of treachery, D.C.)

2) Record high gas prices were reached under the Trump admin, just check the consumer price index from 2016-2020.

3) Record high consumer debt: how can this be attributed to any president/VP of any political party when it is born of the reckless consumerism and greed of the American people who run out and purchase items which they know they really can’t afford? Even a stalwart Democrat would not blame defendant Trump for that.

4) The “Afghan withdrawal” was a plan originally conceived by the White House general staff appointed by Mr. Trump and later executed by the Biden Admin. Just check any recent interviews with these retired Cabinet folks from any network, “left” or “right.”

5) “Rise” in violent crime? Where exactly does Mr. Mallowes obtain data? If he can provide any reliable source to show crime has increased the past 3.5 years, I will donate $1,000 to his favorite charity.

6) I for one am happy to support the victims of Ukraine who have suffered the dictator Putin’s invasion.

7) “Millions” of illegals were “let in.” Where does Mr. Mallowes obtain his data? Can he please share it?

8) “Terrorists” — same question.

And the rest of his blather is just an un-based ad hominem attack that does not merit replies; it is simply what the British call “rubbish.”

Mark Phillips,
Grand Junction, Colo.

Editor:

On March 19, 2020, during an interview for a book, President Donald Trump said this about the COVID-19 pandemic: "I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down because I don't want to create a panic." 

Hundreds of thousands of people in this country including my brother-in-law died of COVID-19 because President Donald Trump intentionally downplayed that hideous disease.

On Jan. 4, a seventeen-year-old student at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa shot five students and three staff members before killing himself. One student died the same day and the principal died 10 days later from injuries sustained in the shooting.

On Jan. 5, at a campaign event in Sioux City, Iowa, presidential candidate Donald Trump said this about the deadly school shooting in Perry, Iowa: "We have to get over it."

On Sept. 1, during a televised interview Donald Trump asked: "Who ever heard you get indicted for interfering with a presidential election where you have every right to do it?"

If Donald Trump loses the election that will be more like draining a sewage lagoon than a swamp.

Mike Rice 
South Wellfleet

Editor:

While visiting Chatham to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, I too took a spill on 1 July almost exactly where Jim Dowd did!

 My sister-in-law, who saw firsthand the trauma I suffered (severe abrasion of knees, hands, and chin), saw your article on his accident (“Bike Accident Could Lead To Changes In Road Striping,” Sept. 5) and forwarded it to me.

I too concur that the curb was “masked” by the two parallel stripes. I had swerved to enter the roadway when some walkers were heading toward me and I wanted to give them more room. I had no idea I was headed off a curb!!

My bike went right out from under me out into the road (thankfully no oncoming traffic!) and I fell, shredding skin and, realizing my head was about to hit pavement, did my best to “hold it up” but still took a “solid” jolt to the chin. Thankfully I had been wearing a helmet and biking gloves.

Like Jim, I am an avid cyclist, riding seven days a week (almost 11,000 miles so far this year) and have ridden the Colonial trail to the Cape Cod Rail trail each July for five days straight for the past four years. I wanted to take the time to support Jim’s story. I realize the road can be very busy but I would still say keeping the bikes on the road for the 200 yards or so before the crossing to get back on the Colonial trail (which I believe is how it was in years past) would be a great solution!

Benton J. Runquist
Davis, Calif.

Editor:

I am an octogenarian widower who has been considering trying pickleball for a bit of exercise and an opportunity to meet new people. I may be wrong, but I always felt it would be a hard thing to break into without a partner.

Anyway, after reading the “Dispute Arises Over Access To Harwich Pickleball Courts” article in last week’s Chronicle, I came to the self-evident conclusion that the pickleball wars are a reality, especially here in Harwich, and trying to break in here is more than I need or want. Fortunately, I have not invested in a pickleball paddle to hang up, so my decision to stay away from the Harwich disputes and pickleball wars is more symbolic.

For me, it’s game, set, match, and out of the pickleball wars before even getting in. Bring on the Newcomers candlepin bowling.

Steve Clouther
Harwich

Editor:

Our presidential candidates are generously promising new programs, and claiming that the wealthy and the corporations will pay for them. Don’t believe it.

Consider a tax or a tariff on a business. Any business that cannot recover its costs goes broke. So they must pass that cost along; the usual thinking is to customers as higher prices. But some economists estimate 70 percent of the damage falls on the employees — mostly as withered future prospects with that employer. None of the tax/tariff gets passed to new investors. 

Taxing the rich is problematic, too. They’re “rich” precisely because they have more income than they need for their lifestyle. That excess goes into savings, all invested at interest. When we tax them, the rich have two options: (1) Cut back their lifestyle (but keep their levels of savings and investments as before) or (2) continue to live their lifestyle as before (but have less left over to save/invest). Cutting back one’s lifestyle is painful, so it’s savings/investment that takes the hit. But less investment means fewer new businesses and the wasting away of some older ones. Bad news for younger people looking for a job, or older people hoping to keep the one they had.

We’d be better off paying the taxes necessary for the government we want, rather than hoping we can impose them on somebody else.

Fred Anderson
Chatham

Editor:

We are replying to a writer from Chatham who criticized a letter from Anne with a list of President Biden’s accomplishments; his was sarcastic: record high inflation, rise in violent crime, etc. He urged the “low information voter to check [my] facts,” except voters couldn’t check because he didn’t provide any sources. We want to help voters by providing the actual facts as well as reliable sources.

Historic Inflation: Yes, Biden inherited an economy from Trump whose “collapse rivaled the Great Depression” resulting in high inflation. But Biden and the Fed have steered the economy to a soft landing that continues to amaze economists — high job growth with inflation now at normal levels. (Reuters) 

Rise in violent crime: Violent crimes, especially homicides, have fallen from a record high in the Trump presidency to the lowest levels since 1969 under Biden. (Bloomberg News) 

Illegals at the border: Biden negotiated bi-partisan immigration legislation to address problems at the southern border, but Trump tanked it — and brags about doing so — to prevent a win for Biden. (Washington Post)

Project 2025: It’s true that Trump is trying to distance himself from the truly terrifying P25. But evidence that P25 is a blueprint for Trump if he wins is clear: P25 was prepared by officials from the Trump administration under the sponsorship of the Heritage Foundation, where Trump headlined an Aug. 30 conference with sessions on abolishing the education department and other P25 proposals. And he chose JD Vance, who has praised P25 and written the forward to a book written by the head of the Heritage Foundation. (WaPo, Newsweek)

Anne Moore
Carolyn Kemp
Judith Taylor
Brewster