This shutdown fight is actually life or death
Manhattan: The Democrats are fighting to save our health care from the GOP chopping block. President Trump’s GOP budget bill slashed the most money from Medicaid in its history and, less well known, cuts Medicare benefits too. The Republican bill lets Affordable Care Act tax credits lapse, resulting in premiums spiking 75% and many losing their health care altogether.
Every American will be affected by these cruel cuts, and all for the benefit of giving tax cuts to billionaires. Even if you think you are safe on private insurance, every single hospital, even big ones in big cities, depends on Medicaid payments to provide care. Without that money, they’ll have to reduce staff and services.
Who receives Medicaid benefits directly? Children, seniors, disabled people, folks living paycheck to paycheck, none of whom Trump and the GOP care about. As someone who has been working for more than four decades and is reaching the point where I will be relying on Medicare, I am personally concerned about these cuts, which are all so the rich can get richer!
The last time the Democrats had a chance to exert leverage on a horrible budget bill, they caved, including New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Now Schumer is fighting for us. He’s holding his ground while Republicans refuse to come to the table. The government shutdown will hurt. But having the government open and health care gone will hurt much, much worse. Gabrielle Shatan
Dirtier dealing
Smithtown, L.I.: I haven’t read a letter to Voice of the People that was more on the mark than the one written by Voicer Ralph A. Manente. Letitia James did worse — hers was a lie for a personal advantage. The Trump Organization’s alleged asset overvaluations were for the bank to accept or reject, not James. And the 34 counts that Alvin Bragg won conviction on were really one count, a debatable accounting misclassification shown on consecutive intervals of payments, vouchers and invoices. Andrew Ross
Plenty of precedents
Staten Island: Voicer Ralph A. Manente is entitled to his opinion of Trump, and I actually agree with some of it. However, when he refers to the 2024 election as an “unprecedented landslide,” he is wrong. Checking the results of previous elections, he will find at least five that were far more one-sided than the 2024 results. Trump’s totals are nowhere near the Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson figures. Anthony Biancoviso
Degraded discipline
Bronx: Now is the time for a well-armed militia. Americans are being killed and brutalized. Or is that just for red states? Stop the madness now. It’s gone on too long, these goons running around freely, and it’s getting worse. Those high-ranking officers (“Trump, Hegseth rally generals with demands to end ‘woke’ military,” Oct. 1) have no shame to go back to their commands and face their troops. Death before dishonor. They were totally disrespected. They should be able to get out now and live comfortably — the hell with their retirement. They all should have gotten up and left those two fools. To think that they can send thousands of young men to their deaths. I am a disabled Vietnam vet who was a grunt with the 1st Cavalry, 1968-69. Julio E. Rivera
Start with you
Garwood, N.J.: I do not live in a city or dangerous community, so I may not be qualified to give an educated opinion on gun control or the presence of the National Guard. Controlling gun violence through legislation is feasible, but are we convinced that it’s doing enough to prevent violent acts? People will be divided on whether the National Guard is an effective measure to make our cities safer. Perhaps this could be another way to curb violence. Opinion polls are not reliable, but knowing how residents of cities feel (where the Guard is patrolling) may be a more accurate way of determining if this is an effective way to improve neighborhood safety. Above all, having a personal relationship with the Lord in many cases will help us to achieve this love, respect and a greater understanding of our fellow human beings. Anthony Speranza
Reclaim the name
Bayside: It’s time for someone to introduce a new line of caps to take on the MAGA brand, and that brand should be MAAA, or Make America America Again. Now that more people are finally realizing what the evil, self-serving Trump and his incompetent, sycophant lackeys are about, it will lead to MAAA restoring America to the way it was before the outlaw Trump, along with his gutless accomplices, almost took it to ruin. Howie Horn
A bleak peace
Woods Cross, Utah: Looking beyond the current joyful hostage exchange, there is mounting evidence that Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump plan to exile most or all Palestinians out of Gaza soon enough. The killing of innocent women and children, perhaps half of the 68,000 known dead in Gaza, is one indication. There is also the deliberate and well-documented starvation campaign aimed at making mealtime in Gaza intolerable for families. The destruction of most hospitals is well-known. Also, PBS has reported that virtually all of Gaza’s 660,000 children do not have access to in-person schooling. Now comes news reported by Al Jazeera that Netanyahu’s Israel Defense Forces have destroyed 92% of residential buildings in Gaza. Added to that is the destruction of 88% of all commercial facilities in Gaza. Some 62% of Gaza residents have lost legal documentation of property ownership. So, do they really own anything anymore? Kimball Shinkoskey
Deeper disparity
Brooklyn: To Voicer Chana Schwartz: Forty-eight Israelis for 1,950 Palestinians. You ask what’s wrong with this equation? You didn’t ask that question when the headcount was 68,172 Palestinian men, women and children and 1,983 Israelis. Just saying. Jim Carney
Vax vulnerability
Brooklyn: I’m writing about the head doctor and RFK Jr. not wanting any vaccines for young children, not even for polio, smallpox, measles, etc. Some European countries won’t let you in if you’re not vaccinated. People forget the Black Death bubonic plague that ran through Europe in the 12th century, which killed almost half the population. What is our wonderful, stupid president going to wait for when a new Black Death comes and kills off half of Americans? Don’t wait until it’s too late. Fire RFK Jr. and ask for the vaccines back. David Glassner
Unsafe sidewalks
Brooklyn: I don’t like to be a single-issue voter, but as an 81-year-old who believes that walking is the most healthy and restorative activity one can do, I have been thoroughly dismayed by the lawlessness that has been overlooked by our politicians and therefore by the police. I am referring to the rampant proliferation of bikes, e-bikes and electric scooters that have made life risky for pedestrians. Although there is no shortage of bike lanes, there are still those who ride on our sidewalks and have no consideration for pedestrians. I don’t know what candidate Zohran Mamdani’s stance on that issue may be, but I’d like to know before I cast my vote. Ed Temple
Is it legit?
Rochdale Village: The Central Park Conservancy president and CEO’s op-ed (“Wollman Rink isn’t made for profiteers,” Oct. 14) was very interesting. Has Mayor Adams’ plan to put it up for bid passed the smell test? After all, he doesn’t — all his mobbed-up friends get high-up appointments. Just wondering! Saul Rothenberg
Big decision
Carle Place, L.I.: As things stand, the Jets will have the first pick in next year’s NFL draft. Maybe they’ll choose the next Peyton Manning, or more likely, the next Ryan Leaf. Rudy Rosenberg
Better back then
Brooklyn: I’m 99-years-old and have been reading The News since it was 2 cents and came out the evening before, sometimes as a pink 2-cent issue. It knocked the Daily Mirror out of business, but The New York Times keeps rolling on. I love the comics sections immensely, especially “Dick Tracy,” “Little Orphan Annie,” “Harold Teen,” “Smilin’ Jack,” “Winnie Winkle” and “Gasoline Alley.” Please advise Jim Scancarelli that “Gasoline Alley” has run out of gas. Bring back “Winnie Winkle” and “Smilin’ Jack” and you will sell more newspapers. It’s time to keep Uncle Walt buried and quiet! Bill Glassman
