Capitalist norms make Scrooge real for so many
Port Orange, Fla.: The boss had this Christmas party every year — a lunchtime buffet of cold cuts, salad and fruit cups. He did splurge for booze and plenty of soda, along with a platter of cookies and cake from the bakery around the corner. The only consolation would be the yearly sales bonus the salesman craved every December. This year’s should be a good one, as his sales were on an upward trend.
Lunchtime came and the whole office congregated. The delicacies were laid out along with the soda and booze. Between the background Christmas music and stale jokes, what was on the minds of all the salesmen and women was the bonus. These were all working stiffs with no union behind them, no pensions, no vacation or sick days. The boss started calling the salespeople into his office one by one. He walked into the office like a serf humbles into the lord of the manor’s abode. The office manager sat on the couch opposite the boss with a half-smile. Something was up. The boss was opening mail with fine, manicured nails, and never looked up as he spoke: “Listen kiddo, I know you had a pretty good year. It’s just that the company — we did not have such a great year. The landlord raised our rent and we had to deal with some lawsuits. Bottom line is we can’t afford to give out bonuses this year.”
As he walked to the subway, he remembered how the boss and his family took two weeks to vacation in the south of France, and the new Jaguar his boss pulled away from the office in last week. P.A. Farruggio
Songs to lift spirits
Farmington, Conn.: It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but not for everyone. The holiday blues are a real phenomenon. The Christmas and holiday season in general causes depression and a negative mood in many people. In the spirit of the holidays, it is imperative that we reach out to family and friends who we think might be sad or lonely at this time. On the other hand, I belong to the total opposite group. I absolutely love the holidays and am brimming with happiness from the moment I hear my first Christmas song of the season on the radio. I am always saddened when the holiday season is over and I have to wait another 10 and a half months for it to start again. However, WJMJ 88.9 FM, the radio station of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Conn., plays Christmas songs for 11 days after Dec. 25! Joaquin Fernandez
Turn the page
Brooklyn: Forget the 12 days of Christmas. It’s been 12-plus corruption months of Mayor Adams. It’s time to get our city back in 2025. Only those with integrity, honesty and hard work need apply. New Yorkers deserve better. Here’s to 2025. Happy, healthy to all. Mariann Tepedino
Life & death in transit
Brooklyn: Welcome to NYC, where the fare is $2.90. Some will say that is fair. What isn’t fair is the annual death rate that takes place right in front of our faces daily. Is the answer having more police present? Maybe. Is anyone safe from the madness? No, not even the babies. Times are getting hard, and the world is officially crazy. A train is supposed to take you from one part of the city to another. Now it’s just a train ride from hell before it takes you to your final stop, which is heaven. To be burned alive while people are dying to visit here. Where is N.Y. pride? Where is the respect for life? Where are the laws? Where were you and where was I? Where are the family members? Will anybody cry? MTA has new trains, new staff and new blood stains on its seats and floors. Kenneth Beverley
Kidnapped
Bronx: To Voicers Ira Friedman and Bruce McMenemy: Voicer Richie Nagan is right. Many people held by Israel have not been charged with crimes. Many are children. Many were just defending their homes in the West Bank from being stolen by settlers. Many have been tortured and raped. W. Twirley
Cold truth
Belle Harbor: Regarding his column on congestion pricing (“It should have stayed dead,” Dec. 22), I agree with Leonard Greene, who agrees with Donald Trump. It’s 19 degrees outside. Maybe Hell has frozen over. Bobby Nelsen
Emolumentary
Howard Beach: Will Donald Trump and Elon Musk be required to give up their social media platforms when they take over? George Martin
Medieval mindset
Pasadena, Calif.: Pete Hegseth’s nomination to become Trump’s secretary of defense is facing growing opposition, with reports highlighting serious allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. While these alarming accusations may be disqualifying, they are also far from the only reason for senators to reject Hegseth’s confirmation. His deep ideological commitment to far-right, extremist Christian nationalism, if put in a position of great power and authority, would pose a serious threat to the right to religious freedom enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. He has publicly praised the Crusades in his book “American Crusade” as a necessary effort to “push Islamism back” both culturally and militarily, alarmingly describing our current era as “much like the 11th century.” Richard A. French
Going down together
Brooklyn: To Voicer T.S. Fallani: You have just become my new hero. However, don’t fret: The racist, bottom-feeding morons are about to reap what they have sown. Too bad we will also have to suffer through the total chaos that Agent Orange and his criminal mutants will thrust upon us all. Happy Holidaze! Gary Butler
Breath of fresh air
Astoria: Many people haven’t heard about President Biden’s latest gift to our future: a groundbreaking regulation that will reduce greenhouse gas pollution from cars by 56% while improving our air quality. The EPA has released a new rule regulating tailpipe emissions that will save the country $99 billion and prevent 2,500 deaths by 2050. While the standards have been adjusted to get the support of the auto industry, they will still push the country toward a greener transportation system. Please let your readers know about this powerful move by the Biden administration to protect our health, environment and future. Victoria Augustine
System failure
Brooklyn: I agree with Jerry Goldfeder about the Electoral College (“Can Trump pull a Nixon?” op-ed, Dec. 22). I am 74 and have voted in every election, even while stationed overseas. How undemocratic to vote in 2016 and have my vote not count for its full value. Two-thirds of the country want to eliminate the Electoral College. If they end the current obscene campaign financing system, we might have a chance at real change. Currently, nothing changes. Our system has been taken over by big money, causing our representatives to fight about everything with little to no compromise or progress, demonizing each other along the way. Now is the time for change and to make progress the goal. Greg Ahl
Right and wrong ways
Flushing: Once again, the Daily News has published a misleading editorial, “Immigration is good for America” (Dec. 23), which conveniently leaves out some important facts. We are a nation of immigrants, no doubt, and continue to welcome immigrants from around the world. However, we should be accepting of legal immigration, not unfettered, mass illegal immigration that has overwhelmed our largest cities. Letting unvetted immigrants into our country is reckless and irresponsible and puts a strain on taxpayer resources that should be used for veterans, homeless and low-income individuals, while resulting in a severe housing shortage. Not knowing the backgrounds of those we allow to stream across our border results in criminals running free while blending in with families and those legitimately looking for asylum. So yes, Daily News, legal immigration is a good thing. Let’s not try to pretend that what has happened at the southern border is good for America. Craig Louttit
Brushed aside
Park Ridge, N.J.: Watching the Giants game on Sunday, the Atlanta offense looked kind of like a mudslide, just running through the Giants’ defense. I’ve never seen a sorrier-looking Giants team. Just terrible. Steve Ostlund
