Those who decry socialism don’t understand it
Copiague, L.I.: Voicer James McCaffrey apparently commands a prodigious vocabulary, but not much of a grasp of the world outside his right-wing bubble. When he asserts that “socialism has been a failure — a deadly failure,” he forgets that socialism as practiced in the West is very, very different from Soviet communism under Joseph Stalin.
Wikipedia documents that there were more than 100 socialist mayors in the U.S. before 1920. Recently? Bernie Sanders served as mayor of Burlington, Vt., from 1981-1989 (photo from 1981). Last I looked, the buildings were still standing and no blood ran in the streets. The same might be said for Milwaukee, Wis., under mayors Daniel Hoan (1916-1940) and Frank Zeidler (1948-1960).
Google informs us that according to the World Happiness Report 2025, the five happiest nations are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands. Finland has held the top spot for the eighth consecutive year. These countries are known for factors like strong welfare systems, access to nature and high levels of social support.
From 1948 to 1979, England and Israel had labor/socialist governments, too.
Shall we discuss the happiness and prosperity that working people enjoyed in the so-called capitalist democracies in Singapore, Spain, Greece and South and Central America, not to mention Fulgencio Batista’s Cuba? How about Vietnam after the French left but before the North Vietnamese took over? I thought not! Mitch Kessler
Adams is the way
Brooklyn: Bill de Blasio won the 2013 mayoral election with 795,000 votes. Republican Joe Lhota came in second at 264,000 votes. In 2017, de Blasio won reelection with 760,000 votes to Republican Nicole Malliotakis’ 317,000. In the 2021 election, Mayor Adams received 754,000 votes compared to Republican Curtis Sliwa’s 312,000 votes. It will take between 750,000 and 800,000 votes in a two-person contest to win the mayoralty — fewer if all four major candidates remain and split the vote. A Republican can’t win. In last week’s Democratic primary, Zohran Mamdani garnished 446,000 first place votes. His fellow socialist Brad Lander received 115,000, which will all go to Mamdani in the general election. That’s 544,000 votes for Mamdani right out of the gate. Curtis needs to drop out, and Andrew Cuomo needs to take his 375,000 votes and go home. We can’t have a communist antisemite as mayor. It’s time to support incumbent Adams. David DiBello
Accidental endorsement
Manhattan: Ken Frydman, former aide for the disbarred and disgraced Rudy Giuliani, suggests that his friend Sliwa, the Guardian Angel who faked attacks on the subways to boost his brand and who was part of an attack on an innocent man on live TV, should drop out of the mayoral race and back the most corrupt mayor in NYC history since Jimmy Walker: Adams (“Curtis Sliwa must quit and back Adams,” op-ed, June 30). He wrote that Adams or the felon elected president would gladly give Sliwa a job in either of their administrations if he did so. Now, I am not as experienced as the learned Frydman, but that sounds like a bribe to me. I don’t think I will read another endorsement as strong as this as to why Mamdani should be the next mayor of New York City. Eli Ganias
Offensive defense
Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Voicer John Esche wrote that President Trump did not consult Congress “before committing an act of war, as every other president has.” John, you’re wrong about every other president notifying Congress. In June 1950, President Harry Truman, a Democrat (and my hero), sent us to Korea to stop the spread of communism, with or without notifying Congress. It was called a police action. Today, we have a vibrant South Korea. Trump bombed Iran to stop the development of nuclear weapons, without notifying Congress. God bless America. Randy Jurgensen
Out for revenge
Cincinnati: Now Trump is punishing Rep. Thomas Massie for disagreeing with him. Trump is out to destroy him. All Americans should stand up against this new Hitler. I can’t believe how the Republicans have zero backbone. Lame wimps, fearing Trump when they lie down to sleep. The new Republicans are exactly like the humanoids in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” They all hear and obey. I just don’t see how they see Trump as the new role model for American children. Lie and get revenge on people that disagree with you. OK, children? Mark Jessee
Pushed out
Manhattan: Trump’s promise that he could shoot someone on Fifth Ave. and get away with it has finally come to a full, frightening circle. Threatening a duly elected member of Congress — in public — that their professional life is over unless they allow his tax break at an enormous cost to the senator’s conscience and to his constituency is tantamount to murder (“GOP sen. won’t run again,” June 30). Putin’s enemies fall out of planes, are shot or poisoned, but Donald goes for a more direct approach, and another principled Republican senator bites the dust. It saddens me to see how quickly this country is dissolving into fascism. Chris Santoro
Denied basic rights
Bronx: The tenets of the American Declaration of Independence are the support of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans. That includes those who seek refuge under its flag. When a leader of such a country violates the heart of its democracy and seeks to destroy those systems put in place to grant said freedoms to all, it’s a sad day for that country and an even sadder acknowledgement of that leader’s constituents. Charles Jarmond
Editorial atrophy
Arcata, Calif.: William F. Buckley Jr. must be spinning in his grave right now at the thought of his beloved National Review being edited by a minuscule moron like Rich Lowry, who is a decidedly dumb, delusional dimwit whose sole claim to conservative fame was co-starring on the long-running “The McLaughlin Group” television show on PBS. After lunatic Lowry got caught on candid camera last September calling legal Haitian immigrants the N-word, it’s seriously surprising that any newspapers would continue to run reprobate Republican Rich’s pathetic excuse for a syndicated column — unless, of course, that newspaper agrees with demented Trump’s “they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs” racist, untrue (as always) attacks on hard-working Black folks in Ohio. Trump is deranged and dumb as dirt. Jake Pickering
Anti-American
Bronx: Regarding Voicer Thomas Murawski’s comment that he could only name two causes of violence by the right, and one was the “so-called” insurrection: What dream world are you talking about? First off, that “so-called” insurrection should have disqualified anyone from running. Imagine trying to overthrow the government because your leader could not admit defeat and then had the nerve to have that rally. I expect nothing less from you MAGAs. I said it before and say it again: The current president does not have American values. Martin Sandok
Left to suffer
Brooklyn: Just read the story of the 115 dogs who were neglected for years and lived terrible lives (” ‘She had to die to save her animals,’ ” June 30). According to the story, 311 was called many times and police responded in each instance, but the owners wouldn’t let the cops in. Cops said they couldn’t do anything unless they had a search warrant or someone died in the house. Why didn’t the cops get a search warrant? Those poor dogs lived in horrible conditions because cops didn’t give a damn. Meanwhile, Peanut the famous squirrel, who was well cared for and loved, was killed because of a complaint. More than ever, I am anti-human and pro-animals. Dennis Burge
Lay off him
Yonkers: I am constantly reading and hearing criticisms with regards to Anthony Volpe. Firstly, everyone needs to stop comparing him to Derek Jeter. And secondly, what about all of the other under-performers on the team (such as Austin Wells)? Give the guy a break! Even the captain, Aaron Judge, has some rough stretches, and he’s given some latitude. Michael Schettino
Sneak attack
Hallandale Beach, Fla.: Prayers for all of the Idaho firefighters and law enforcement officers who were ambushed in a violent, terror-like act against first responders. Praying that God guides the hands of the medical teams accepting these victims. Paul Bacon
