Farewell, statesmen, as we brace for the worst
Utica, N.Y.: As we recently sat at home in upstate New York waiting out the snow, we watched a movie about our late President Jimmy Carter. This film not only talked about his relationship with rock and country musicians, but highlighted his faith, his decency, his compassion and his humanity.
These qualities could also describe outgoing President Biden, whose long tenure in politics has been driven by his desire to help average middle-class Americans. Any parent could be proud to have their children turn out like either of these two men.
So it makes us even more infuriated that we are about to inaugurate a convicted felon with a heart of granite to the American presidency. This lying con man has never done anything for anyone without a guarantee that he would benefit somehow, a concept so diametrically opposed to everything that America stands for.
He tells us that the 520,000 Americans who have died in our wars since 1776 are “losers and suckers,” and we elect him to office? He is probably lucky that Democrats inexplicably chose not to delve more deeply into the legitimacy of this election.
The next four years will be dark and difficult for Americans with hearts and souls. Yet, we will be gratified to think back on good, decent men like Carter and Biden as exemplars of our true American values. Jeff and Joan Ganeles
Doing his somber duty
Monroe Township, N.J.: To Voicer Joseph Napoleone: Yes, we can depend on Biden in times of crisis in our country. He is not at Camp David. He was in New Orleans comforting family members of people killed and injured by a terrorist. He then went to speak to Gov. Gavin Newsom in California and declared a federal state of emergency due to wildfires. He canceled his trip to Italy to visit the Pope so he could keep monitoring the wildfires. Like him or not, he is our president. Give him some respect. Lorri Thompson
Typical bluster
Shaftesbury, Vt.: Donald Trump, our future president, is uttering complete and futile nonsense and irritating our neighbor to the north, Panama and Denmark. His remarks about Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal are preposterous! Taking back the Panama Canal, claiming Canada as a state and acquiring Greenland are his ideas of some land-grab deal. Canada is an independent country, Greenland is a Danish territory and Panama owns the Canal Zone. Trump’s preposterous ideas are pure BS. Meanwhile, let’s not forget all the promises he made: ending the wars in Ukraine and Israel, fixing inflation, improving our military, closing the U.S. border, etc. These other things he espouses are a distraction. That is what he does. Tom King
Hell on Earth
Milwaukee: Trump has declared “there will be hell to pay” if hostages in Gaza are not released prior to his taking office. But Gaza has already been largely reduced to dust. This includes destruction of fields, orchards, greenhouses, water infrastructure, hospitals, bakeries, public utilities, roads, schools, universities and religious and government buildings. More than 45,000 people have been killed, including more than 14,500 children. Another 20,000 children are missing — lost, detained or buried beneath rubble or in unmarked mass graves. And Gaza has the largest number of child amputees in modern history. The UN estimates that clearing the debris in Gaza could take as long as 15 years, and that it could take until at least 2040 to rebuild destroyed homes. As economist Daniel Egel asserts, “You can rebuild a building, but how do you rebuild the lives of a million children?” Note to Trump: Hell has been rendered. Terry Hansen
Musk-rat
Paramus, N.J.: What has the world’s richest man done for anyone other than himself? Built any hospitals or clinics? Helped others in need? No. Other than ruining Twitter and pushing the Orange Felon into more ignorant decisions (hard to believe), he has done nothing good. I’ve read that with his fortune, he could solve world hunger and make the world a better place for millions of people. Instead, this petulant child wants to go to Mars on the government dime. He’s a clown. Tom Greff
Ceding responsibility
Melbourne, Australia: Mark Zuckerberg has stopped Meta’s fact-checking program and will rely on its users to consider content. Isn’t this similar to sacking firefighters and letting arsonists decide which fires are serious and what to do about them? Actually, it’s not a big concern for me as I don’t use social media and rely on newspapers for my news and analysis. Dennis Fitzgerald
Finally, some good news?
Brooklyn: If the downward crime trend continues in 2025, NYC’s tabloid dailies may have to publish a lot more good news stories to fill their pages. That would be as welcome as the reduction in major crimes. Neil S. Friedman
New direction
Manhattan: In the span of six years, the number of felony assault reoffenders has risen by nearly 150%. In 2024, the number of burglary reoffenders rose by more than 60% and the number of robbery reoffenders by more than 80%. Mayor Adams, who is battling his own criminal charges, is not the person to lead the city back to safe ground. He gets an F grade for his failure to keep NYC safe. Let’s hope somebody more honest and competent runs for mayor this year. Pat Clark
Who’s being shortsighted?
Brooklyn: New Yorkers love to complain, so I should be more patient with all the bellyaching about congestion pricing, but enough already. For the small businesses that have to drive into Manhattan to buy flowers for their shops, it may cost you $9 a day, but with less traffic, your employees will save time and money on those trips. To the folks in New Jersey, I say it was your choice to live in the suburbs. If you want to earn a living in Manhattan to pay for your fancy house in Jersey, contribute to the city. Otherwise, I’m sure there are plenty of jobs in Jersey’s beautiful industrial parks. The subway system is the lifeblood of NYC. It moves millions of people to their jobs every day and is faster than anything on the surface. We should be happy to do everything we can to improve it. Lee Crespi
Shame on evaders
Brooklyn: To Voicer Harvey Goldstein: It’s because of jerks like you and the people you know that the rest of us law-abiding citizens are paying higher tolls. Your mother must be proud. Josie Oliveri
#22
Wimauma, Fla.: When the Mets signed Juan Soto, he chose uniform number 22 to wear. Eventually, Soto will be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame if he continues to play at a high level the way he has performed the past few years. He will make previous Mets players who wore number 22 proud, such as Jack Fisher, Donn Clendenon, Ray Knight, Al Leiter and Kevin McReynolds. Let’s go Mets! Joseph Cardinale
Fan deprivation
Bronx: MSG pulled its network from Optimum cable services, meaning Knicks fans (Rangers, Islanders and Devils, too) who are Optimum subscribers will no longer be able to watch their favorite N.Y. teams. Optimum said the loss for us is at their discretion, adding that MSG is now considered a streaming service. Hard negotiations were not an option? It’s business as usual with no thought for the customers. Eric Cummings Jr.
Earned entitlement
Huntington, L.I.: Voicer Michele P. Brown writes well. I had to look up “encomium.” I would like to thank her for disagreeing with my comments without resorting to personal invective, as so many Voicers seem to favor. I was expecting far worse, but there is still tomorrow. I do believe in the concept of deserving poor and undeserving poor. A 16-year-old unmarried girl who has a child is an example of the undeserving poor. Brown asks who are the deserving rich. They are those who worked hard for what they have. Tom Saracco
Solid spot
Flushing: I would like to give a shout-out to New Hyde Park Diner. Their lobster bisque and lentil soups are delicious, and the people who work there are so friendly and nice. It is at 160 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, L.I. Try it, you will like it. Justine Weiss
