Men should pay the price, too
Not until men are made responsible for their part in an unwanted pregnancy will women get equal rights. Women carry the emotional burden for an unwanted pregnancy the rest of their lives. The least men can do is provide financial support for the child even if that child is adopted.
If financial support is not possible, then they should be required to have a vasectomy so that they do not bring any more unwanted children into the world. In the case of incest or rape, most women would probably agree that castration is not too harsh a punishment. I wonder how many men would be concerned about abortion, or the welfare of the unborn, if they were faced with these consequences.
Alberta Mirer, Moodus
Republicans robbing America of democracy
America Joao Caxide’s letter [Oct. 24, Opinion, Page 3, “Democrats robbing America of her soul”] shows how lopsided public opinion has become based on one’s party affiliation. So here I offer a rewrite from a Democratic perspective, using many of Caxide’s own words:
Any vote for a Republican drives another nail into the coffin containing the body of American democracy.
Donald Trump’s party is, and has been for the past seven years, responsible for America’s descent into madness. Fiction is presented as fact, lies are excused, news the party doesn’t like is called fake, character no longer matters and votes no longer count (unless their side wins).
In an Orwellian moment of historical revisionism, the Republican Party declared Jan. 6 to be “legitimate public discourse,” and in an all-too-common moment of denial, a Republican Congressman compared the attempted overthrow of American democracy to a “normal tourist visit.”
Republicans control the levers of power in local and state governments, where social equity is trampled and social progressives advocating for racial, gender and LGBTQ justice are labeled “woke extremists.” All who dare to fight for a woman’s right to make reproductive health choices, or who dare to “say gay,” or who believe that immigrants should be treated with dignity and human kindness, are excluded, their voices drowned out by rude and bigoted chants.
Yes, inflation reduces Americans’ standard of living, but inflation is not a uniquely American problem. Inflation is global and it is transitory, and it will abate.
But democracy is supposed to be forever. In word and deed, Republicans are robbing America of her democracy.
Mark Slitt, Bloomfield
Beginning of the end of democracy is coming
The Republican Party is being held hostage by a charlatan. Republicans incredulously abide and hang on every hyperbolic, rhetorical word, and if a word is spoken that defies the leader’s message, you will be ostracized from the party.
This person, solely thriving on power, is essentially a demagogue void of diplomacy, compromise, empathy, moral character or any semblance of leadership. He and his dangerous allies effectively rule these spineless followers by means of threats and lies, creating a divide in America not seen since the Civil War.
In spite of this leader’s treasonous, impeachable actions (Jan. 6), he roams America with impunity to his “adore me” rallies, promoting voter suppression, openly plots to overturn future election results, publicly ridicules and above all … his vengeance to all naysayers.
Instead of abiding by their oath to protect our constitution, his gutless followers cower to the leader out of fear. That said, these Congressmen are not members of the Republican Party, they are members of The Trump Cult.
This leader has been beating a dead horse these past two years, misguiding America with his ongoing sour grapes and cry-baby loser “Big Lie.” Now, when a candidate loses in future elections, Republicans will claim victory and alleged fraud. The resulting calamity starting Nov 8, 2022, will be the beginning of the end to our democracy, and their leader was never an American Patriot.
Gary Kuhn, Vernon
