Under Trump-Musk’s authoritarianism, the fight for American democracy is resumed | Opinion

Will America survive Trump years?

If only I could believe it is possible America will survive.

Nixon, in my teens, beat any optimism I had out of me. All the protests, all the speeches, the songs sung crying out to the far right to stop the madness, the abject fear of the draft and utter destruction of civility via race riots on our high school campus has cemented in my mind the Republicans are not to be trusted ... with anything. Humanity and the environment will suffer the most egregious consequences and all for want of the price of eggs.

Now, with the return of the most corrupt and evil president in the history of America, we have come full circle. The fight for our basic freedoms and a life free of governmental control of our lives has started all over again.

The sacrifices of my generation were all for naught. The fascists have won the day and we will all suffer for it. I pray daily for God’s mercy and intervention into a soulless man hell bent for money and utter control. A convicted felon without a shred of decency or reverence to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I hold out no hope. Democracy is over.

Tim McGlasson, Visalia

Seeing doctors at St. Agnes

I am writing in regards to Dr. Michael W. Lynch’s article in The Bee on Jan. 12. I had no idea that he was not allowed to see his patients at St. Agnes Medical Center. He has been our family doctor for more than 30 years.

When my mother was hospitalized, he saw her every day. He also checked in on my stepfather and husband daily during their hospitalizations. I would show up at the hospital at 5 a.m. and catch Dr. Lynch doing his rounds and get an update on my loved ones. It was comforting to know that the doctor who knew their entire health histories was able to be a part of the team that treated them during their hospitalization.

The hospital exists to serve the community. How does this decision that takes away the patient’s right to have their own doctor treat them, serve the community for the better? I hope SAMC reconsiders the decision and starts putting patients’ needs first.

I encourage community members to write to the SAMC president and the board of directors. Let them know how you feel about their decision to take away your rights as a patient.

Kristen Rose, Madera

Keeping best and brightest

If you want to reduce waste in government, harassing people is not the way to do it. You should find the best people, pay them their value, and keep them with a positive work environment. If you harass them, for example, by moving the location of their office to a remote area of the country, you have communicated that you don’t think much of your staff. You are trying to force most of them to quit.

But who quits?

The ones who quit are the brightest and the most capable. Why? They won’t put up with your maltreatment. They will have the easiest time getting a new job and put you in the rearview mirror.

For example, of the 328 Bureau of Land Management staff that were moved out of Washington, D.C. by Trump, only 12% relocated to Grand Junction, Colorado. This led to a significant loss of institutional memory and talent with less bang for our buck.

Current bullying attempts to disrupt government functionality by stopping all funding, offering everyone a buyout and other harassment will have the same effect of losing the best. This is throwing our taxpayer money away.

Richard Caputo, Clovis

Reaping the whirlwind

Well, we are certainly already into the FAFO phase of the current presidency, aren’t we?

And it’s only been three weeks! Congrats to everyone who either voted for Donald Trump or cast a protest vote or didn’t even bother to vote at all. You have made your wishes crystal clear: theft, corruption, extortion, apathy, me first, racism, sexism, idolatry, perversion, lying, genocide. Have I left out anything? Probably a few.

But you have spoken with your votes (or non-) that this is all acceptable to you, because you didn’t understand Kamala Harris’ economic plan. Or you really thought that Trump cared about the Arabs. Or you thought that Donald would bring down grocery prices or end the war in Ukraine.

Instead you got total bigotry and greed. At our expense.

Speaking of apathy, did you know that had “non-voting” been an actual candidate, it would have beaten Trump by 9.1%? It would have won 21 states and and earned 265 electoral votes?

Did you think about that when you chose to sit out the election, because you couldn’t be bothered? Shame on you, shame on us.

We will reap the whirlwind you have sown.

Joel S. Dyer, Fresno

The blessing of being American

Regarding deportation, I do not understand the refusal to obtain citizenship. Deported individuals know the consequences for being illegal.

My grandfather became a U.S. citizen by working in agriculture by day and attending citizenship classes at night. My mother was his tutor. Afterward he got a job working for the school district.

It is “polically correct “ to address “the elephant in the room.” You gain nothing by being an illegal alien. Because sooner or later “La Migra” will be loosed.

Raids were common when my family worked in the fields. People vanished overnight. There were no protests, but acceptance of the inevitable.

As my American parents, I was taught to love this country. I saluted the flag, pledged allegiance to the U.S.A and spoke English in school. I have not lost my Mexican/Indian heritage, but have gained a great country.

May God continue to “bless” the United States of America.

Teresa Rachel Romero, Fresno

Vladimir Putin does a little jig

(Vladimir) Putin is dancing on the grave of American democracy, thanks to President Trump, Musk and Republicans in Congress.

Bertina Richter, Fresno