Now that President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump apparently have clinched their party nominations with a good number of states yet to vote, maybe it’s time to consider the primary rules. I am sure many people will not vote in the subsequent primaries because they feel it’s all over, even though there are many offices yet to be decided.
The presidential election is held nationwide on a Tuesday in November, with some early voting. We should consider holding all the primaries on a single day nationwide. It would be a one-and-done and in-or-out vote without all the politicking and posturing between the various primaries. Moreover, the candidates running would all have their day at the same time and not be forced to withdraw early. It also would allow voters to vote for their choice among all the candidates.
— Mario Caruso, Chicago
Fixation on age and presidency
There seems to be concern about age among the electorate. Be advised that the country’s chief executive is not running the 440-yard dash or even a 50-yard sprint. He sits in a padded chair in an air-conditioned office and makes decisions.
Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway does the same thing concerning billions of dollars at a more advanced age. It would seem age and experience would be a more desirable quality in an executive than simple bluster and a much more questionable background.
— Bob Quitter, Plainfield
Report the truth about Trump
I completely agree with letter writer Thomas Jacobs who states that Donald Trump is not a typical candidate and shouldn’t be reported on as if he were (“Trump is no typical candidate,” March 20). How many candidates for president have run with 91 indictments hanging over their heads? The news media need to highlight his failed policies that he promised in 2016. The “big, beautiful” wall that Mexico would pay for was laughable. Mexico thought so too. The section that was completed was built with money taken from the military. How many times did Trump tell us he was going to do away with the Affordable Care Act and replace it with something much better? That never happened, and millions of Americans continue to benefit from the ACA.
How many times did we hear that there was going to be an “Infrastructure Week”? That never materialized. How long did it take President Joe Biden to get a bipartisan infrastructure bill made into law? Eleven months into his first year in office! And Trump promised to get Roe v. Wade overturned. By stacking the Supreme Court with three conservative judges, that promise was kept. How’s that working out for us? Chaos throughout the country as states can now legislate laws that discriminate against women. Many women have to leave their homes to seek health care in states that care about women’s health.
This time could be different. If Trump gets elected and Republicans maintain a majority in the House and Democrats lose the majority in the Senate, the dictatorial and cruel policies that he is promising could come true. I’m scared. I’m worried about Russia again interfering in our election. I’m worried about artificial intelligence and what that could do to influence voters with misinformation.
We need our media to report the truth about Trump whenever possible. Call out the falsehoods. There are many opinions, but only one truth. Report the truth about Trump.
— Lynne Mattingly, Oswego
Two undesirable candidates
Americans this year should not feel particularly superior concerning the recent reelection of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian election was basically limited to one undesirable candidate. Ours is limited to two.
— Zephyr Dorsey, Iowa City, Iowa
Our responsibility as voters
Any objective observer would judge the U.S. House to be seriously dysfunctional, with the U.S. Senate only somewhat less so. The answer is not to trash our representative democracy and elect authoritarians, especially not an authoritarian president.
A diverse and modern technological society like ours needs governance at every level that is honest and serious about governing effectively for the common good. That requires all of us to vote for candidates up and down the ballot that care about equality of opportunity, social and legal justice, and being a good citizen in our complex world.
Sitting on top of all of these considerations, however, is the need for our country to be a nation of laws that are applied equally for all in courts that are independent of political parties.
— Mary F. Warren, Wheaton
Uproar over Ronna McDaniel
I find it somewhat amusing that former “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd and liberal friends at NBC are up in arms because the network recently hired Ronna McDaniel, the former chair of the Republican National Committee.
Wouldn’t it be more interesting if the major networks added one or two conservative commentators to provide just a little objectivity to their news analysis? Even conservative news station Fox News has a few liberal commentators. This would be especially nice during this year’s presidential campaign season.
— Dan Schuchardt, Glen Ellyn
Trying to erase Columbus
Once again, cancel culture is hard at work to obliterate Christopher Columbus from history! As an Italian American, I voted twice for Barack Obama, and I have the utmost respect and good feelings for him. He richly deserves having a street named after him. However, there are many, many streets in Chicago that could be renamed for him other than Columbus Drive.
Columbus has been noted in history for his discovery of the New World, not for his sterling character. Is there a human being who is not flawed in some way?
Rewriting history is abhorrent to me. It is also dangerous. We should learn from history, not delete it.
As the saying goes, those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.
— Dean Pritza, Orland Park
How guns affect our children
While reading G-PAC President Kathleen Sances’ excellent letter “Taking legislative action on guns” (March 17), the following statement sent a chill up my spine: “Children … are forced to be trained for active shooter drills before they can even read or write.” Let that sink in for a moment — before they can read or write!
This should be a wondrous time for young children where curiosities are piqued and a love of learning is set in motion. Why are we also teaching them to be anxious and at the ready?
It is shameful and detestable that we adults have made our gun crisis our children’s problem.
— Vicki Joseph, Chicago
Job left undone at O’Hare
Apparently the construction in the lower level of O’Hare International Airport’s main terminal is finally completed. One minor detail has been overlooked — re-stenciling the outer lane support pillars with the corresponding doorway so that drivers picking up passengers have a clue where to find their rider.
This oversight has led to unnecessary congestion and confusion. Can someone from the Aviation Department purchase a can of paint and a stencil kit to alleviate the chaos?
— Bruce Nathanson, Glenview
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