To the editor: The disturbing picture of falling particles because the East Wing of the White Home is changing into a pile of rubble is a transparent warning to heed (“The White Home begins demolishing a part of the East Wing to construct Trump’s ballroom,” Oct. 22). What’s the rationale for this demolition? An over-sized, pointless, ostentatious ballroom.
It’s harking back to the parable of Nero fiddling whereas Rome burns. People are already struggling on a regular basis to outlive. This abhorrent show and the disregard by this administration’s out-of-touch, don’t-care, cavalier angle has not-so-startling symbolism within the systematic drumbeat of the dismantling of our fading democracy.
This administration has an obvious mission to destroy what’s revered and solemn in three brief however crucial phrases: “We the individuals.” It’s not “the individuals be damned, I need what I need at any price.” The unhappy demise of the historic East Wing and the nation’s precise survival are one and the identical to them: Simply tear it down.
That’s the ugly fact we should all face. We’ve got to determine what sort of nation we finally wish to dwell in: certainly one of utter disdain and hatred for some, fixed dismay and chaos for too many, or a greater different for all individuals to dwell free, with out the fixed concern of an autocracy-in-the-making that we’re witnessing in actual time?
Frances Terrell Lippman, Sherman Oaks
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To the editor: I attended a “No Kings” rally and, upon rethinking the latest and egregious occasions within the Trump administration, I imagine the protests have been inappropriately named.
Simply have a look at the development of the White Home ballroom, the D.C. navy parade, gold accents on nearly every little thing within the Oval Workplace that’s not alive, a deliberate eightieth birthday bash full with UFC fights (the place are the lions?), prosecution and persecution of political enemies and a attainable try to gather $230 million from public coffers over President Trump’s personal harm emotions, all whereas he takes credit score for every little thing and blame for nothing.
This all leads me to imagine I ought to have been attending a “No Emperors” rally. Does Caligula ring a bell?
Marshall Barth, Encino
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To the editor: The federal government is shut down and the Senate Republicans are having a luncheon on the concrete slab that was as soon as the Rose Backyard on the White Home (“Trump hosts Senate Republicans at renovated White Home because the shutdown drags into fourth week,” Oct. 21).
Whereas the GOP senators are eating on burgers, fries and candies, authorities companies that serve needy households are scrambling for federal funds and hundreds of federal staff are with out paychecks. Whereas the senators chill out and take heed to songs like “YMCA,” individuals with households, mortgages, healthcare prices, automotive funds and utility payments — basically their staff — aren’t being paid.
These with out paychecks aren’t all Democrats or Republicans. They’re merely hard-working People, with most of them being the very individuals who maintain the federal government working. Individuals who depend on their representatives to make sure that their authorities will look out for them and defend their wants and finest pursuits.
And but, these revered senators, who should not with out paychecks, are partying at a luncheon underneath candy yellow umbrellas as an alternative of burning the midnight oil to get the federal government up and working once more. What elaborate hubris. Disgrace on all of them.
Betsy-Ann Toffler, Studio Metropolis