Editor,
I have to respond to last week’s letter from Dennis Scales (Mailbox, Nov. 14). He charges President Biden with “abandoning Afghanistan to the 10th century barbarians”.
In fact, it was Donald Trump who negotiated the treaty that set the May 2021 date for the withdrawal of all American troops. Biden was stuck with honoring that. To make matters worse for the incoming president, Trump pulled over a third of U.S. troops out of Afghanistan well before Biden took office.
Trump negotiated the deal directly with the Taliban (those 10th century barbarians that Mr. Scales denigrates), with no significant input from the actual Afghani government at that time.
Also, just days after he lost the 2020 election, Trump ordered all U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan immediately. There was unanimous agreement among the generals that the order would be catastrophic, and they wisely ignored him.
The rest of Mr. Scales’ letter appears to be composed of cut and paste remarks gleamed from snide comments on the internet. The internet can be a great tool for getting to the truth — but it requires more work and less biases than many people seem capable of.
Alan Sanborn, Arcata
Editor:
Letters in last week’s NCJ Mailbox listed a number of reasons why Harris lost the recent election. But the letters overlook the real factor that determined the last two presidential outcomes, COVID-19.
President Trump was riding high until early 2020. Then COVID hit and things started going downhill for him. Through his mishandling, thousands of extra Americans died. And beyond his control, worldwide supply chains broke, causing global economic problems with increased unemployment and inflation. The result, Trump lost.
After Biden took office, world economies were still in disarray. The global inflation rate didn’t peak until 2022, and consumer prices still remained considerably higher than under President Trump.
Then Harris became the candidate. She couldn’t overcome these lingering COVID originated headwinds, and with many polls showing that the top voter issue was the high cost of living, she lost, too.
I think one could conclude it was actually COVID that dictated the outcome of the last two presidential elections. Conversely, it’s likely that without COVID, we might be saying “goodbye,” not “hello,” to President Trump who now would just be finishing his second term.
Sherman Schapiro, Eureka
Editor:
To Dennis Scales, of Fortuna. Dear Person, I was glad to see your letter in the NCJ. I read in your letter a concern for the same things that I am deeply concerned about, and I needed to hear that. I made the mistake of thinking people voted for Donald Trump because of who he is, not because they were concerned for America’s future. Your letter indicates that you voted for Donald Trump because you were thinking of America’s future.
Your letter states:
1) Donald Trump will work for all Americans.
2) The U.S. has a stabilizing role in the world.
3) Immigration needs to be fixed.
I voted for Harris because I thought she would work for all Americans, especially the middle class.
I voted Harris because I knew she was committed to maintaining our stabilizing presence in the world order.
I voted Harris because I expected legislation for an American immigration bill that addressed the needs of the U.S.
Your letter tells me we voted for the same issues, differently. I bet we have many other everyday parts of life in common: food on the table, roof over your head, kids’ future, parents, safety and the pursuit of happiness. It would seem, what’s good for you is good for me.
But we are sharply divided on Donald Trump as president. I hope you are correct and that he will accomplish the three goals we agree on.
Since the election, I have been in a state of grief. I’m depressed and fear I have lost a dear companion, democracy. Your letter gives me a hope. Trump and Harris voters share the most basic reason for voting, a concern for America. I am going to work on that!
Jim Hatchimonji, Arcata
This article appears in Bitten.