Ban offensive posters outside polling places
I voted at the polls, which I love to do. Unfortunately, there were people outside that were displaying signs so offensive that my experience was severely disrupted. One sign said: “Democrats kill babies” and the other said, “LGBTQ is an abomination.” I politely told the women holding the signs how offended I was and that their signs were disgusting. They have a right to their beliefs but there are certainly other ways to express them. After all, many Republicans are in favor of abortion also, especially under certain circumstances, so to say such a horrific thing against all Democrats is absurd. I think posters such as these are not only inappropriate but should be banned from polling places. After all, voters know how they will vote before they go in to vote. There is no need to display such hateful rhetoric. In all the years I’ve voted, I have never experienced such hatred being displayed at the polls. Most of us don’t need to wonder why and when it started.
Linda DeFanti
Upper Saucon Township
Hard to believe ads find Biden accomplishments
The TV ads promoting the accomplishments of Bidenomics are everywhere. Let me give a common man’s overview of the accomplishments of President Biden’s time in office. Before he took office in January 2021, the Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation rate was 1.3%. Not anymore. Before he took office, a 30-year home mortgage was 2.68%. Not anymore. Since he took office, 3.8 million migrants have crossed our border illegally and half of them have not been interdicted. What a failure. Since he took office, it is difficult to name a major U.S. city that is not facing crime and homelessness. When even the Democratic mayors of these cities are crying out for federal help, you know the problem has reached epic proportions. Another failure. No wonder the current approval rating for President Biden is 38.5%. The only question is how does he manage to fill up a 30-second commercial with his accomplishments?
David Schaffer
North Whitehall Township
Modern political debates are bad for democracy
After watching the third Republican debate, in which Vivek Ramaswamy vindictively referred to Nikki Haley as “Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels” followed by Haley calling him “scum” for mentioning her daughter in one of his arguments about TikTok, I think most people would agree that today’s debates end up being more about cheap, low-brow performative shock value and less about substance. How can Americans have an uncynical view of our democracy when every few years we roll out this same kind of dog and pony show and then pretend we just watched a civilized and productive debate?
In contrast, look back at the four debates between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960.
Back then, there was ample time to answer questions, without any interruptions, and fair opportunity for counterarguments. The candidates also conveyed a genuine sense of respect for the viewers watching at home and the democratic process overall.
While you could disagree with the opposing side, and we all know how Nixon ended up after Watergate, you couldn’t deny that Kennedy and Nixon both had a keen understanding of history, a strong grasp of both domestic and foreign affairs, and an ability to communicate their respective visions for the country.
Chris Lang
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Expect better behavior from a child or president?
As someone who worked in the area of child development, I expect a child will learn certain things at certain ages:
Year 1: Calm down at night and not whine and cry
Year 2: Temper tantrums don’t get you what you want
Year 3: Don’t keep things that don’t belong to you
Year 4: Don’t lie.
Year 5: Cooperate with others and don’t be a bully
Year 6: Don’t call others names
Year 7: A judge in court deserves respect
Year 8: Don’t touch others’ private parts.
Year 9: Don’t make fun of soldiers.
Year 10: Be kind to people with challenges.
Year 11: Don’t brag.
Year 12: Accept others who look different from you
Year 13: Respect history. (The U.S. is best known for showing the world that we can transfer power without violence.)
Year 14: Realize freedom of the press is essential in a democracy.
Year 15: Cheat on your taxes and you go to jail
Year 16: It’s not nice to cheat on your partner
Unfortunately many people want someone to be president who never reached these milestones.
George Grim
South Whitehall Township
Biden is failing, time for a change
Attention, Biden supporters:
Are you aware of the severe crisis on the southern border?
Hundreds of thousands of migrants are already here and more are coming. Joe Biden has done nothing to stop it, actually granting work permits to nearly 500,000 Venzuelans to work here. What about our people?
The migrants that are already here, where are they living? What about the multitude of Americans who are homeless? Joe Biden, in my opinion, has not accomplished much in his three years in office. We need new blood in the White House. Please think about it.
Gladys Bauder
Bethlehem Township
Insurance not a good idea to limit gun rights
In the Nov. 9 edition, a letter writer suggested that an exorbitant amount of insurance should be required to own a firearm, and he compared it to insurance required to drive an automobile. While I feel his pain and frustration, there should never be any insurance of that type required to own a firearm. The main difference here being that driving an automobile is a privilege and owning a gun is a right. Do you think that you should need the same type of insurance to safeguard your right of free speech? I think not, and it should never be so. I am a Second Amendment supporter, but I agree that something needs to be done to keep firearms away from those that should not have them. Please though, never ever ask for insurance or tax for our rights and freedoms.
Ken Ardle
East Allen Township
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