What Became of the GOP?

In reading the June 17 column from Jennifer Rubin of The Washington Post entitled “Tough Lessons for the Republican Party,” I was struck by this sentence: “But maybe the ultimate lesson is the need for a radically different kind of party and leadership, one that cares about protecting the ideals and intellectual integrity of the party and the movement.” It left me wondering what exactly are the “ideals” and “intellectual integrity” of the Republican Party.

Now, as far as I can see, it is the party that continues to deny global warming despite overwhelming scientific evidence; that talks about the need to reduce the deficit, but then spent trillions invading Iraq, and supports spending trillions more on obsolete weaponry; that has wasted the country’s time and money attacking Obamacare, rather than trying to come up with credible solutions to our health care crisis; the party that voted to restrict Medicare from negotiating drug prices, enabling companies to jack up their prices 500 to 700 per cent; that continues to resist even the smallest attempt to get assault rifles off the streets.

Perhaps she is talking about the party of Lincoln. Or maybe even Eisenhower. But I haven’t seen the Republican Party stand up for inclusiveness, science, voting rights, equality or fairness — and I’ve been paying attention for the past 50 years. 

 Beth Dingman

Norwich

No Police Response in Parking Lot

My mother’s vehicle was hit in the Upper Valley Plaza on March 19 at around 1:30 p.m. The woman who hit her immediately got out of her car and apologized and admitted that it was her fault. A couple that had witnessed the accident called the Lebanon Police and was told that unless someone was hurt, it was not their policy to send anyone. At the time, my mother did not think that she was hurt, but anyone who has been in an accident knows that injuries are not always evident until hours, sometimes days later, as is now the case.

Now, because there was no police report filed and my mother was too shaken up to get the witnesses’ name and phone number, the other woman’s insurance company is refusing to pay. Apparently, the women who hit her is now saying she was not at fault. My mother’s insurance agent called the Lebanon Police to get the witnesses’ name and number, and he was told that they do not have it. This could have all been cleared up if the police came and filed a report.

I realize that it has been awhile, but I am asking that anyone who witnessed the accident on Saturday, March 19 around 1:30 p.m. to call Barney Insurance in Canaan at 603-523-4407. My mother was driving a 2009 white Chevrolet Malibu and the other woman was driving an older Toyota Corolla.

Pat Coutermarsh

Enfield

What to Do About Guns

A culture of violence, easy availability of assault weapons, a climate of fear: these are aspects of American society on which terrorists thrive. The creation of fear is the terrorist’s main strategy; watching enemies self-destruct fearful of acts of terror.

The NRA reinforces this pattern with its mantra, “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” Fear produces many of the pathologies that permit terrorism to grow, including bigotry, resentment, hatred for “others” and a passion for vengeance.”

Look at some of the facts:

Gun sales have increased after each mass killing. Shares of gun manufacturers are hot investments in the stock market.

A vast majority of guns used in 16 recent mass shootings were bought legally and with a federal background check.

In the U.S., an estimated 40 percent of all firearms are sold by unlicensed individuals not required to conduct background checks on buyers.

The stories are appalling:

In Orlando, forty-nine people killed and 53 more wounded in a crowded nightclub.

At Umpqua Community College in Oregon, nine people killed. The killer was armed with six guns.

At a historic black church in Charleston, S.C., nine people killed with a .45-caliber Glock pistol.

Recently in Houston, a stranger sitting in a car at a carwash shot by an Afghan war veteran railing about “homosexuals, Jews and Walmart.”

 What can be done? Some ideas are:

 Block guns sales to anyone on the terror watch list.

Don’t allow people to buy guns through private sales, at gun shows and online, without background checks.

Ban convicted domestic abusers and stalkers from buying guns.

Prohibit the manufacture and sale of assault weapons for civilian use.

The NRA clings to the fantasy that a heavily-armed populace is the best way to keep Americans safe. Are we barricading ourselves to protect against potential terrorists? Fear rarely produces lasting security. Better to speak loudly to safeguard our rights; silence is the real crime against humanity.

Bob Scobie

Hanover