Former Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce President Paul Boucher’s recent Forum letter bemoaning the merger of the Hanover and Lebanon chambers into the newly formed Upper Valley Business Alliance was an unfortunate response to new leadership that is breathing long-awaited and much-needed life into the regional business community (“What will new Upper Valley Business Alliance do?” Jan. 23).
Several community events that have been discontinued due to declining attendance (in the case of the HomeLife Expo, for several years running) were cited as examples of events the region will miss. As a Lebanon business owner, I could not be more pleased to be a member of an organization that has its finger on the pulse of the community, and with some exciting and sorely needed ideas for business development. Upper Valley Business Alliance programs include D’Perks, Meet-Up Upper Valley, Business After Hours, networking and special events, leadership awards, an annual golf tournament, Dartmouth College family weekends, employee fairs, Celebrate the Season, Upper Valley Restaurant Week, and a very successful Health & Wellness Fair. It is exciting to see progress and forward movement, and to participate in the growth and development of our region.
I was sorry to read such an unfortunate letter. Far better to support a new organization and acknowledge a timely changing of the guard with grace and gratitude.
SUSAN M. SORENSEN
Canaan
We have written to Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney and Cory Gardner to say that, while we are not their constituents, we believe current events transcend state boundaries. The very existence of democracy in the United States of America is in danger.
We asked them to please do their utmost to have the Senate allow witnesses and additional evidence in the trial of President Donald Trump. Allowing the trial to proceed without the testimony of witnesses and the evidence they would provide would deprive the American people of their right to open government.
If they choose to allow witnesses and additional evidence, their legacies will include that they held principle, open government and the Constitution in higher regard than adherence to any party or individual.
If they choose not to allow witnesses and additional evidence, their legacies will likely include, before any mention of the good they have done, that they chose party over the Constitution. Perhaps their legacies will also include the end of democracy in America. We pray that this will not be the case.
Was also sent copies to Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch. If enough of us do something similar, maybe it will make a difference.
DAVID FISK
and JENNIFER DAVEY
Post Mills
I am writing in support of former Vice President Joe Biden for president. Living in the great state of New Hampshire, we are very fortunate every four years to get up close and personal with candidates.
We were blessed this year with quite a slate to choose from. Frankly, any one of them would be a huge upgrade to the current occupant of the Oval Office. It made making a choice very difficult. I finally settled on Biden. Here’s why.
I personally love both Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg. I saw both of them speak and liked lots of things from both of them. But the more I anguished over who to choose, the more I realized that it will not necessarily be the issues that will get a Democrat into the White House. It will be who the voters, nationally, will “trust” overall. Who will they see is best equipped to lead us out of the horrible mess we are in? To win in the battleground states?
The most critical issue now in our country is we must defeat President Donald Trump in November. We absolutely must. He has done so much damage to our country and our standing in the world. The prospect of another four years of Trump scares me. So, regardless of what other candidates may be proposing or how excited I may be about them, none of that matters if we cannot win. I believe Biden — a moderate, proven leader with extensive foreign policy experience who will be ready to lead on Day One — is our best bet. He not only has great ideas, but a proven track record of getting those ideas implemented. Overly ambitious ideas not only turn off moderate voters, but are also next to impossible to implement.
Pundits don’t elect our president. Polls aren’t always right (remember 2016?). I am placing my bet on Joe Biden. I want our best horse in the race. We’ve got to win in November. The survival of our nation depends on it.
DEBORA MATTEAU
Claremont
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s recent town hall event in Andover, N.H., has given me new hope for the future of our country. I didn’t believe anything or anyone could. She did.
Throughout the evening, people who disagree with each other on many fundamental issues shared their concerns, asked questions and expressed support for her campaign. Nobody insulted anyone. Nobody got angry. Everyone felt we all belonged in that room, together.
At the event’s conclusion, she asked Democrats in the audience to raise their hands, then Republicans, then independents and Libertarians. Each time, roughly equal numbers did. Smiling broadly she exclaimed, “This is America!”
It was an extraordinary moment. Even more remarkable is the fact that the person who had brought us together is an antiwar veteran, environmentalist, defender of LGBTQ rights, advocate of “Medicare for All” — and a multiracial Hindu woman.
As president, Gabbard’s policies won’t always align with my views. I don’t expect or even want them to, because compromise is the only way out of our collective mess. What I do want is a president who will be honest, strive to achieve nonpartisan solutions and — most of all — stop our senseless regime-change wars.
Gabbard’s honesty, though not always welcomed, is legendary. Her habit of working with Republicans to get things done has similarly troubled some ideological purists. Her opposition to war is personal, forged by witnessing its true costs while serving in Iraq.
That she’s provoked some in the Democratic establishment and media to unleash a smear campaign against her is hardly surprising. It is, however, shameful and tragic.
Gabbard is the one candidate who can win the broad support necessary to defeat President Donald Trump, restore civility to our political system, refocus our foreign policy on diplomacy and cooperation, and begin healing this divided nation.
You can learn more at Tulsi2020.com, and give serious thought to using your vote to help propel her forward through the national primary process. Allowing her to be silenced would be a profound disservice to America and the world.
TAZ SIBLEY
Etna
Our nation is in crisis. We are faced with so many challenges that didn’t just start with our current president. Climate change, gun violence, a mental health and addiction epidemic — all of these have grown worse in the last four years.
So this election could not be more consequential. We need a candidate who can not only win the Democratic nomination, but defeat President Donald Trump so we can put all of the division and chaos behind us, bring our country together and finally get to work. That’s why I’m proud to support former Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
Buttigieg’s values, honesty, temperament and intelligence make him the best candidate to “turn the page” on the Trump era and restore dignity and respect to Washington. As our nominee, Buttigieg can be counted on to not take the president’s bait, to rise above the gutter politics of this administration, and to take back the White House.
But winning the election is only the beginning.
With our nation’s fractures widening each day, we need a president who can heal our country and pull people together. That’s not an easy thing to do — it requires the right kind of leader. With his unifying vision of our future, Buttigieg has shown he is the rare leader who can inspire people of every background and political belief. As a psychologist, I believe his remarkable empathy and intellect are traits one either has or doesn’t — and Buttigieg absolutely has that special something that makes you feel goose bumps every time he speaks.
So it’s clear to me that Buttigieg will deftly wield the moral authority of the presidency to heal our divides so we can begin the difficult work of tackling our greatest challenges. Our nation needs to feel hope again. For the sake of our future, I hope you join me in voting for Pete Buttigieg on Feb. 11.
MARTHA HENNESSEY
Hanover
The writer represents District 5 in the New Hampshire Senate.