Never did I believe I would see the disgraceful things that are happening in our country today. People have a legal right to protest peacefully, as they have been doing in Oregon. They do not have the right to destroy or steal other people’s property.
People will turn even more against the police as long as President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr continue their attack on the American people. They want us to hate one another.
We need our police to protect us, but the bad police need to go —those who have killed unarmed people, who stole evidence, lied in court and go after people because of the color of their skin. Police should under no circumstances be investigated by other police or have other police decide their fate. Probably only 1% of police are bad, but the others lose the respect of the people because of a few.
This administration, with the help of the Republican Party, has done away with many of our regulations to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land we grow our food on. It’s all to get money from oil and gas companies to get reelected. Now they are threatening states if they don’t reopen their schools. They will cut finding. It doesn’t matter if children die from COVID-19 or not.
The debt the Trump administration, with the help of the Republican Party, has put on the shoulders of our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their children will more than likely never be paid.
DOT MURPHY
West Lebanon
The ideals of liberty as enshrined in our Constitution are as dear and paramount as ever, however, certain provisions and outcomes have, perhaps, become a liability for our republic.
This two-party system has ground us to a halt, pitting everyone against each other. Let us enlist our esteemed experts in the political science departments around the country to devise a revision that frees us from these desperate deadlocks, something along the lines of multi-party systems employed by some of our allies, perhaps.
The Constitution was never assumed to be a perfect system, and so the process of amendment was included. The office of the presidency has also become way too consuming. We have devolved into a nation that, hourly, dotes on every word of an ignoramus. Perhaps it is a commercial victory for some, but it has run amok. Again, a revision of the office’s duties is in order. Maybe an executive board sharing the responsibilities.
MICHAEL WARD
Barnard
Every day, news conferences and tweets provide evidence that Russia has found President Donald Trump useful in furthering its efforts to undermine faith in American democracy. Turns out that the “very stable genius” is the real election fraud.
ANDREW FORBES
Lebanon
History teaches us the 1918 influenza pandemic ended as those who were infected either died or developed immunity. But I suspect it had something to do with the lack of a 24-hour news cycle, and fewer conspiracy theorists.
BARRY WENIG
Lebanon
My wife and I are opposed to having Dartmouth College students return to campus in the coming weeks because of the surge of COVID-19 throughout much of this country and the world, its high transmission rates, and lack of adequate treatments or prevention.
Our community has thus far controlled the spread of COVID-19 by following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s protocols. There seems to be little room for relaxation of these practices if we are to keep everyone safe. Our community should avoid taking on additional and unknown risks while we buy time for treatment and vaccine development.
We have always felt that the town and college worked and grew stronger together, and we hope that will continue.
CORALEA and JOHN WENNBERG
Hanover
Over the many years I’ve lived in the Upper Valley, people from other towns who I’ve met have said, “Oh, I don’t go to Hanover.” Meaning: Given my status, I don’t feel comfortable there. And now there’s another reason to feel that way: the aggressive wear-a-mask signage.
How very reminiscent of the old “Beaches for Residents Only” signs around metro suburbs meant to keep Black people out. Whatever the health message, they also translate into “Don’t come here if you have any unpopular ideas that conflict the received wisdom of the meritocracy.”
So stay out, until the town tells you it’s OK to come here if you don’t have a Tesla, a trust fund and no bad thoughts.
DICK MACKAY
Hanover
So, my daughter tried to renew her driver’s license online but got a message that her picture was more than four years old, she couldn’t renew online and she to visit one of the offices.
Who thinks a picture only four years old will not identify you? Vermont’s legislators and bureaucrats. If those guys were running a business they’d be out of business. Really terrible customer service. Who thinks of that junk? People who don’t have enough real work to do.
Bah, humbug.
PAUL TIERNEY
Norwich