LETTERS

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Take a look at curriculum

Regarding the comic in the Dec. 19-26 issue by Ruben Bolling that showed Trump being ruled by Putin/Russia:

If you’ve been paying attention, you will know that we’ve been using the Russian model (also used in China) of education since 2010, here called Common Core, so this made me laugh.

It seems fine if a public-schooled eight-grader has no idea what nine times eight is, or how to do long division, and is told what to think and how to think it (especially regarding history).

I’m not talking just here in Traverse City or surrounding areas, I am talking nationwide. I know of one mom (from Indiana) whose daughter is 14 and wants to be a veterinarian, but will not be able to take zoology in high school because her test scores showed she’d do better in another career. This is one mom, from one school, but it’s happening everywhere.

In Michigan, it’s called the P-20 system (prenatal to workforce). They are dictating to her what she will do with her life. We’ve just been going on with our lives, like there’s nothing wrong with it. This is how they do it there, folks. They don’t want smart kids, they want kids who do what they are told, without question. Now all of the sudden we’re worried about Putin. 

I’ve been worried. Nice to see you all come on board. Maybe take a second look at your child’s curriculum, in detail, and maybe start talking to other moms and dads in other places about their public school experience to see what is really going on. That is all.

— Kelley Vilenski, Interlochen

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When will we ever learn?

If we are to become better humans, we must come to grips with the reality that war does not solve conflicts. The U.S. has blood on its hands for endless wars of aggression around the world, and now the saber rattling against Russia and China is accelerating.

As one line in the Pete Seeger song goes, when will we ever learn?

Will we ever learn not to glorify the military? We can honor veterans and still abhor war. Will we ever learn to define and address problems created by the greed of arms dealers, the love of power, and narcissistic ideas of exceptionalism?

Will we ever learn that weapons of war are not entertainment, that they are used to kill and maim real people, including defenseless women and children?

Will we ever learn to listen to the needs of others around the world, to share, and to cooperate?

Will we ever learn to walk in each other’s shoes, to learn and appreciate other cultures?

It is only through education and diplomacy, empathy and understanding that we will ever find peace.

— Ann Rogers, Traverse City

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A pox on our Democracy

In a few days, we witness the inauguration of a president and the installation of a first family. I will accept neither. For people who say, “Get over it, move on, let’s work together, all unite,” I say blah, blah and blah.

Be a resister. Here’s what we are getting: a misogynistic man lying about almost everything; a man who is vengeful (he would like to sue the press — to hell with the First Amendment); a man with no boundaries, a crotch grabber who makes fun of the handicapped; a shameless, despicable, amoral person who surrounds himself with similar types. 

We are getting a first lady soft-porn artist with whom the magazine industry will have a field day, a son who likes to shoot large animals while they are standing still, and a daughter who is wiggling her way into the first lady’s job. 

We are losing a president who made our country a better, safer place to live. A man who made good decisions: He saved GM and Chrysler; created health care for 30 million people; supported marriage equality and other laws Republicans wouldn’t touch.

He is a charismatic man of integrity and high moral standards.  We have a gracious and involved a first lady who should be the envy of her detractors. Add two wonderful, intelligent daughters and we have a model first family.

This election was a pox on our Democracy. We need to fight the incoming cadre of questionable Trump nominees. How do we do that? We keep the investigations and information flowing on these people. Support your local media. Renew subscriptions, advertise, and write articles and letters to the editor. A free, accurate and fact-based press stands between us and fascism.

— W.D. Bushey, Elmwood Township

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We should be so lucky

Over the last eight years the Dow more than tripled, 11 million jobs were created, and unemployment fell below 5 percent. Energy production rose to a new high. Gas prices fell. The auto industry was saved. Bin Laden was killed. Illegal immigration fell. Thirty million more people got health insurance, and people with pre-existing conditions got coverage. And the deficit was substantially reduced.

There were some missteps, too. We should have done more in Syria, though exactly what isn’t clear. We should have done something to reduce the number of foreclosures. The Affordable Care Act startup was messy, and some premium increases on the exchanges have been too large. And the economy grew at a relatively slow annual rate.

Policy issues aside, the Obamas behaved admirably. There was no self-dealing. There were no scandals. Barack and Michelle are terrific parents. Obama never traded on fear and loathing. He released his tax returns. He never praised dictators, mocked disabled people, bragged about grabbing women by their privates, or issued angry tweets. 

Overall, Obama got some important things done — despite congressional gridlock — while comporting himself with tremendous class. 

We should be so lucky for another four years.

— Tom Gutowski, Elmwood Township

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Pain for the middle class

How are a group billionaires with their personal agendas going to represent middle-class, working Americans?

Consider Trump’s pick for head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt. He is a denier of climate change contrary to 97 percent of climate scientists. Betsy DeVos, his choice for secretary of education, has a history of opposing public education. If Trump’s secretary of labor bulldozes the National Labor Board, there goes workers’ rights and the right to organize unions freeing corporations from rules that prohibit discrimination in hiring, paying, promoting and firing workers.

With new tax cuts for corporations and the super-rich, the budget for human needs will “take a hit,” and our national debt will skyrocket. Deregulation of corporations will encourage more pollution of the environment. Trump’s senior adviser, Steve Bannon, is an extreme conservative, and his website trades in conspiracy theories.

The pick for secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, is opposed to the Affordable Care Act. How long will it take to replace it — months or years? The Republicans are willing to throw 20 million families under the train when they repeal the Affordable Care Act.

They have no new plan to help those families. The pain in part will fall on those rural Americans that voted Republican who will lose their health care and can’t afford the higher premiums.  

Corporate America will more likely defend its cash cow with little or no concern for those families that depend on the lower premiums and tax credits that they receive under Obamacare.

Because of our election system, a minority of angry Americans chose Trump, and he gives Putin, former head of the KGB, a pass over those who have been dedicated to serve America. 

If this is making “America Great Again” — for whom?

— Ron Dykstra, Beulah