To the editor:
Our country is in trouble. We seem to be locked in a war that shows no sign of ending. Even if the war ended tomorrow, Iran will end up in a stronger position than when the war started – due mainly to its newfound ability to dominate the Strait of Hormuz.
The Republican Party has long claimed to be the party of fiscal discipline. That discipline has evaporated. Our national debt now exceeds our GDP, a situation not present since WWII. This threatens to erode international confidence in the dollar. Those in power seem to believe that the solution to every economic challenge is to cut taxes regardless of what it does to the balance sheet. We are now witnessing widespread turmoil due to redrawing congressional districts. This is being done purely to shift political advantage to one party or the other. There is almost complete disregard for basic concepts of fairness or good government.
The President’s insulting approach toward our allies has driven many of them away. Two of our long-term allies, Canada and Britain, have recently signed trade agreements with China. Respect for the US around the world has plummeted, foreign tourism to the US (especially from Canada) has declined substantially and Canada has shifted a number of defense contracts from US producers to European suppliers.
We have a president who is using every available opportunity to enrich himself and his family. Instead of discussions about budget and foreign policy, he repeatedly promotes his glitzy gold-plated ballroom.
Our politics is broken. Instead of serious bipartisan discussions about how to improve the dilemmas facing American families, the focus is on raising money and getting reelected. This behavior violates the very basic requirements of democracy.
We are in trouble.
Tom Dean MD
Wessington Springs
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