DEAR EDITOR
Does anyone actually believe U.S. Congressman Jason Smith? I’ve tried to get through several of his columns, but once I get into them, I have to double-check the byline, thinking I’m reading something by Karoline Leavitt or some other misleading mouthpiece for the White House.
In his March 5 column, he told us that “America is safer, more secure, and more prosperous under Trump’s leadership.” Safer for who? Certainly not everyone. Minorities, political opponents, former government officials, lawyers and the press are being targeted. Democracy itself has never been more threatened than it is now. Protesters are being shot, maced, tear-gassed, beaten and arrested. ICE has killed U.S. citizens, arrested citizens, jailed citizens and ignored due process that’s guaranteed by the Constitution. We now have the equivalent of Nazi Germany’s concentration camps, only we’ve renamed them “detention centers.” More than 3,800 children have been caged in them, and at least a dozen have died. Plus, since Trump first took office, school shootings have risen 750 percent, and the fatalities 465 percent.
More secure? More isolated is a more accurate description. Travel warnings to the USA have officially been issued by France, Germany, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Australia — hell, even Canada. Canada! Home of some of the nicest, easiest-to-getalong- with people in the Western Hemisphere. Immigration is down because who wants to live here now? And the guy who promised no more wars just started what could be World War III at the cost of $1 billion a day.
More prosperous? Again, for who? Trump and his family have profited an estimated $3.4 billion in cash and gains, another $1.2 billion from crypto, and the total valuation so far is $9.7 billion. Our billionaires’ wealth has increased 22 percent, lining their pockets with another $1.5 trillion. Meanwhile, grocery, energy, health insurance and now gasoline costs have risen substantially.
This Jason Smith guy, like our president, must believe we are incredibly stupid, that we’ll swallow anything he says.
This week, March 12, he’s telling us that “America is leading from strength under President Trump’s leadership.” Bullhockey. His foreign policy is the laughingstock of the free world. He kidnapped the president of Venezuela and his wife. Where are they now? He stole a two-day supply of oil and thinks he’s a hero. It’s chaos in that country now.
He started what could be World War III in the Middle East. Gasoline is way up. It’s 65 cents a gallon more than last month here in Montana. Trump refuses to own the bombing of an all-girls school. One hundred seventy kids, from age 7 to 12, were slaughtered by a U.S. Titan missile. On top of that, 20 minutes later he sends in another missile to kill rescuers. There’s your American values you voted for, not that I’m expecting accountability from any of Trump’s supporters. That ship has sailed, people.
Jason Smith, many of us aren’t stupid. Many of us don’t appreciate being spoon-fed propaganda. Most of us can read. Many of us can think for ourselves. And if Supreme Leader allows us to vote again, it won’t be for you. Paul Flentge Montana Subscriber
Paul Flentge, Montana Subscriber
