20 hours Ago
Rewriting historyRe “What made America great in the Gilded Age” (Other Views, March 29): The opinion column is another rewriting of history by the Heritage Foundation, an organization that conceived Project 2025 in the course of advancing the agenda of the billionaire set in opposition to America’s middle class.The writer is especially venomous toward progressivism, the same progressivism responsible for the 40-hour workweek, overtime, health benefits for workers and paid vacations, while inspiring a stronger democracy and healthier capitalism.According to him, progressivism is at fault for jobs being outsourced overseas.
He completely ignores the fact that offshoring increased during former President Ronald Reagan’s time in office even as small businesses were crippled. That stemmed from Republican tax policies instituted during the Reagan administration.Before that, corporations received large tax breaks for building factories and other infrastructure in the U.
S., which helped keep jobs here at home. But with tax restructuring, that common-sense incentive all but disappeared.
Additionally, the huge personal tax savings enjoyed by billionaires allowed an increase in their purchases of stocks, which gave a competitive advantage to international corporations, eventually driving small businesses bankrupt. The middle class diminished as small businesses dissolved.The writer brazenly condemns the 32nd president, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, for expanding the power of the federal government even as he praises President Donald Trump, who is now obsessed with expanding the reach of his own personal power. You’ve got to wonder how much money there is in telling the lies billionaires want us to believe.Gary Ollila, ChesapeakeGet outsideTrump derangement syndrome (TDS) is a real thing as is evidenced in this space, which has become an echo chamber for the afflicted.
Whelp, there’s nothing for it; no pill, no shot, no nothing.My advice to the mentally burdened: Turn off the hate news, the hate talk shows. It’s spring; get outside and do something.
No, I don’t mean burn down a Tesla dealership.Sam Jackson, Newport NewsWhat are we getting?Do you support President Donald Trump’s policies? What are you really getting? Is this the right way?Immigration and deportations? Consider the deportation of Venezuelans accused of being gang members; they received no due process, have no recourse or representation and are now in jail for perpetuity in another country. This is a violation of our principles as a nation and shows the true colors of this administration — unrestrained, undisciplined and unconcerned about either law or humanity.
Maybe you don’t care about illegal immigrants’ rights, but who can support this treatment of human beings?Better, smaller government? Career civil servants have been summarily dismissed, given bad performance reviews, and had their work labeled as fraud and abuse. Trump fired inspectors general and has disabled the structure that previously looked for waste and abuse. It was replaced with a rampaging group of DOGE employees.
How can we even know what Elon Musk is doing with the personal data seized?National security? Our allies are alienated. The military command is hollowed out by the removal of professionals and replacement with inept loyalists. Our leaders are careless with security and more interested in doing high-fives.
Cheaper groceries and a better economy? Clean air and water? Law and order? Free speech? Think of another benefit you hoped to get from Trump. What are we really getting? Republicans hold the House and the Senate, and conservative goals could be pursued in proper fashion.Robert Neece, YorktownI wonderWe are currently losing thousands of federal jobs.
I wonder if the present pain we endure will become our future joy, with a smaller government and lower taxes.Norman H. Slagle, ChesapeakeSign up for Viewpoints, an opinion newsletter.
