Trump's pardons, federal shutdown, 50-year mortgages

Pardons show who gets Trump’s justice

What must be understood about President Donald Trump’s pardons is that all are equally bad in the sense that all flow from improper motives, from personal whim and greed to outright malice [“Pardon us, but this is too much,” Editorial, Nov. 11].

Former Met and Yankee Darryl Strawberry was grateful for his pardon and probably deserved it, given his exemplary post-conviction life. Strawberry’s pardon, however, apparently had little to do with his good works but more because Trump had been a fan of his.

Jonathan Braun, with connections to Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, is no different, pardoned for being on the right side of Trump and on the wrong side of getting subpoenaed. That “this is too much” was evident with clearing all the Jan. 6 rioters, but it’s not too late for outrage.

These en masse pardons broadcast an announcement to all election officials and poll workers that the “spoils” will be distributed and that crime, on Trump’s behalf, “is no vice.” They serve as advertisement for recruits in MAGA’s battle for oligarchic dominance. Despite opinion polls, Trump offers amnesty; “too much” indeed.

— Brian Kelly, Rockville Centre

How can anyone complain about who Donald Trump pardons when we saw widespread, sickening, and questionable pardons by former President Joe Biden? Why did he pardon people who weren’t even convicted of anything? That should raise many questions about what they did, but the answers have not been disclosed.

— Karl Wilhelm, West Babylon

Christopher Moynihan was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries [“Pardoned D.C. rioter arrested,” State & Nation, Oct. 22]. On Jan. 20, Moynihan had been pardoned by Donald Trump for attacking the Capitol. Moynihan will likely be convicted and sent to prison.

Apparently, all a criminal needs to do is say he supports Trump and his conviction will be overturned. Trump likely sees Jeffries as a criminal because he is a Democrat, and therefore, he is the one who belongs in prison, not Moynihan.

— Phyliss Grodofsky, Merrick

The editorial says, “Now, Donald Trump is pushing the issuance of get-out-of-jail-free cards as personal favors to a whole new level.” Yes, Trump shows favor to friends. On the other hand, is this not a dictatorship filled with fear, silencing those who tell the truth?

Many people are becoming numb to the laws that Trump is breaking. All these pardons he is handing out were never intended by our nation’s founders.

— Margaret Admirand, Port Washington

Victory tastes sweet for those who still eat

So, the Republicans “won” the shutdown. The federal government will open again without the main point of contention, the Affordable Care Act subsidies, being extended [“Falling flat on ACA demands brings heat on Schumer,” News, Nov. 12].

The promise of negotiating and voting on this issue in December is laughingly insulting. Charlie Brown is again fooled by Lucy’s holding the football. Millions of Americans will be priced out of their health insurance, but that’s not an issue for the GOP. Every person who dies because they couldn’t afford health care is on their heads.

And how did the GOP achieve this win? By threatening and then delivering on the threat of cutting off SNAP payments [“Top court extends SNAP funds block,” News, Nov. 12] to some 42 million Americans, most of whom are elderly, disabled, or children.

The president of the United States went all the way to the Supreme Court to be allowed to do this. Maybe that should have been the headline, because it’s exactly what happened.

How far have we fallen as a country that it wasn’t on the front page of every newspaper?

— Rosanne Manfredi, Ridge

It was pointless for Democrats to express frustration by blaming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for failing to get modest health care cost relief in the bill.

Republicans were never going to accept that, and Democrats eventually knew that, providing votes to end a damaging shutdown. And that’s no surprise because for decades Democrats largely have supported the general population, not imperialist control.

— Steve Bard, Hauppauge

A 50-year mortgage is bad for homeowners

President Donald Trump’s plan for a 50-year mortgage is a bad idea [“What Trump pitch could mean on LI,” News, Nov. 12]. Sure, it will benefit banks, which will charge a higher interest rate and collect hundreds of thousands of dollars more in interest over the life of the loan.

But it would not be good for homeowners, who will save a pittance in monthly payments and in most cases never pay off their debt. It will turn a homeowner into nothing more than someone forever leasing their house from a bank.

— David Ardam, Commack