Dear Donald Trump - family separations are extreme cruelty: New Mexico echo

A humanitarian echo opinion published in the New Mexico newspaper the Roswell Daily Record.

ROSWELL, NM -Throughout history immigrants have proven to be one of our many assets in making the USA the greatest nation on Earth. The focal point of the Trump campaign was his irrational fear and contempt of foreigners, and he has continued this xenophobia throughout his presidency. That Russell Scott, or any person in the world, would ask for further examples of Trump’s xenophobia is beyond me. There is simply nothing more than Trump’s own comments I could offer as an example.

As a parent, grandparent and great grandparent I think a government-endorsed policy of separating kids from their parents legally seeking asylum is extreme cruelty.

Previous mass deportations were during periods of economic stress and high unemployment so there was some justification for the motives. Herbert Hoover during the Great Depression*, and Eisenhower during the transition from a war-driven economy to a consumer-driven economy. That both were failures should have served as a lesson for all future generations.

The solutions are simple. (Although the solutions are not "simple", I understand Mr. Grogan's intention is to establish consistent policies and enforce employment documentation.) We need to recognize the immigrants coming here are legal under both U.S. and international law. History has proven they are overall an asset, not a problem.

Workers are coming here with the knowledge that there are employers who will hire them. The solution is to hold the employers responsible for verifying the legality of their employee, and providing the workers some form of legal permission to work.

The bad guys are the drug dealers supplying the drugs to satisfy the appetite of our drug users. Our drug war is a dismal failure. We have spent trillions, and drug use has actually increased. It is time to try a different approach.

As a solution we should try treating all drugs as we do alcohol. Tax and regulate the sales, and use the revenue for the betterment of humanity like treating addictions, healthcare and education.

To continue wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on the failed policies of the past is insane.

John Grogan,  Roswell

* America’s Forgotten History of Illegal Deportations

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the U.S. carried out a wave of unconstitutional raids that affected as many as 1.8 million people. 

Democracy in danger - echo opinion from Roswell New Mexico

I have a real fear our democracy is in extreme danger. An echo opinion letter published in the New Mexico newspaper Roswell Daily Record. 

We have a president who displays the mentality of a grade school playground bully with an incredibly limited knowledge of the real world and virtually no respect for our constitution. 

In fact, the Trumpzi tax cuts to the wealthy, his tariffs and trade wars and his mass deportation of undocumented immigrants are all failed policies of the past. 

These policies along with his ignorance of foreign affairs, and his disrespect for our long-time allies, likely ensure his MAGA (Make American Great ugh) will be one of the greatest failures of our nation’s history. (MaineWriter- in fact, America no longer trusted by our allies).

Our vice president Pene believes he is God’s chosen to lead the great American Theocracy. 

Pence’s position of vice president has made him the de facto leader of the Christian Reconstructionists. 

Reconstructionists want to dismantle our present government in order to establish a social order based on Old Testament Law. 

Their views would more closely resemble those of the Pharisees of the Old Testament, and even Sharia Law. 

I shudder to think if Trump is impeached Pence will be our president Our Republican-led congress has sold out to the corporate and special interests of their wealthy contributors. They seem to be more concerned with protecting their status and power while having little regard for the lives and welfare of the middle- and lower-income earners. Both in the preamble, and in the first paragraph, Article 1, Section 8 of our Constitution, it clearly states to promote the general welfare of our citizens is one of the main functions of our government. 

Nowhere do I find any reference to promoting the general welfare of corporate America at the expense of the middle and lower income earners.The Republican party of Eisenhower that I joined in 1965 no longer exists. The majority of the base are hardworking Americans who are responsible members of our society. They are good people, still active and are usually die-hard members who will remain in the party until they pass away. Unfortunately a growing number are the extremists of our society.

I am truly concerned for the world we are leaving our future generations. It certainly will be vastly different than what my generation experienced.

John Grogan
Roswell