Letters to the Editor | July 30, 2024

It is no secret that Donald Trump (if elected) wants to remain in office forever and do away with future elections, thereby eliminating the voting process. When Trump makes statements like, “In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not gonna have to vote,” as he said on Friday at Turning Point Action’s Believers Summit — believe him. Remember what Liz Cheney said: “A vote for Donald Trump may mean the last election that you ever get to vote in,” she warned back in 2023. “A vote for Donald Trump is a vote against the Constitution.”

K. Mayes, Philadelphia

Donald Trump has a really weird sense of humor. Telling a crowd to vote now so they won’t have to ever again — that’s a joke. Letting the worst global pandemic in a century into the country while telling everyone it’s no big deal — that’s a joke. Appointing right-wing extremists to the U.S. Supreme Court so they can strip abortion rights and give the president unlimited power — that’s a joke. Lie to your supporters that an election was stolen, then sic them on the U.S. Capitol to stop the counting of votes — that’s a joke. I think I’m starting to get his sense of humor, and unfortunately, I’m beginning to see that the joke is on us.

Stefan Keller, Huntingdon Valley

Kudos to The Inquirer Editorial Board for its outstanding job of keeping its readers’ focus on what the critical choice is for the presidential election: Donald Trump’s authoritarianism is an existential threat to democracy. Through many months, it has consistently offered receipts along with its opinion that demonstrates the heightened danger Trump would be to our country if allowed a second term. Further, he has infected the entire Republican Party.

In contrast, the Democratic Party under President Joe Biden has acted in accordance with the democratic process. In addition, Democrats have created a stable government and strong economy especially beneficial to everyday Americans. The presumptive Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, would continue in the same vein. Unmatched by any other major newspaper, the board’s editorial opinions’ consistent clarion call since the start of this political season has not been swayed by the vagaries of the political moment. In an era in which the world feels at times as if it is spinning out of control, I applaud The Inquirer’s steadying force.

Beverly Hahn, Lansdale

Donald Trump doesn’t know how tariffs work. After he put additional tariffs on Chinese goods, he boasted repeatedly that China was paying us millions for those tariffs. This was totally false. Tariffs are paid by the buyer in the country importing the goods. They aren’t paid by the seller or the exporting country. With Trump’s tariffs, U.S. companies importing Chinese goods to sell here could do either of two things: They could absorb the cost, thereby reducing their own profits, or they could increase the price paid by us consumers. Since all of this happened during the same period as pandemic-related inflation, the difference would not have been so noticeable. Trump now says he’ll put high tariffs on all imported goods from all countries, which will include many foods, and result in higher prices for every American. If you want to pay more at the store, vote for Trump.

Jean A. Kozel, West Norriton

Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 200 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.