Letters: Hoping Trump will put country above ego

I am both bemused and disturbed by President-elect Donald Trump's euphemistically self-titled "thank you tour" ("Central Pa. basks in Trump's gratitude," Friday). Bemused because it appears far more to be a huge, self-congratulatory pat on his own back for his victory, rather than a thank you to the voters. Disturbed, because the tour seems emblematic of a bigger issue. Trump's ego and apparent narcissism seem to require constant adulation and praise. Like a junkie feeding his addiction, Trump may need larger and larger amounts of attention to give him the same high as before.

Trump has told us that he is who he is, and we still elected him president, so I do not expect him to magically change after his inauguration. I just hope he can find a way to put the country's interests first, before his own needs, or I fear for the well-being of the American people and our great republic.

|Ken Derow, Swarthmore

Your editorial is correct that Russia attacked us and that Donald Trump fails to grasp the importance ("Russians attacked us," Sunday). The editorial failed to mention that this attack occurred on President Obama's watch, as did the annexation of Crimea and Russian atrocities in Aleppo. Putin has no regard for our president.

|Paul Irwin, Ambler

I am not a fan of Donald Trump. I am the father of six children, grandfather of 15, and great-grandfather of two. I know childish behavior when I see it - it jumped out at me in a full-page letter to Electoral College voters (Dec. 14). The advertisement, paid for by Democracy and Progress PAC, reflected an attitude of boo-hoo, we lost and we can't play anymore. Grow up, people - you lost, get over it. Give the man a chance. Let's see where he goes and where he takes our country. After all, he can't do any more harm to this country over the next four years than we have had over the last eight.

Much criticism is being leveled at Trump's choice for secretary of state. Rex Tillerson is offering a carrot, while his rumored top aide, John Bolton, is carrying the stick. That could be a good thing. We'll have to wait and see.

|Ron Barras Sr., Hatboro, rebsr24@aol.com

Thursday's paper was full of climate-related stories showing how the incoming Trump administration is apparently poised to ignore science and sacrifice our climate to advance the fortunes of oil- and gas-industry executives ("A close ally of oil industry," "Reversal on questions of climate," "Guarding climate data"). It is unfortunate for Pennsylvania workers and the climate that the robber barons of today are his advisers - those grasping to keep the country committed to 19th-century energy sources. A transition to clean energy would provide many more good jobs than the boom-and-bust fossil-fuel economy busting in the Marcellus Shale fields.

A fee on carbon emissions would level the playing field for clean-energy sources, making the fossil-fuel industry pay for the pollution it generates, instead of using our air and water as free sewers.

|Karen Melton, Philadelphia, kmelton2020@gmail.com

When Donald Trump self-destructs, which he inevitably will, I wonder whether Kellyanne Conway will be as eager to step forth and herald her part in getting this man elected to a post he is singularly unqualified to hold ("Hometown hero cheered at parade," Dec. 11). And I wonder whether her cheering section in Hammonton will be quite as willing to speak of her with the same sense of community pride. I guess only time will tell.

|Russ Decker, Lansdale

Your editorial "Toll ignored Kenney plea" (Dec. 14) correctly notes that the well-heeled future residents of a 29-story Toll Bros. condo building along Jewelers Row will receive the city's multimillion-dollar gift of 10 years of virtually no property taxes, thanks to the outdated property-tax abatement. Interestingly, the adjoining commentary by Councilman Alan Domb pushing the consolidation and sale of tax-delinquent properties - a boon to speculators and the finance industry at the expense of the poor - deftly ignored reforming the tax abatement to generate needed revenues.

Let's start by ending the tax abatement for the Toll Bros. building and all other Center City developments.

|Jonathan M. Stein, Philadelphia

As a lifelong Bucks County resident and former chairman of the Lower Makefield Township Planning Commission, I cannot help but see the irony in the anguish expressed about the proposed Toll Bros. development on Jewelers Row. Having watched the Tolls destroy our quality of life while filling up farms and open space with unneeded developments that accelerated the exodus from Philadelphia, it is now Philadelphians who are affected by their greed and arrogance. Soon, Jewelers Row as we knew it will be gone, just like the farms and fields that once made Bucks County such a beautiful part of our region. The Tolls get richer, and we all lose.

|Dean Dickson, Yardley

It's interesting that a reader wrote that the Inquirer's opinion pages favor liberals ("Liberal bias hard to take," Sunday). I have often thought that the conservatives have received more consideration. I guess it's all where you stand. On further thought, your opinion pages in general are fairly well-balanced.

|Mary Wood, Conshohocken