DEAR EDITOR:

You are voting against your own best interests if you vote for Donald Trump!

Just recently he said that he will stop funding Social Security. He is actively pushing “his” Justice Department to legally derail the Affordable Care Act and coverage of pre-existing conditions — during a pandemic, with no plan for a replacement. Trump Republicans claim that the Democrats want socialism or communism. (Not true — democracies in developed countries guarantee health care and have forms of social security.)

Donald does not empathize with the common people. He gave huge tax breaks to his big-business millionaire and billionaire friends. He did not properly vet the mostly rich and inexperienced members of his cabinet and administration. Judging from the scandals involving them, they, like Donald, only care about enriching themselves and their families. Trump said he would drain the swamp in Washington. Instead, he has filled it with sewage.

Trump disbanded the Pandemic Task Force early on in his term. The Obama administration had put together a binder of information and procedures in the event of a pandemic. Did Trump’s people just pitch it? Because of the inept way he has handled the pandemic, our economy is in shambles and tens of thousands are dead.

Donald is fixated with dictators. He wants to be yours. He offends our allies and fawns over people like Putin. (Example: He never questioned Putin’s reported bounty on our soldiers.) He and Barr are destroying the rule of law. He commutes sentences of his convicted friends.

Trump is desperate to win. He is willing to destroy the U.S. Postal Service to stop mail-in voting. He makes up lies that the election will not be fair and honest if there is mail-in voting.

Donald does not listen to scientists. He calls climate change a hoax. Another four years of his slashing environmental protections will be disastrous. California is an example of what is coming to the entire country. Oceans and temperatures are rising. Fires are raging.

Vote as if your life depends on it. It does. If this man wins another four years, our democracy, way of life, and possibly the earth, are doomed. The rest of the world used to look to us as a beacon on the hill. With Trump as president, they can only pity us.

BECKY MURRAY

Canfield