Dear Editor:

Pundits have asked, “Am I better off today than I was four years ago?” “Absolutely!” My retirement accounts have doubled in five years. My annual salary has risen. Wage gains and home ownership are up. Household wealth outpaces income and has lower debt burdens. The country always does financially better under a Democratic administration (Economic Policy Institute, 2024).

Yes, inflation and interest rates are high, but have been higher in the past. We can do better, but tariffs, as proposed by the former president, are, “Costly taxes and poor tools for boosting the economy.” (CATO Institute, 2024) How could I possibly vote for Harris / Walz, without using, “I hate Trump”, as my primary motivator? Easily! The Biden /Harris team’s accomplishments have been many. They passed the American Rescue Plan, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act, PACT Act for vets, lowered drug costs, covered more with health insurance, and expanded NATO. Their policies have created 800,00 American manufacturing jobs.

This election isn’t about the Democrat or Republican Party. I would vote for a head of cabbage before I would cast my vote for the former sociopathic, narcissistic, president. The cabbage would do less harm. The convicted, twice-impeached president would like to end the Department of Education, become an isolationist country, conduct massive deportations, attack political enemies, deny climate change, establish an anti-LGBTQ policy and work against clean energy initiatives. I’m sure he’ll be surrounded by the best people. Like half of his former Cabinet who won’t support him., including his former Vice President. I know, everyone against him is a RINO, communist, Marxist, socialist, liberal-leaning left-wing wacko. He can always depend on the backing of dictators like Putin, Jinping and Orban. When will he realize, “You can’t fix the world if all you have is a hammer.” Ask yourself, can I willingly cast my vote for a convicted sexual abuser, xenophobe, racist, misogynist, bully, liar, grifter, Covid mishandler, election denier and insurrectionist? I hope not. That this pathetically small man and convicted felon is still a candidate is sad? I’m worn out from being told about an America that doesn’t exist. I will be casting a vote for the successful lawyer, prosecutor, attorney general and vice president, Kamala Harris. Not the petulant, senile, old guy spewing a bunch of bull at whomever is naive and willfully ignorant enough to listen.

JOHN DePIETRO

Boardman