DEAR EDITOR:

Victor Davis Hanson’s column, “Progress in US booms now that common-sense leader serves,” published July 30, steers clear of the most concerning particulars of our “common-sense leader.” First, the seditious J6 mob and their pardons. Mr. Hanson is scholarly enough to know that when perpetrators of crimes, especially serious crimes, are not held fully accountable, it sends a dangerous message that the consequences for attacking law enforcement are not severe, potentially emboldening others to commit similar acts of violence. Seeing someone get away with a crime can make people feel like the system is unfair, leading to a sense of entitlement to engage in similar actions.

Second, basing judicial decisions on political partisanship or ideology rather than principle is not how the courts retain respect and legitimacy.

Third, our “leader” is eroding the system of checks and balances adopted two centuries ago that has proven to be the most successful form of government in history. Fourth, the politicization of the military’s top ranks.

Finally, in light of our “leader” trying to be the media’s editor-in-chief, Mr. Hanson must have forgotten his own words from his book The Dying Citizen: The duty of a journalist to the citizen is to stay neutral and disinterested and to report the truth, at least as it can be determined by testimonies, evidence, motive, and common sense — without concern for whether such reporting injures or aids a particular politician or agenda. Otherwise, the citizen has few sources of reliable news by which to form an independent opinion on any issue — and thus to participate in democracy in an effective manner.

KIM R. KOTHEIMER

Poland