Letters to the Editor (Jan. 27)

Build something besides wall

We all know another shutdown is coming because Congress refuses to admit that building a border wall is a waste of money and resources. I believe we should be building fewer walls and more tables, as Christ suggests, but if you aren’t a Christian, please realize that it will not solve the problem you perceive. If you believe our system is flawed, reimagine it. A wall is not reasonable immigration policy for a modern nation in a global economy.

Immigrants help our country and make it better even though the government does not. Please address the issues of the pragmatism and economics of a border wall including the huge initial costs, which could be used for other underfunded programs (Medicare, Medicaid), as well as continued costs well into the future. It would be a blight on international conversation with Mexico, our neighbor and close ally.

For the love of American ideals, please shutter this plan and create something new, if something must be done at all. A wall is not new foreign policy and it won’t be good foreign policy in a future global economy. Let’s tear down borders, not build them.

Together, not apart

I believe instead of a wall, we should build a table. Everyone bring a dish and have a big potluck dinner and celebrate peace, love and unity.

Trump’s tax returns

The Dec. 22 Opinion page article “In another country, we call this corruption” seems to believe that the transparency of making President Trump’s tax returns public would allow the Washington Post, Congress and others to uncover all the illegal things Trump is doing. While I expect the returns would show that the president is neither as wealthy or successful as he claims, I don’t think that exaggeration, which he regularly does, is a reportable crime.

Is it reasonable to assume that others could do a better job of assessing illegalities than the IRS, especially since they apparently have audited him and his businesses over the years, making deviations from our laws harder to disguise? The IRS is obligated to report any possible crimes to the Justice Department, including collusion. Need I mention that Congress (OK, its Republicans), which the Post says wants to evaluate Trump’s tax returns, wrote the recently passed tax reform plan, not the president. Is it likely that they wrote it to just help the president, as the article suggests?

Committing to parenthood

If I were the Life Czar, I would require every male and female who starts to make a baby first sign an official, iron-clad contract to be good parents for the next 18 years — their little one’s babyhood, childhood and teen years.

I’d require a pledge to be present, loving and supportive. Both would need to agree that they will start and nurture a healthy, responsible, independent offspring. Life deserves to start with the commitment of parents.

That’s not what pro-life wants.

This story was originally published January 27, 2018 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (Jan. 27)."