Letters to the editor, 11/21

Today's talk radio would have slandered FDR

With another anniversary of Pearl Harbor, we might reflect on the politics of 1941 for some perspective on today. In the spring of 1941 a conservative movement called America First rallied at Madison Square Garden to rail at President Franklin D. Roosevelt for supporting Great Britain against Adolph Hitler. Then, with the attack on Hawaii, Roosevelt called upon Americans to sacrifice: to drive less, drive more slowly, save rubber and collect and donate rubber and other household materials to the war effort. Of course, we won the war.

But if talk radio existed then with the conservative rhetoric of today, Roosevelt would have been accused of being an imperial president, defying Congress and lawlessly violating the Constitution. He would have been called the "liar-in-chief" for aiding Great Britain, and accused of subordinating America to Europe. Living a millionaire's lifestyle, FDR would have been called a hypocrite for asking citizens to sacrifice and insensitive and disengaged for vacationing at Saratoga Springs while our boys were dying abroad. His political party would have been demeaned as the "Democrat" party rather than properly respected as the Democratic party, and he would have been belittled as a cripple.

Unlike those of the past, today's sneeringly cynical conservatives know no rhetorical limits. They will do anything and say anything to have their way. It is hard to imagine America prospering, then or now, with such destructive conservative opposition.

K.J. Walters

Monroe

It's time for Republicans to govern, not obstruct

I believe John Curzio's well-written letter needs some fact checking. It is a myth that the Keystone XL pipeline will create thousands of jobs. Energy costs are already at a long-time low, thanks to government support of energy production and efficiency.

Mr. Curzio might have been too young to confront Republicans on governing when a key group of them made a pact, on the night of the first — yes, the first — inauguration of President Barack Obama, not to support him on anything. We can only conjecture about underlying attitudes prompting this approach to governing.

I agree that it's time for Republicans to govern, not engage in constant obstruction at all costs while being jerked around by extremists. Tax reform has already been put on the table. It is time to address immigration reform, which most Americans support, and continue the positive trajectory which has been shaped by the current administration.

Maybe Mr. Curzio hasn't noticed the best economy in years and the steady recovery from the Great Recession. To be fair, Mr. Curzio, a self-described teenager, may have been less aware of some issues due to his age. However, I applaud his political activism and hope he will influence others in his generation to take an interest.

Nancy Keenan-Rich

Poughkeepsie

Campaign's robocalls, mailings were sickening

In the Nov. 7 Journal, there was a column written by Larry Hughes: "I voted, so quit calling already!" and it hit every nail on the head — from the horrible phone calls to the expensive mailings, etc. From what I could see, read and hear, every one of the candidates would "preach" about what their opponent could not do and what they could do, like run the country one-handed. It was sickening.

Anyway, Mr. Hughes' column was excellent, and I hope others got to read it. On Nov. 6, a letter writer from Wingdale wrote "Politics is dirty business, and voters suffer." It was a great letter. I hope everyone got to read that.

By the way, I did vote, of course!

Connie R. Coons

Pine Plains