THE STEAL DEAL
To the editor, Trump the ‘dealmaker’. It’s time to think about that. In his first consulship Trump raised tariffs on China so they stopped buying US soybeans. The US taxpayers forked over a compensatory payment to US farmers larger than the Obama bailout to save the world economy after the 2008 Republican fomented crash. In his second consulship Trump raises tariffs on China again and they stop selling us rare earths. Now the Salvador Dali of deal-making lowers the tariffs and the Chinese are buying and selling again. For a year, until the mid-term elections. (Xi hoping for a return to sanity by the American voters?) Anyway we have Trump taking victory laps (how soon before he builds a Triumphal Arch in D.C.?) for cleaning up his own diaper overflow.
Then there is this big promise of Japanese investment— 500 Billion? But what does that mean? Does it include last summer’s purchase of a U.S. Steel plant? They had already made an offer on that. They plan to spend a bunch on modernizing the facility, presumably to make it profitable (why couldn’t or wouldn’t U.S. Steel do that?). That upgrade will probably include more robots and AI to run them. Makes you wonder how many of the steelworkers who groveled around Trump’s swollen ankles and imported shoes will still have jobs after the rebuild. The Japanese have plenty of other factories here, and can buy more, that probably need improvement too. Construction workers may benefit; line workers may not.
Sell off the country to foreign investors while our tech oligarchs drift around in the gold-lined Cloud and overcharge us for the electric bill. MAGA.
J S Byram Milan, NM
God Bless Veterans
Dear editor, Northwest New Mexico is home to a large population of men and women who have bravely served our country. Our community is proudly patriotic and deeply grateful to each of these individuals.
It has been my distinct honor to represent our local vets and their families in the New Mexico House of Representatives since 2001. For over two decades, I have continuously fought to ensure that our vets are treated with the respect and honor they deserve and have access to all the services and resources they have earned.
During the recent special legislative session called by the Governor to address federal funding cuts, state lawmakers protected food assistance for the 15,000 veterans across our state who rely on these benefits. We also worked with the Governor to provide emergency food assistance during the federal government shutdown.
Over the last few years, we have increased tax exemptions for armed forces retirement pay and on property taxes for our veterans, invested in suicide prevention and mental health resources for service members and veterans, and built a new state-of-the-art State Veterans’ Home.
Still, we know there is much more we can do for those who served our country so courageously. We all have a role to pay in making sure our veterans receive the proper respect and appreciation for all they have sacrificed for our nation.
So, this Veterans Day, I encourage you to thank a veteran you know, or consider volunteering with or donating to one of the many great organizations that support those who so bravely protected this great nation that we’re blessed to call home.
Patty Lundstrom