Trump failed to plan for Hormuz impact

Trump, in his infinite wisdom, failed to take into account Iran’s closing of the Strait of Hormuz where 20% (one-fifth) of the world’s supply of oil passes through this narrow bottleneck daily.

How will the world react should this oil spigot be shut off? The immediate effect is a price jump at the pump from less than $3 a gallon to almost $4. Where it will finally settle at nobody knows.

The long-term effect on food prices due to the loss of agricultural related oil based fertilizer will take much longer.

How does “our” president respond to this crisis? He encourages the oil tankers to chance a run through the drones and mines of the 20-mile-wide strait. He also will release 100 million barrels of oil from the strategic reserve in hopes of stabilizing the current oil price hike.

His vaunted air defenses will protect U.S. and allied bases, but not oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The 100 million barrels is a drop in the bucket of what is needed.

He is faced with either claiming the war was a success and withdrawing or committing “boots on the ground,” repeating the failures in Vietnam and Iraq.

SAVE Act is designed to suppress voting

The so-called SAVE Act is one more step in the systematic assault on democracy. The act is a remedy in search of a problem.

The act purportedly is intended to ensure only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections, already required by law.

In reality, it is another tactic to suppress the vote by eligible and qualified American citizens.

Numerous studies have shown that the instance of non-citizens voting or attempting to vote in federal elections is extremely rare. As documented by numerous thorough investigations, in no election have the insignificant number of fraudulent or improper votes had the remotest affect on any election.

Studies have shown that the actual effect of this act will be to discourage lawful voters of being able to vote.

The documentary proof of citizenship requirements are a significant obstacle for millions of Americans and will result in creating onerous obstacles, leading to disenfranchising them.

It appears that the people promoting this act of voter suppression are afraid of democracy and letting certain demographic groups of citizens to vote.

The party leading this effort is the same party that participated in the worst attack on voter fraud in our history: the attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, aka Big Lie.

That effort was led by the current president, who led a vast conspiracy to fraudulently change the results of the 2020 election. That massive effort of voter fraud culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Insurrection and attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Responsibility for war belongs to Trump

Trump owns the war with Iran. Iran posed no immediate threat to us. His various reasons for it don’t pass muster.

It was another impulsive act by Trump with no plan, no preparation, no Congressional approval, no presentation to the American people. He acts lawlessly because he has immunity granted to him from the Supreme Court and from the Republicans in Congress.

At least 13 of our soldiers have died and over 100 have been injured so far. To NBC, Trump said, “We expect casualties with something like this – but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world.”

At the solemn ceremony in Dover for six of the fallen, Trump wore a campaign golf cap, failed to bow his head and fist-pumped as he departed. His heartless disrespect for members of our military is shameful.

He lied about the United States bombing a girls school in Iran. Senseless killing of innocents means nothing to Trump. During his lifetime, he has refined his ability to dehumanize most people on Earth. Even the ones he supposedly likes, he’d throw under a bus in a second if it benefited him.

His dangerous lies about this war continue to cause havoc throughout the world’s economy and threaten the peace and safety of people around the globe.

Despite his lies to the contrary, there’s no end in sight. As Trump’s war gets worse for him, he’ll start the blame game. Likely suspects: Obama, Biden, Kimmel, Colbert, Fake News, anyone but him.

Use robots for gas leaks, not firefighters

I wish the fire department had robots that could be sent in to turn off gas leaks or smells in people’s houses instead of real human firefighters.

We need every human firefighter we have.

Councilwoman failed to take responsibility

Good neighbors take responsibility for their actions. When they make a mistake, they own up to it and make it right.

I’m troubled by the video footage following Hudson Common Council President Margaret Morris’s car accident, where she struck a local business.

The video shows the business owner calmly asking Morris for her information. Instead of exchanging information, Morris waves him away and crosses the street.

The March 5 Register-Star described it in the front page article, “She seemed a little bit out of it.”

Morris left the accident scene for coffee. She left the business owner to call the police and have an officer track her down.

She told the officer, “I checked my bumper, and there is no damage, so I don’t know what the issue is.”

Her assessment of her own vehicle was inaccurate — the officer noted her car’s bumper was damaged. More importantly, Morris’s view of the accident disregards the potential harm it caused to others.

As the person with the most legislative power in Hudson, Morris’s actions will have profound effects on all of us.

This incident raises a question: Are these the actions of someone who considers others and demonstrates accountability?

We must remain vigilant to ensure our elected leaders always prioritize the well-being of all.

Stefanik has time left to be responsive

I received a reply from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

It was on congressional letterhead. I was shocked.

I had emailed my concern about healthcare issues in March and here was my reply, in March. Only it was a year later!

I had all but given up on hearing any acknowledgement after voicing my concerns about doctor suicide, the nurse shortage and insurance in March of 2025.

For some reason, her office felt the need to reply to me a year later.

Why? Her reply was on healthcare but nothing about my concerns.

I would recommend she spend her remaining time in office in a productive way. Not listening to the concerns of your constituents and replying a year later is useless.

Use this year to support us and leave a positive legacy. You have considerable work to do in that regard.

© The Leader Herald