Re: “Not sure why Trump won? Here are five reasons,” commentary, Feb. 24.

As a dual U.S./Canadian citizen working in both countries for the past 25 years, I cannot let the writer’s ignorance stand. He echos the Republican Kool-Aid playbook.

1. Illegal immigration: Illegal immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than the general population. More than 50% of the construction workers in the U.S. are illegal, likewise for the food industry. As with its history of slavery, the U.S. depends on cheap, disenfranchised labour to boost its economy.

2. Inflation: Price increases in the U.S. mirror Canada’s. Donald Trump’s tariffs will exacerbate inflation.

3. Culture: Many people are unhinged by cultural upheaval. Trump exploited their discomfort by scapegoating immigrants, gays and the “other,” as a threat and not deserving.

4. Debt: Republican presidents have added more to the debt than Democrats. From Reagan to Bush to Trump, the tax cuts have never paid for themselves and only accelerated the U.S. into debt. The U.S. has a revenue problem, not a tax or spending problem. Tax dodging in the U.S. starts at the top which then justifies its widespread acceptance. Further cuts to an already impotent Internal Revenue Service is lunacy.

5. Media: Trump attacked journalists and, with the help of Fox News and trolls, flooded the internet with lies and fear. He spouts propaganda while trying to curb legitimate media like The Associated Press by restricting its access.

There are myriad reasons for Trump’s re-election but the letter writer’s conclusions parrot Trump’s false narrative and obfuscate rather than illuminate.

Paul Jorjorian

Victoria

For Americans, being embarrassed by Donald Trump is sadly nothing new, but it’s reached new lows these past few weeks.

Most concerning is his bottomless appetite for insulting our friends and embracing our enemies. His attacks on Canada are most perplexing. Where is the threat? Why destabilize an integrated economy or the closest diplomatic relations in the world?

To understand it we need only know that he is a classic bully, and like all bullies, he’s a coward. A bully lashes out at folks they think won’t or can’t fight back. Bullies want to appear to be tough.

Denmark, Panama, Gaza and Ukraine are in weak positions to resist.........

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