Letters to the Editor: Election ads on TV, unemployment help, parenting advice

Vote matters

When people hear that noise about mail-in ballots and voter fraud, ignore it. I was a voter registration clerk in the election office of one of the larger counties in Kansas. When I say we looked for voter fraud, I mean we spent significant amounts of time and resources verifying proof of citizenship, matching signatures (and we got formal training on that), checking obituaries, and cross-checking registrations in neighboring states. We found ballots submitted by people who were ignorant or confused. We found that married couples sometimes sign each other’s ballots. We didn’t find any deliberate fraud.

I’m not saying there’s no fraud. You can find lots of examples, but not lots of fraud (unless you’re getting your information from Russian bots or conspiracy theorists). And that’s because the people who work and volunteer in county clerk or election offices aren’t careless or stupid or corrupt.

Never believe your vote doesn’t count. The people who stand in line for hours because their county lacks resources or used crappy planning know this. I’ve been around awhile, lived through a fair amount of U.S. history. This is the first time I can literally say: vote, because your life may depend on it.

L. Howard, Lexington

Rosemond right

Rory Remer’s opinion of parenting columnist John Rosemond is the polar opposite of mine. While I don’t always agree completely with Mr. Rosemond, having no parenting role models, I leaned heavily on Mr. Rosemond’s advice and wisdom to raise my three children. It was simple, made sense, and, most importantly, it worked. All of my children are educated, healthy, happy, and thriving as adults and contributing to society in meaningful ways. And they were all raised with very little time devoted to handwringing and anxiety over whether their authentic feelings were being given the proper attention, as per Mr. Rosemond’s advice.

When the Herald-Leader was considering canceling John Rosemond’s column, I was a vocal opponent. Thankfully, the Herald-Leader kept the column. No telling how many emotionally healthy, well-functioning adults that one small act helped to engender. Please Herald-Leader, don’t listen to the psychobabble espoused by Mr. Remer and other modern psychologists of his ilk. Never stop this fount of parenting wisdom that is John Rosemond.

Nina Reidmiller, Lexington

Replace Rosemond

Even though I’ve raised three kids in Lexington while reading the Herald-Leader, I stopped reading John Rosemond soon after reading one of his columns many years ago. His views are just plain awful, contrary, close-minded, unsympathetic, and opposed to the moral and religious concept of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Rory Remer reminded me of my general avoidance of this column. It is time to replace John Rosemond with a family or parenting columnist who has data-supported good advice and who will help make the world a better, more understanding place.

Suzanne Zivari, Lexington

Hicks over Barr

Over the last decade, Congressman Andy Barr has complained about the “war on coal” by Democrats. He has been determined to protect high-paying coal jobs, although the 6th District has no coal mines. Why? Because Barr has received hundreds of thousands in campaign donations from mining interests.

Since President Donald Trump’s arrival, Barr has realized his dream. Regulations have been cut and EPA oversight of coal and coal power plants has been reduced. Water and air quality standards have been gutted for the benefit of coal interests.

With Barr’s blessing, the Environmental Protection Agency has reduced regulations related to toxic metals like mercury emissions from coal-fired plants. So, are Kentucky coal jobs roaring back? Nope, they have fallen by almost 43% in Kentucky during the time Trump has been in office. These ill-conceived policies have delivered us the trifecta of fewer environmental protections, fewer coal jobs, and fewer coal plants simultaneously.

This entire effort by Barr was built on the false promise that the failing coal industry could be saved simply by ignoring the risks it poses to society and giving it free rein to damage at will.

Kentucky doesn’t need another short-sighted, special interest congressman. Elect Josh Hicks for the 6th District U.S. House seat.

Peter Wedlund, Lexington

Ad shameful

I am absolutely appalled at the new political ad by Congressman Andy Barr.

I don’t doubt that Mr. Barr loved his wife and I sincerely sympathize with him and his family for their loss. I think it’s despicable, however, that he would attempt to capitalize on it for his continued employment in Congress.

I can only surmise that he has nothing else to offer voters.

His wife is not running in this election, he is. Can’t he think of any reason for us to vote for him?

Robert Betsworth, Versailles

‘Sympathy votes’

It is shameful for Congressman Andy Barr to use the tragic and untimely passing of his wife to get sympathy votes to retain his political position. I cannot imagine that any woman would want her daughters to grow up in an atmosphere of misogyny and corruption that is the hallmark of the current administration. Our hearts should go out to them, and not our votes for their father.

Sara Wellnitz, Lexington

Go after Mitch

A word of advice for Democratic senatorial candidate Amy McGrath.

I hear that Mark Nickolas was “relieved” of his duties as Amy McGrath’s manager.

I’m relieved to hear it. But he’s still “overseeing paid media”?

Judging from McGrath’s TV spots, not from a sufficient distance.

Forget Big Pharma and forget China. Sen. Mitch McConnell killed 20 million jobs. He convinced President Donald Trump to do it. In Europe, people kept their jobs and they put up $1 trillion.

McConnell spent $3 trillion (can I call him a socialist now?) and our paychecks were protected for a while. But guess what? Our jobs weren’t.

People who lose jobs don’t vote for that president. McConnell knew this would sink Trump. And no matter how he shines him on, he was the one who took the Senate on recess in April, and that’s when it happened.

Get him on that, Amy. Get him on the truth.

Jeffrey Lewis, Salvisa

Ad tricks

Campaign ads have always been used by a candidate to show either how good they are or how bad their opponent is. It’s always been that way. It won’t change anytime soon. I find it interesting in one of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s ads attacking his opponent, Amy McGrath, that McConnell tries to tie McGrath to protesters whom he says are using Molotov cocktails. But I wonder if anyone noticed that in front of the two mason jar “cocktails” there are three or four assault rifle magazine clips. No doubt red-meat slinging by McConnell to promote subliminal messaging. Mitch knows all the tricks to fire up his base even if they are lies.

Bob Sutton, Springfield

Vote out McConnell

Sen. Mitch McConnell has taken such a fiendish delight in stopping legislation from moving through the Senate. He has proudly claimed the label of Grim Reaper for this.

I wonder how many pieces of legislation sitting on his desk are needed to help the people of Kentucky. How can he say that he represents the best interest of our citizens when he has halted the consideration of legislation related to vital issues like:

▪ government spending

▪ the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement

▪an infrastructure bill

▪ a parks bill

▪ environmental issues

▪ prescription drugs

During a television interview in February, McConnell bluntly said that 395 bills sitting in the Senate are not going to be passed. He will not even allow them to be considered or debated by our elected officials.

Because of McConnell’s failure to do his job, it is time to remove him from office.

Vote for Amy McGrath to see the changes that Kentucky desperately needs.

Andrea R. Schoninger, Lexington

Fix benefits

I just read an article in my local paper stating that our governor will seek extra unemployment benefits from the federal government. Wonderful. But he should also give attention to how people are going to receive these benefits, when and if they come to Kentucky. At this time there are hundreds if not thousands of people still waiting to receive the first penny of what is due them already. Many have been waiting for months. I don’t know how some of them have gotten by. Meanwhile Gov. Andy Beshear seems to want to boast of how he’s taking care of his constituents concerning the COVID-19 problems when it seems he has very little interest or insight concerning other important issues. My state representative Kathy Hinkle and her staff have been working very hard to help, as I’m sure have the other legislators in this area, and probably statewide. But there’s only so much they can do. Beshear apparently is turning a deaf ear. Saying you’re getting money doesn’t mean much when you’re looking at bills you can’t pay due to this mess. It just bothers me when I see him on TV trying to convince the people how concerned he is about their welfare.

Tim Morris, Grayson

We need help

Tens of millions are now out of work. I am $4,200 behind in rent after six months, no way to pay for my meds, wondering how to make multiple payments on utilities, food, and other obligations. Savings are gone, retirement is gone and our elected officials decide to go home and on vacation?

Jobs! What jobs — the unemployment rate in KY is nearly 30%. I have sent nearly 200 applications and resumes. Do you know who wants to hire a middle-aged man with 35 years working experience and three degrees? No one yet. We are a laughingstock of the world. I am not socialist, communist or any kind of “ist.” But I expect our government, whom we have paid dearly in taxes, double taxes and triple taxes, to do their share until work is available and we can get back on our collective feet. I have no shame because I have no pride. Just a desire to care for my family and loved ones and not be a burden to anyone. Is there anything wrong with that? Is anybody honestly listening to the cries of those who put you in office? There are millions that are struggling, just like us. We are crying out — not for a handout, but for a hand up.

Richard Stafford, Lexington

Trump no suffragist

If President Donald Trump had been around in 1920, with the decision on whether to grant women the right to vote, Trump, with his disrespectful attitudes toward women, would most certainly have voted “no”. And, if the principled Susan B. Anthony was around today in 2020, she very likely would refuse Trump’s hypocritical politicized “pardon”. So as the women of America march to the polls this November to cast their well-earned votes, keep in mind the differences between Donald Trump and Susan B. Anthony.

Don Dampier, Georgetown