In addition to destroying democracy, Trump and RFK Jr. want to destroy our health | Opinion

America’s health

I never fully appreciated the important role our government plays in my own health. Now it seems our government, under President Donald Trump, actually threatens my health—and yours.

Significant federal funding cuts led by Trump have been made in medical research. Important research on cancer and vaccines has been canceled. That is research you or someone in your family and mine might benefit from in the future.

Cuts will likely mean reduced services at some hospitals and health care centers; some will close. Millions will be without health care insurance.

Unfortunately, we have at the helm of the Health and Human Services Cabinet, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a crusader against vaccines and a supporter of medical conspiracy theories. His threat against public health last week became even more clear as the guardrails began to slip off. The director of the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) was fired after one month on the job because she refused to rubberstamp Kennedy’s policies. Then three leading officials in the CDC resigned in protest.

This week, I must search out a pharmacy, if there is one in Kentucky, willing to administer Covid vaccines in the midst of the shake up at the CDC.

Mary Lynn Collins, Frankfort

Destroying democracy

With breathtaking speed, President Donald Trump has put in motion actions to destroy 250 years of sane and measured American governance. In only the first one-eighth of his term, Trump has frightened, extorted, threatened, and generally intimidated the military and most other executive branch departments within government. Even the legislative and judicial branches now bow before him, including Congress and, most alarmingly, the Supreme Court.

What about the civilian realm? The president continually bullies the business world, law firms, higher education and many other sectors, most of whom now cower and yield to him, even to the point of paying him large amounts in monetary tribute.

The president has effectively sacked or emasculated most or all executive branch inspectors general who could slow or halt his most egregious and/or illegal attempts to weaponize government. He has thus effectively written himself a blank check to do as he pleases without regard for laws. I am actually afraid that the United States has already tipped over the edge into what is an authoritarian state.

Is it already too late to halt the overt destruction of the legacy of Washington and Lincoln and our international respect? Let us hope not.

Arthur T LaBar, Richmond

FCPS budget shortfall

I am a conservative, and a staunch supporter of public schools - many of which are shooting themselves in the feet. Demetrus Liggins as Kentucky Association of School Administrators Superintendent of the year? Wow. What does the superintendent on the bottom of the list look like? Too many power-hungry people are permitted to seep into organizations supposedly to educate our future generations.

The Fayette County Public School Board needs to take charge. A $16 million budget shortfall is totally unacceptable! That money went somewhere! Who got it? Where is the state Department of Education? Looks like time for more oversight. In the private business world, someone would be demanding a Receiver or Trustee. Fraud? Maybe. But gross negligence and mismanagement for sure! Too many people in over their head!

Another talking point gifted to voucher proponents, home school advocates and the vast divide between elite private school students and the rest of our population.

Anyway, have fun celebrating Liggins’ achievement!

Fayette County Public school leadership, get it together or get out of the way!

Robert Murphy, Wellington (no relation to FCPS School Board Chair Tyler Murphy)

Turmoil in DC

President Donald Trump has sent over 2,000 National Guard members to Washington D.C. under his allegation that it has one of the highest crime rates in the nation. Actually, the city with the highest crime rate in the nation is Memphis, Tenn., in a Republican state, according to the website SAFEANDSOUND SECURITY. Wonder why, if he is so interested in people’s safety, he didn’t send the Guard there? Matter of fact, of the 20 cities listed on the website, Washington D.C. is not even on the list. Neither is Chicago. What could Trump’s motivation be by this action? Do I even have to ask that question?

Unlike Trump, I served in the Kentucky National Guard for seven years. The vast majority of these 2,000 Guard members have jobs back home that they have had to put on hold. Being gone for this long, one has to wonder how this will affect their jobs and their families for that matter. Trump cares less about the military members he calls suckers and losers. He cares less about the citizens of D.C.

This is merely a million-dollar-a-day photo op for him. And it’s just starting.

Bob Sutton, Springfield

ICE actions

In her August 28 op-ed, Kate Reilly Brinkley asserts that the cruel and illegal behavior of ICE agents is not a Republican or Democratic issue. Of course it is.

The ruling party — Republican — has relinquished its governing responsibilities and refuses to uphold the rule of law. That’s why unidentified masked men with no warrants or legal authority are able to grab people off the streets and put them in detention camps.

Before we can “write the next chapter of our democracy,” as Brinkley urges us to do, we have to confront the truth of how we have come to the brink of losing our democracy altogether.

Terry Gabbard, Versailles

Republican voters responsible

Many people who voted for President Donald Trump were aware he is an habitual liar. They knew he had a reputation for not paying contractors for the work they did for him, and that many companies had to file for bankruptcy because of it. Several never recovered. They knew Trump has been lying about his properties’ worth for decades. They knew there is substantial evidence that Trump is indeed a sexual predator.

Trump has proven to the world that he is a racist who hates the LGTBQIA community and women. Look at what he’s doing to some of our nation’s cities, and to our African American Museum in Washington, D.C.! He’s trying his best to erase my people’s accomplishments.

WHY? Grocery prices are skyrocketing instead of going down. Climate change initiatives are being dismantled. Thousands of crops are withering away on their vines. Millions of people are losing their ability to feed themselves and to heal themselves. They are losing their housing assistance in a country where half of us can’t afford to pay what corporations are asking for rent.

This is what half of Americans voted for. People normally avoid untrustworthy individuals. It was detrimental to vote for an untrustworthy person to be our president.

Yolanda Averette, Lexington

End of democracy?

With Trump in office for 9 or so months, no one seems to be terribly upset that our Democracy is slowly and insidiously being replaced by an autocracy of idiots! Ok, maybe we are very upset, awaiting the mid-term elections. By then it may be too late! Everyone in the larger cities, such as Washington DC, LA and possibly Chicago, have been saying the troops are not necessary. It seems to me the placing federal troops in these cities for no reason is the precursor of martial law.

If Trump’s administration falters (or if Trump attempts a third term), he will have set the stage to declare martial law and will definitely be the total dictator that he really wants to be!

James Ware, Lexington

Edited by Liz Carey