Barr, Comer help shield the least transparent administration in history | Opinion

Transparency

U.S. Reps. Andy Barr and James Comer, both R-Ky., and others often praise the Trump administration for being “transparent,” as if open wrongdoing (such as accepting an airplane from a foreign government) makes the conduct less wrong. But it doesn’t: a bank robbery committed in broad daylight is still a bank robbery.

More fundamentally, there is nothing transparent about the administration’s refusal to release all of the Epstein files; refusal to release the Sept. 2, 2025 video of two survivors on a Venezuelan speedboat being hit by a second strike in international waters; refusal to allow the full Jack Smith report of the Mar-a-Lago document case to be made public; refusal to release or share evidence with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension concerning the killings of American citizens by federal agents; and refusal to make their agents stop hiding behind masks. This is not a complete list of what this administration is deliberately and wrongfully hiding from American citizens, every day, with the help of Barr and Comer.

The only thing “transparent” at this point are Comer and Barr themselves. Kentucky voters can see right through them, and deserve better.

Anne Chesnut, Lexington

Selfish interests

Encouraging fear, hate, distrust and anger toward others in this country and beyond produces greater social conflict, justified by individual rights devoid of responsibility or obligation to others. When everything is about “me” and not “us” society becomes divided by self-serving interests over social needs and cooperation. We are driven not by the hopes and dreams of our collective future, but by selfish interests and objectives.

Cases in point: control Greenland for “national security;” start a war with Iran with no coherent justification; and impose tariffs on every nation. Does alienating nearly every country friendly to the U.S. seem smart?

We’ve witnessed the U.S. Department of Justice weaponized; USAID and Voice of America dismantled; major functions at the U.S. Department of Energy and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau scaled back to nothing; and vaccine mandates eliminated.

The major legislation passed by Congress last year didn’t improve U.S. infrastructure, address healthcare or tackle social problems. It simply doled out tax money and increased the deficit.

Should we support such actions by re-electing the very individuals in Congress who failed to find anything wrong with such self-serving efforts or any interest in addressing it? Some Representatives haven’t just embraced this destructive behavior but advertise their support for more of the same in their political messaging.

Peter Wedlund, Lexington

Tax revenue spending

$1-2 billon a day for the Iran war. $4-6 trillion for previous wars of Afghanistan & Iraq. Yet, the federal government and states like Kentucky won’t legislate universal health care, or affordable Medicaid, or public school tax increases for all children/teachers. Do we need a change in lawmakers on the federal and state levels?

Then there’s President Donald Trump who does whatever he wants as President. He’s destroyed federal agencies with muscle memories of career workers, and picks on Democratic states like Minnesota, while choosing leaders in GOP states who will attempt to destroy voting as we know it.

How has this happened to the leading democracy? It’s age-old, like 250 years. The U.S. started with white men sick of a king, who attempted to give us a new way of governing, The problem: they soon controlled the power, money, and for too many, the slaves. Today, our original problem has again morphed into white male power with corporatism and Christian nationalism.

Citizens need to vote – vote out the dead(ly) Republican Party!

Ramona Rush, Lexington

Campaigning for office

An open letter to Nate Morris and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky.: You have made it clear in your campaign ads that you have endorsements and friends in high places. What is not mentioned are your plans and goals to benefit the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its residents.

Campaigning is similar to a job interview with potential voters. Being friendly with the boss and deserving the job doesn’t inspire confidence in your abilities. Performing the duties of a U.S. senator should be more than occupying a seat in the Senate chambers.

Showing up with a rubber stamp is not representation.

Cheryl Keenan, Lexington

Keep Daylight Savings Time

I am tired of people discriminating against old people.

Now, some idiots want to end Daylight Savings Time in Kentucky. Old people don’t like getting out after dark, which means that old people have to get home earlier at night, which would keep my wife and me from spending money. I won’t go downtown anymore, because you have to pay to park at night, and you have to use a credit card on a parking meter. Even some restaurants require that you have a degree in computer science to pay your bill after you eat.

I know some old people stay home, never go out, and will die on their couch, but we will live longer if we remain active. Some politicians don’t want us to do that. If you agree with me, please share this. I doubt if we can talk any sense into these politicians, but we can vote them out of office.

Steve Demaree, Lexington

Wag the Dog

Prior to the current U. S. war against Iran there was clearly extensive consultation between the Trump administration and that of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There was none with the U.S. Congress.

If ambiguity can be created about the sole role of Congress to declare war by simply renaming the action a special type of military operation, there is no doubt that the Constitution never envisioned a foreign tail wagging the dog.

T. Kerby Neill

Donovan benefits

According to a recent opinion article in the Herald-Leader, Ky. State Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, sponsored Grinch-inspired legislation restricting Donovan scholarships. Why would anyone target a program good for the mental and emotional health of seniors?

Apparently, his thinking is none of the recipients are working. Really? No one over 65 who has to work would benefit? I lean toward anyone who has to or wants to work past 65 should get a financial break.

I will be 78 in about 6 weeks, and I am auditing a Physics class and taking a Trigonometry class. Did very well in both more than 50 years ago. I wanted to see if I still have the brain muscle, and I do. I compete just as hard as the students who are required to take the courses. The homework and the tests are not easy, and I get frustrated at times. Tipton may not worry about the mental acuteness of seniors, but I certainly do. The physical requirements of travel and walking to classes are a bonus.

Closing, my memory of the Grinch movie includes a phrase where it says the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes. One can only hope, Mr. Tipton.

Bennie G. Patton, Berea

Caregiver support

When you hear about a 90-year-old CareGIVER, you might assume the 90-year-old is the one receiving the care.

If that’s what you’re thinking, you’d be wrong.

Recently, I worked with a family where a 90-year-old parent was still the primary caregiver for an adult child with developmental disabilities. There were no formal services in place. No long-term supports. No outside help.

For decades, the family had simply figured things out one day at a time.

What made this situation especially striking is that the disability service system didn’t even know this family existed. They had never connected with it. And they are far from alone.

Across Kentucky and in communities like ours, there are aging parents in their 80s and 90s quietly supporting adult children with disabilities at home without a clear path for what happens next.

Most of the time, these situations remain invisible until something forces attention — a hospitalization, a sudden health crisis, or the loss of the caregiver.

We need to start talking about it now — helping families understand what resources exist and encouraging conversations about the future before a crisis occurs.

Samantha Harrison; Founder, Momentum Family Strategies, Florence

Edited by Liz Carey