Letters to the editor: Trump’s approach to Iran, FCPS’ need for a big loan

Iran War

With “Operation Epic Mistake,” President Donald Trump has stubbornly dug himself a bottomless pit and he’s dragging America down with him. This is how he bankrupted six of his companies: by plunging into situations with no foresight and then refusing to quit when his strategy unraveled. Because of his irresponsible spending our deficit ($38 trillion) now exceeds our GDP. In addition to the cost of Trump’s war, tax payers are having to foot the bill for Trump’s tariffs and now, $1 billion for his hugely inappropriate ballroom, which was supposed to be privately funded. All this while gas and food prices rise; housing, childcare and healthcare become increasingly unaffordable; and we are laying off teaching staff. Meanwhile billionaires pay little or no taxes and just get wealthier.

Krisia Rosa, Lexington

Stevenson vote

We need leaders who listen. We need Cherlynn Stevenson.

Every family I talk to in my district feels it - groceries, rent, gas, health insurance. Costs keep climbing, and paychecks aren’t keeping up. People aren’t asking for much, just a fair shot.

I know Cherlynn Stevenson. We served together in Kentucky’s House, and I watched her fight, not for donors or lobbyists, but for the people. That’s rarer than it should be.

Cherlynn is a Mountain Democrat through and through - practical, grounded, and focused on results that matter to real families, like lowering healthcare costs, protecting Medicare and Medicaid, and making it possible to build a life without choosing between your health and rent.

Cherlynn invests in those around her. When she encouraged me to run for office, it wasn’t about politics - it was about believing that communities deserve strong voices speaking up for them. That’s who she is.

Washington has plenty of noise. The 6th District needs someone who listens, has done the work, and knows what’s at stake for Kentucky families.

That person is Cherlynn Stevenson. I’m proud to support her for Congress. I’ll be casting my vote for her on May 19th. I hope you will too.

Adrielle Camuel, Lexington

FCPS loan

At the Fayette County Public School Board of Education meeting on May 11, discussion included a $110 million dollar loan to cover budget shortfalls. Justification included higher gas and electric utility costs.

Ironically, the Board also took public comment on a “cost-cutting” decision to fire the school system’s award-winning Sustainability Team, which has a solid history of revenue generation for the district. Accomplishments include a stunning re-direction of $31.7 million in utility savings back to the classrooms with energy audits and energy savings initiatives. These small steps saved big dollars, while also teaching students lessons in stewardship. While the team has made other substantial financial contributions, this achievement alone should easily cover past salaries for its 16-year history, and for future decades.

Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins and the Board have answered challenges to their decision by suggesting dispersal of team functions to other departments. However, decentralizing a high functioning program with seasoned staff is historically a prescription for failure. For now, these superstars remain on standby, ready to tackle increased utility costs and other areas of waste with proven skills.

Liggins and the Board should revisit the math and reinstate this high-performance financial engine for a fiscal and educational win.

Judith Humble (Conservation Chair; Bluegrass Group Sierra Club), Lexington

Still Great???

In this primary season, there are political ads extolling MAGA - an acronym for Make America GREAT again. “Great” is defined in Merriam Webster Dictionary as “Outstandingly superior.”

In the current circumstances, the word great seems incongruous. When did the greatness happen or when should we expect it to happen? Inquiring minds want to know.

Cheryl Keenan, Lexington

Andy’s low Barr candidacy

Andy Barr has represented the Kentucky 6th since 2013. To say that his tenure has been ineffective for the vast majority of his constituents would be a gross understatement. While he has served his out of area contributors and wealthy constituents well with tax breaks, lax regulations, personal freedom reductions and deference to the greatest threat to our democracy since the McCarthy era, it has been at the expense of the hard working middle and under represented groups in the district.

To reward such poor performance with an elevation to the U.S. Senate would be a guaranty of more of the same, or worse as he would continue to pander to a corrupt president. Do not reward Andy with this opportunity. Stand up for the vast majority of Central Kentuckians who have not shared in the progress which Andy has promoted for his small but wealth supporters, and help Andy return to his law practice as a journeyman lawyer. Your friends and neighbors will thank you.

Michael Grossman, Lexington

Trump isn’t thinking about affordability

Trump says, blatantly, that he does not think about our economic hardships. That does not factor into his negations to end the war with Iran. ”I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all.” if you want “these lunatics to have a nuclear weapon … then you’re a stupid person.”

You, dear readers, are not stupid persons. I know we agree. Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. In July 2015, the Obama administration partnered with the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany and other members of the European Union to form a nuclear agreement with Iran, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of action in which Iran would reduce its enriched uranium stockpile, and the International Atomic Energy Agency was given the right to monitor Iran’s key nuclear facilities. The point was, obviously, to rid Iran of the ability to create nuclear weapons. President Obama had famously argued that the “JCPOA was not built on trust but on strict verification.

Then, low and behold, in 2018 President Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the agreement. Who is the stupid person? Now we have a worldwide crisis on our hands.