Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to [email protected]
In a July 2 BDN opinion piece, Rep. Jared Golden predicted a Donald Trump win in the presidential election, adding, “I’m OK with that.”
He said Trump is not a “threat to our democracy” and pointed to the eventual triumph of democracy on Jan 6, 2021, while ignoring the Supreme Court ruling that failed to hold Trump accountable for inciting that riot, and gives presidents nearly total immunity for their actions — making them almost like kings.
I think Golden also ignores the threat to our democracy that massive campaign donations play in dictating policy, perhaps because he is among the top beneficiaries of funding from the pro-Israel lobby. His votes for seemingly endless U.S. aid to Israel mean billions of U.S. tax dollars flow out of the country (including Maine) to support Israel’s mass killings in Gaza, despite the fact that the majority of Americans oppose Israel’s collective punishment of civilians.
While Golden says he’s focused on the people of Maine, I think his votes have protected Israel from criticism for its alleged war crimes and sent U.S. weapons to Israel even though this arguably violates U.S. law barring aid to violators of human rights. Meanwhile nearly half of Maine households are struggling to pay their monthly bills.
He also leaves out of his OpEd that Congress has done too little to stem climate change, and that the Supreme Court is undoing the little progress that’s been made.
I think Golden needs to keep his focus closer to home, and not capitulate on the election long before it’s been held.
Kristen Salvatore
Penobscot
