Readers sound off on money in politics, N.Y. public land and a mother's pain
Western Springs, Ill.: Finland is rated the world's happiest country for the eighth straight year. The United States has fallen to 24th, its lowest-ever position.
Country rankings were based on answers people gave when asked to rate their lives. 'Happiness isn't just about wealth or growth — it's about trust, connection, and knowing people have your back. If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other,' said Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, one of the study's conductors.
Investing in good education and health care for everyone is where the U.S. has plenty room for improvement. However, our political system is dominated by billionaires and corporations that often have different, self-serving priorities and are able to make unlimited political contributions. One billionaire or corporation can buy more political speech than tens of millions of ordinary people combined. Elon Musk contributed more than a quarter of a billion dollars to influence the 2024 election. He recently contributed millions of dollars to influence a Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Should any one person have this much power and influence — so much more than anyone else? Unlimited contributions were permitted by the Supreme Court's 5-4 precedent-overturning 2010 Citizens United decision, with the five justices in the majority appointed by Republican presidents.
If we want to end the dominance of billionaires and corporations and get government to work for everyone, we must replace big money in politics with public funding of election campaigns, which is working well at state and local levels at nominal cost to citizens. Richard Barsanti
Bronx: Re 'Suffocating NYC tourism' (editorial, April 7): Of course the Daily News Editorial Board would like to blame President Trump for the decline in NYC tourism. I notice there was no mention of some recent news stories that went viral on social media. Do you not think a video of someone being set ablaze or shoved into the path of a moving train would give people pause? Or maybe the lines of illegal immigrants lining up for housing in Midtown hotels? How about police being assaulted in Times Square? This is what suffocates tourism, and it's New York's progressive leadership that's to blame. Chuck Shannon
Brooklyn: Just imagine a situation in which a U.S. president wanted to intentionally crash our stock market and then buy into it at its lowest point in order to amass a fortune for himself as it rises again. Could that be happening now? Yes, you can call me paranoid. David I. Goldstein
Oceanside, L.I.: A prime-time address by Trump to reassure the nation is much needed. Tony Giametta
Patchogue, L.I.: Just wondering when the people of this country are going to wake up to say enough is enough about the circus in Washington and demand that their Republican members of Congress stand with Democrats and represent their constituents, and not rubber stamp everything the felon in chief asks for. This man and his co-president Elon Musk are destroying our government from within and the Republicans are sitting there fat, dumb and happy, letting them get away with it. They have the power of the purse. It's time they remember that. If they're not going to do their jobs, maybe they should be fired and Congress should be eliminated. I wonder how much money that would save. Lynda Welsh
Brooklyn: I hope some of the MAGA men and women who voted for Trump who lose their jobs and can't support their families think twice before voting for stupid Republicans like Trump, and stop believing them. And mothers who have children with disabilities when the Department of Education is closed down and some of their schools are closed — where are they going to send their children? Maybe then they will stop supporting the Republican Party. And why should we have the world's richest man telling the president what government jobs to cut? Let Musk go to Germany since he supports the right-wing party there. David Glassner
Howard Beach: He has been in office 79 days. He has played golf 21 times. It costs $173,000 per hour to operate Air Force One. It has cost you and me $26 million to date for him to play golf. He will reach the total cost for his golf in the first term, $156 million, before the end of the year. Considering how little time he is actually in the White House doing what he said he was going to accomplish, it is amazing how much damage he has done to this country. Ed Sullivan
Northport, L.I.: Aside from being the only state that ends in a 'k,' New York is different from the other 49 in its absurdly cumbersome process of acquiring land for public use. We're five years behind in protecting watersheds and forests and establishing parks and recreation areas. Instead of using title insurance like the rest of public and private real estate transactions do, New York requires a full title search that can take years to accomplish. This is a stick-in-the-mud approach when the public needs more trees, grass and clean water. Gov. Hochul and the state Legislature must reform this overly complex procedure so the state can get to the business of ensuring our environmental future. Douglas Schmid
Manhattan: I got a letter from the MTA about switching from a MetroCard to OMNY. It took a long time to get through to a person at the phone number they gave me. The phone number is only for info — you can't give them your credit card number to start an account with OMNY. You have to do that on the internet, which many old or poor people do not have and don't want to put their credit card number on since a library computer is too public. Please send us a letter soon with a phone number to call to start an account. S.D. Rosenbaum
Howard Beach: Am I correct to assume that Miriam Yarimi should be charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of the young mother and her children? Jean Novak
Rochester, N.H.: Re 'French pol: Return the 'Lady' ' (March 18): The News needs to brush up on history, because France, dragged us into the War of 1812 — on the losing side, supported the South and invaded Mexico during the Civil War, needed us to save her at the proverbial last minute in 1918 and liberated her in 1944, was rebuilt by us after World War II with the Marshall Plan, left us a mess in Southeast Asia in 1954, and dropped out of NATO in 1966. All things considered, no blow against France would be low enough. And if you start ciphering, she owes us a heck of a lot more than we owe her. Bernardo J. Figueredo
Brooklyn: I am the chaplain-rabbi at Haym Salomon Home for Nursing & Rehabilitation. Many of our residents and staff read the Daily News daily and are shocked at equating the Palestinians and Hamas with Israel. One must understand that if the Palestinians dislike Hamas, there should have been a revolution to topple that regime. One must understand that there is no balancing act when Hamas launched a genocide on Oct. 7, 2023 and continued with another genocide against hostages still ongoing. Chaim Baruch Wechsler
Brooklyn: On Feb. 3, an op-ed written by Destiny Haggett ('The city that never sleeps soothes my heartache') was printed in the Daily News. I was so overwhelmed that I had to respond to her beautiful words. Ms. Haggett, as I sat having my morning coffee, tears quickly filled my eyes as I read your loving words for your adoring son Chansen. So eloquently written, I could feel the love you shared. Whatever time I have left here on Earth (I'm 98), please be assured that Chansen and your family will be in my prayers. I will treasure this article. It tells me that there are loving and caring people still in the world. Blessings to all, and praying for a better and peaceful country. A. Ferrara
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