To the Editor:

Reposing the questions asked in Mr. Tolmie’s letter to the editor last week [“Elections really do have consequences”], I give my honest opinions on the following questions:

— Are you better off, or worse off, after two years of Democratic leadership in the House, Senate and White House?

Absolutely better. The general level of anxiety and fear, which were caused and exacerbated by Republican derision have decreased. In addition, I am very grateful for laws passed during the past two years that I know will have long-term, positive impacts, such as COVID relief, infrastructure, climate change, manufacturing, gun regulation and prescription drug prices. This is not to say I am free from worry about inflation. Of course inflation is having an impact on so many, including my parents, who live on fixed incomes. But inflation is transitory, and, in this case, caused by factors outside the control of our political leaders;

— Has the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan improved your lot?

For me, personally, the answer is no, although the actual withdrawal was chaotic and heartbreaking. It was important to withdraw our troops. We made the decision to go there based on faulty information and had been there too long. Former President Trump set the date for withdrawal from Afghanistan, and it was important to show the world that we follow through on our word. Our world standing does affect me and my grandchildren in the long term;

— Have you benefited from President Biden’s orders to restrict oil production?

I would argue the whole world has benefited, as Biden’s policies restrict issuing new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters, and reducing oil production is a key component of protecting our climate. We have waited too long to address cli- mate change, we cannot wait any longer.

A secondary question is: “Has there been any direct impact on oil prices since Biden’s executive order was issued to restrict oil production on public land?” There hasn’t been. The oil and gas companies are sitting on over 9,000 existing permits that they have yet to act on. Per a Forbes article a year ago, oil companies have been stockpiling permits, and some have more than four years’ backlog of drilling inventory on public lands. Per the article, Stacey Morris, who is Director of Research for midstream index and data provider for Alerian, said, “The headline looks scary, but we don’t see any immediate impact from these executive orders. For those who are worried about your gasoline prices going up, this is definitely not the reason.” Gas prices are increasing because of the war in Ukraine, and because the gas and oil companies are stockpiling record profits rather than continue to increase production;

— Does Russian dictator Putin seem to be responding productively to President Biden’s leadership?

Putin has never responded productively to anyone’s leadership. If befriending Putin in any way is viewed as positive, I suppose you could support that tactic. But being supportive of an open act of aggression against a neighboring democratic nation is not what I would consider “productive” in our current world order.

I wonder what the Republicans would do if they were to be in charge? Leave Ukraine alone to its own devises against a superpower like Russia? And then what? Do we let all democracies fail because we want a good relationship with Putin or other aggressors? Per a recent article in The Journal of Democracy, “As long as citizens in free countries exercise their democratic rights to elect their own leaders and set their own course in domestic and foreign politics, Putin will keep them in his crosshairs”’

— Has your life improved by the “defund the police” movement or bail reform?

Again, this has not affected me directly, and I do not support defunding the police, but I have to admit, some of the cases we have seen of unconscionable behavior by a few police have definitely warranted a very close look at the screening, hiring and disciplinary policies of our police departments, which I believe is happening in earnest across the country, a good thing. Bail reform, I see both sides of this issue and am glad it is undergoing a second review;

— Has OPEC’s decision to reduce oil production, in opposition to President Biden, been helpful?

Although OPEC claims their decision was based solely on the economics of their countries, I’m curious to know how it would have been handled differently? Would a different administration have negotiated differently, and at what cost and for what concessions from the US? Just curious;

— Inflation.

I think I responded to this. What are the policies and laws that would have been enacted to curb inflation had another administration been in office? According to Fortune Magazine, the three main causes of the 2022 inflation are that the pandemic caused people to buy more goods than services, and as a result companies couldn’t keep up with demand; that factory closures caused reduced supply, so de- mand and prices rose; and, that the war in Ukraine caused increased prices in oil, manufacturing and shipping, and wheat and other commodities;

— If you return the same political party to office, will they change their policies?

I certainly hope not. The real question is what will happen if a different political party takes control of the House, Senate and White House? To me, this is the real question. I honestly fear for our country and democracy if the Democrats lose some level of control. I also fear that a change in political parties will further restrict voting rights in the name of “fair elections,” that increased judicial appointments will further restrict women’s and civil rights, and that an increase in authoritarian rule will forever diminish our democratic freedoms.               

I have close family who are staunch Republicans, with whom I honestly try to discuss and understand their points of view, and sometimes we actually find common ground. I understand that some people feel they can overlook personal failings, because generally policies they favor are being enacted. But there has to be a line. Truth and facts have to matter.

Records indicate that former President Trump told over 30,000 lies in office, not the first President to lie, but certainly never in history has a President lied to the nation at this level. Mr. Trump’s biggest lie has been to perpetuate the fallacy that he won the 2020 election, and then to proceed to orchestrate an effort to remain in power predicated on baseless allegations of voter fraud.

In addition, he instigated an insurrection to stop the congressional vote for a peaceful transition of power to the duly elected new administration. He has so divided the country with his rhetoric that he has nearly brought the country to civil war, and he has normalized not only lying, but hate and violence among his supporters, while also embracing wild conspiracy theories among MAGA followers.

My Republican friends, many of whom would never vote for Joe Biden nor any Democratic candidate, I implore you, if you honestly do not believe that former President Trump and his followers are who you want to lead this nation, nor represent us to the world, nor be the leaders we want our children and grandchildren to emulate, then please, consider having the strength of conviction to not vote for them in this and future elections.

I am an avid supporter of voters’ rights, a fundamental guarantee of our Constitution, but in this case, is it not better to be silent than to support those who could place our democracy in jeopardy?

Kristin Casey

Altamont