In defense of Trump
Professor Ralph Martire's column ("Trump is sinking America," Jan. 14) is so one-sided that the biography at the end of the piece that he is the executive director of a "nonpartisan" think tank, seems rather dubious.
Where to begin? He states Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies, disregarding the fact that the convictions are being appealed and many legal experts believe they will be reversed.
As for legal justifications for the “invasion” of Venezuela and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: There are no American troops fighting in Venezuela, and the government remains intact, making it difficult to conceive of this as an invasion. And might the possible legal justification for the capture of Maduro rest in the fact that he was an indicted drug dealer and persons who have been indicted are subject to arrest?
Martire questions the military strikes on boats. President Barack Obama used airstrikes and drone strikes hundreds of times, even targeting an American citizen.
Martire questions tariffs, noting they have only brought in $250 billion. It has only been nine months since the tariffs were announced. And the professor disregards the billions in promised investment in the U.S. by foreign companies and governments — triggered by the tariffs.
He complains about the tax cuts "for the rich," but I don't know many rich folks who benefit from no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security.
Martire complains about slow job growth, disregarding the widely reported negative and revolutionary effects of artificial intelligence on jobs.
Turning to economic growth, Martire ignores the fact that gross domestic product grew 4.3% in the third quarter, and according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s GDPNow model, that growth will exceed 5% in the fourth quarter.
Finally, Martire questions how anyone can justify supporting the president. Might justification come from Trump closing the borders and the beneficial effect that has on governmental resources, prices, demand for housing, health care, food, education, etc.? Also, there’s:
- Increased military recruitment
- Freeing the hostages held by Hamas
- Bringing peace to conflicts around the world
- Deporting criminals who came to the U.S. unlawfully
- Negotiating deals with pharmaceutical companies to reduce drug prices
- Reduced gasoline prices
- Persuading NATO members to pay more for their defense
- Targeting Iran’s nuclear program
And the list goes on, all in less than 12 months.
Julius L. "Jerry" Loeser, Gold Coast
Financing for home repairs ‘out of reach’
The term "housing crisis" tends to conjure an image of young first-time homebuyers priced out of the market, but even many longtime homeowners, especially seniors and lower-income households, are struggling more to maintain safe and habitable homes. Roofs leak, furnaces fail and electrical systems age. These are not luxury upgrades, but essential repairs; yet access to affordable financing is out of reach for many Chicagoans.
New research from Woodstock Institute reveals that as demand for home improvement financing has surged, denials have outpaced approvals for almost everybody in Chicago and Cook County. Loans under $75,000, typically used for essential fixes like roofs, HVAC and aging-in-place modifications, are the hardest to get. In Chicago, only 1 in 5 first lien applications for loans under $75,000 were approved, and approximately 1 in 3 for second lien applications.
Unsurprisingly, the burden is not equally shared. Black and Latino homeowners face denial rates of approximately 60% and 50%, respectively, for subordinate loans in Chicago and Cook County. White applicants were the only group whose approvals exceeded denials. Mirroring Chicago’s long history of segregation and disinvestment, many South and West Side neighborhoods especially have older homes, lower incomes and limited savings to pay for repairs.
The longer lending activity falls short, the more Chicago’s aging housing stock will continue to deteriorate. Nearly half of occupied homes in Cook County were built before 1960. Beyond the immediate challenges this cycle creates for individual homeowners, the lack of repair financing affects entire blocks and neighborhoods, feeding into an all-too-familiar cycle of depressed home values, neighborhood decline and housing instability for current and future homeowners, threatening wealth-building opportunities.
Preserving safe, affordable housing requires action using the many tools already available. Lenders can expand access by offering smaller-dollar loan products and partnering with community development financial institutions. Public agencies can scale repair assistance programs and streamline access to grants and low-cost loans. For example, the Fix Our Homes Illinois campaign is working to fund repairs for low-income seniors and train local contractors.
In a city where renters already outnumber owners, losing more owner-occupied homes to disrepair will only deepen housing insecurity. Ensuring access to financing for essential home repairs is not just about homeowners. It is about protecting and building Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Serrater Chapman, director of applied research, Woodstock Institute
Trump rejects Venezuelan opposition leaders
When the guy that we kidnapped from Venezuela for committing criminal acts (what an idea!) lost the presidential election in 2024, he refused to leave office. I wonder where he got that idea.
The man who won that election, Edmundo González Urrutia, was forced to flee and live in exile in Spain.
María Corina Machado, González’s ally and opposition leader, was banned from running against Nicolás Maduro and was living in hiding until last month, when she escaped to go to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. A prize that somebody here feels is rightfully his. Instead, he was awarded a soccer trophy, and he’s still mad about that. He expressed his dissatisfaction, and not coincidentally, refused to back Machado to run the country after Maduro was “removed.“ He said that she’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect within the country (go figure).
She even offered to share the award. There are a few problems with that scenario:
- The Nobel Peace Prize Committee voted and selected Machado, and not him, for good reasons.
- Some are simply not satisfied if they have to share anything with others.
- The committee made this announcement: “It cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time."
He’s never going to back her. Instead, he posted his looming mug shot with the caption "Acting President of Venezuela." Perhaps in jest. Perhaps not. But this is not a joking matter. First, you remove someone from office and then post a picture of yourself as a replacement? That’s in bad taste and a coup.
Patrick A. McParland, East Side
ICE agents are ‘doing the shooting, not the protesters’
In view of the second recent shooting of a protester by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis and President Donald Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act and send the U.S. military to that city to “control” the protesters, it appears that Trump is missing something — the fact that it is the ICE agents who have the guns and are doing the shooting, not the protesters.
Eileen Hughes, Near North Side
Why Country Club Hills wouldn’t work for Bears
Letter writer Monica Gordon, the Cook County clerk, tells us (Jan. 12) the Bears should build their new stadium in Country Club Hills. She touts the "success" of the new SoFi stadium in Inglewood, California, home of the Rams and Chargers.
The clerk fails to mention some key points. SoFi Stadium cost $5.5 billion and was privately funded. Nowhere in her remarks does Gordon tell us where the billions will come from if the Bears build in Country Club Hills. This is a big gap in her argument, given that there is no appetite in Cook County for public funding or tax breaks for the Bears.
Further, sports economists have repeatedly shown that public funding of sports stadiums never pays off with the economic benefits that are claimed as justification for public investment.
So I ask the clerk: Who will pay for this new stadium in Country Club Hills? And where is the independent economic analysis that justifies your enthusiasm for a public contribution to a private corporation that is now valued at $8.8 billion?
It is only the Bears ownership that wants a new stadium. The fans are happy enough with the already renovated (as demanded by the McCaskeys) Soldier Field. There is no public need.
Blaise J. Arena, Des Plaines
A nod to IU quarterback’s prayerful ways
It appears that some alumni of Indiana University are upset that the young star quarterback of the Hoosiers, Fernando Mendoza, gave thanks to the almighty for his school's success on the gridiron. Good gosh, give the guy a break. He's 21 and playing during the greatest time in IU's football history. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the team, school, alumni and fans, but a few people find reason to complain. Sure glad I was not around them when the Hoosiers endured decades of losing seasons and real misery.
John Trafny, Highland, Indiana
Let them pray, atheist says
As an affirmed atheist, I read the letter about athletes praying and praising their God in public. I disagree with the writer. God does exist. For those who believe. It is not for me or anyone else to dictate to them when or how to practice their beliefs.
No one will dictate to me how I should practice my beliefs. Clearly, in my belief system, a god who watches football or any other sport while the world continues to deal with more important issues does not exist. But religion is inescapable, so I just shake my head or chuckle at it.
I believe in the power of commitment. For those who do believe, follow the tenets of that system. In other words, practice what is preached. Be proud of living in a free society where diverse opinions can be shared, agreed with, disagreed with and debated. Being an atheist does not prevent me from respecting others' beliefs.
Rene Reyes, Las Vegas
OK to thank those who influence you
In response to the alumnus from Indiana who dislikes athletes giving praise and glory to God after victories, our country allows for free speech. For millennia, victories have been celebrated and attributing success to gods, mentors or other entities by those who feel directly influenced by the perceived help.
What fan, team or athlete will save their enthusiasm, cheers or praise in the secret of their own homes or behind doors? Not even you. If a Christian athlete wants to share his joy by praising God, he is well within his rights to do so. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name O Most High." Psalm 92:1.
Libby Lyons, Chatham
More gratitude, please
Just because one gives thanks or praise to God does not mean they believe God has imbued them with supernatural powers enabling them to be victorious. It is simply manifesting humility and gratitude. Perhaps we need more of this attitude, not less.
Michael L. Carlson, St. Anthony, Idaho