Mathys criticism of Torres Small is off

IN HIS op-ed column printed in the Journal on April 29, Chris Mathys, Republican candidate for N.M. Congressional District 2, shows himself to be, well, misinformed . ...

He calls Rep. (Xochitl) Torres Small a “Socialist Democrat.” ... She is, in actual fact, a moderate to conservative Democrat. As a progressive, I often object to her votes. He also faults her for not traveling the state while Congress is staying at home because of COVID-19. Now why would she risk her staff, people who would attend any functions she held or herself during this time when everyone has ceased traveling? In fact, she has held numerous telephone town halls.

Mathys complains about being able to buy pot — that would be medical marijuana, a needed drug — and liquor only at a store that also sells groceries but not being allowed to go to a gun store. The gun store is not essential. Nor, of course, is the liquor, but it’s there at the pharmacy or grocery store, places which are, in fact, essential.

The people who think gun stores are essential businesses mostly already own enough guns to protect their families, attack family members and show off at Open Now protest movements . ...

And, finally, I don’t know what socialist countries Mathys was deployed to when in the Army, but the few socialist countries — they are also democracies, with elected governments — in the world, places like Sweden, Norway and Denmark, have employment records equal to the best the United States has ever posted. There is no disincentive to working just because you have quality free education, medical care for all and support for the unfortunate in your society ....

Mathys says he stands with Donald Trump, and I do believe that. Both men display constant reliance on opinion, rumor and hyperbole instead of facts for their arguments.