Chaos of the constitutional con
Brooklyn: Anyone who believes a state constitutional convention will bring about good-government reforms and empower everyday voters is living in a fantasyland. Political bosses and members of the same old party machines will dominate a constitutional convention. They will be wined and dined by greedy corporations and deep-pocketed lobbyists. They also will get paid — even if they already are elected officials getting government salaries! That means many delegates will be double-dipping into the trough of taxpayer funds.
Convention delegates would be empowered to adopt laws that would alter the existing state Constitution, if approved by voters at a subsequent statewide referendum. Proposals that would weaken workers’ rights, women’s rights, environmental protections, retirees’ pensions — and more — could be advanced and become law.
That’s why I strongly urge you to vote “no” when asked on Election Day if a constitutional convention should be held. Let’s keep this Pandora’s Box closed. Angelo Cucuzza
Chairman of the New York State Conference of TWU of America
Gays and military good order
Manhattan: In “Once again, the guardrails hold” (column, Aug. 4), Charles Krauthammer wrote: “The military says no to Trump on the transgender ban,” and in the next sentence: “Well, not directly . . .” In fact, not at all if you factor in the way Defense Secretary Jim Mattis answered that question during confirmation hearings, which was to point out, very directly, that the military is about killing the enemy and blowing things up, not a place for social engineering experiments. All the military really or meant was that they would wait for an official order before proceeding. Trump showed great leadership in taking on this politically correct nonsense, which just takes another page from the LGBTQ field manual for winning territory in the culture wars. The gay scene has turned into a cult, and youngsters and insecure adults are attracted to cults because you get to be different yet part of a group at the same time. Diane Moriarty
North Korea’s best friend
Manhattan: If North Korea launches a test missile and it goes way off course and hits either the U.S. or an ally, then and only then will we hear from China, and it won’t be to condemn the North Koreans. It will be tell the U.S. not to retaliate because of the fallout that will drift over to China. You see, China loves the way Kim Jong Un taunts America and gets away with it. James Carroll
Keep the North’s nukes at bay
Brooklyn: Mutually assured destruction (MAD) is certainly a policy option when dealing with North Korea. If Kim decided to launch his weapons, he would make certain the annihilation of North Korea. This policy avoids a cataclysmic war on the Korean Peninsula. William Thurlow
Speak out, Nicole
Brooklyn: If Nicole Malliotakis is really serious about becoming our next mayor, she had better get herself out among the people and let us know what she’s about. Most of us have never heard of her. We are already into August, and that doesn’t leave much time for her to get her views out there. Please, Nicole, let us hear from you! We need to get that arrogant, lying, self-serving slug out of Gracie Mansion.
Christina C. Anderson
McCain’s a standup guy
Uniondale, L.I.: It was heartbreaking to hear about Sen. John McCain’s illness. I have so much respect for McCain. The senator was at a town hall meeting when a lady stood up and said Barack Obama was not born in this country. McCain went over to her very calmly and said, “That is not true. Mr. Obama was born in this country.” It is not often that the politician corrects the person that will probably vote for him, even if what the voter says is not true. We all heard citizen Trump many times say Obama was not born in this country. “I have people in Hawaii investigating and what they are finding you will not believe.” I am still waiting for the results from Hawaii, Mr. President. Geneva Hunter
Russian admission
Astoria: I admit I have gone to . . . the Russian Tea Room. If interrogated by the FBI, CIA, CBS, ABC or the AAARP or the PTA, I will be transparent. George Higgins
Donald’s disrespect
Brooklyn: So, now the Donald calls the White House a “dump.” Know your history: Is it because it was built by slaves and they were black? Now the Secret Service agents can’t use the 35 bathrooms in the place. Why? Guys, keep using the lawn outside the White House window. You’re protecting the President’s back.
Holly Goddard
White House crack down
Great Neck, L.I.: The U.S. attorney general is cracking down on White House leaks. While he’s at it, maybe he should crack down on White House lies.
Fred Feingold
Michelle’s hypocrisy
Middle Village: Our former First Lady Michelle Obama says racist attacks against her and her family cut her deeply. I guess she was OK with the racist hate against the white man that her pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, preached. You have to speak out against all racist hate, otherwise you are a hypocrite! Like the Good Book says, “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”
Michael Geraci
Standing with Kirsten
Franklin Square, L.I.: I am one of the thousands of constituents who called Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and asked her to remove her support for the BDS bill (“A load of B.S. on BDS,” editorial, Aug. 8). Being able to boycott is a critical component of the First Amendment. Ali Jaffery
Valuing the disabled
Holbrook, L.I.: To the lowlife individual who made fun of and called 5-year-old Danny DiMarco a “retard” (“Disabled boy still tormented days after senseless fan called him ‘retarded’ at Yankee game,” Aug. 4): You should be ashamed of yourself. Try having a little compassion for individuals with disabilities. You probably voted for your President, Donald Trump, who made fun of the newspaper reporter with a disability. You should publicly apologize not only to Danny and his family, but to all individuals with disabilities. (By the way, I have a sister who was born with a disability; she is loved and respected by all who meet her.) Marie DiBisceglie
Lifesaving hints
Wallingford, Conn.: Recently I’ve read in the papers and seen on TV several stories about people drowning because of riptides in the ocean. I’ve never had it happen to me but if you’re in the water and a riptide comes along, it will pull you out further. The natural instinct is to try to swim to shore, but the tide will just keep pulling you away. According to the advice I’ve seen, you should swim sideways. It may take a while but eventually you’ll get out of the riptide and be able to swim to shore. And for those of you who like to barbecue (and who doesn’t!), most people who use briquettes will soak them with fuel from a can that they can squirt with. I have been to a picnic once where the man cooking the food wanted to make the food hotter. So, he stood about 3 or 4 feet back and squirted more fuel onto the fire. Well, the fire followed the fuel line all the way up his arm to his shoulder and right side of his face. He was very badly burned and has scars on his face RON ANTONELLI/BLOOMBERG to his day. So, everyone, please be careful and let the coals get white hot before cooking.
Barbara Boucher
Dangerous powder
Bronx: Listen up, ladies! On Megyn Kelly last month, there was a story on how Johnson & Johnson baby powder may be connected to ovarian cancer. The company never put a warning on the label because it wants to make money. They even got a lawyer to defend the company. I had heard the same story last year and stopped buying the powder. My last Pap smear showed that I’m doing fine and I want to keep it that way. It’s important that all women stay away from Johnson & Johnson baby powder.
Doris Festante
Don’t stop thinking about. . .
Flushing: The theme of the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair was “The World of Tomorrow”; it beautifully provoked the desire to see what might come next. But the world since, especially and presently from Russia, China and Washington, has taken the performance completely out of context. I now wonder, really, what the World of Tomorrow will be like? Now, my friends, that was 78 years ago. In 78 years — 2095, what then? Note: Almost one century has gone by and the World of Tomorrow looks pretty dim (except for the medical and technological advances). Sorry to think this way, but we all have to do something — fast.
Charles J. Lercara