Carson insults poor by saying poverty is “state of mind.”
Poverty a state of mind? Really?
In a radio interview last week with Armstrong Williams on SiriusXM radio, Ben Carson, the head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which handles housing for millions of lowincome Americans, said that poverty is a “state of mind.” Insert irony eye-roll here, please.
Based on the U.S. Census information for 2015, it was estimated that 43.1 million Americans lived in poverty.
Carson has insulted these people by telling them that if they only had happier thoughts, they would have good jobs, a better education and access to health care. They would live in safe neighborhoods, have clean drinking water and have access to transportation. They would live in decent housing and be able to feed themselves and their families.
How enlightening to know that being poor is only in your mind. Chuck Bailey Leesburg Media distrust
Where in the media are the moral people we once believed? Where are the Edward R. Murrows, the Woodwards and Bernsteins, the Cronkites, the Bradlees — the people we believed were telling us the truth?
Now we have articles that start with an unnamed source, a highranking official, a person who was not authorized to speak, and the media report what they say as fact. The late Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee required at least three sources to verify a story before he would print it. Do today’s media require the same?
Since anyone younger than 50 just reads the headlines, the biased media will play up the headline. The Sentinel’s headline on Wednesday’s top story, “RussiaTrump team ties shook Brennan,” is a great example.
I watched the testimony, and John Brennan said that he had concerns about the ties. When asked multiple times if there was any evidence showing that the Trump team worked with the Russians, he just said he was concerned. Yet the Sentinel headline seems to suggest it was something it was not.
We cannot trust the media. George Hammer Longwood Trump probe
The Sentinel has published several letters recently defending the current president. One even said it is dangerous to investigate or challenge the president.
In fact, it would be dangerous to fail to investigate serious allegations against any current office holder. Winning an election does not bring automatic immunity from challenge or disagreement.
In the case of President Trump, we can just read his Twitter feed or the Lester Holt interview. His own words, taken at face value, raise serious questions about possible obstruction of justice. Trump’s own statements put his supporters in the position of having to characterize him as unreliable in order to defend him. An independent investigation by a professional, unbiased party is clearly necessary.
Robert Mueller as the choice for special counsel is a step in the right direction. Ethics rules (written by Trump himself ) should not be invoked to obstruct Mueller from going where the facts lead him.
Our nation’s Founders had a word for a system where officials were above challenge. They called it “tyranny.”
They had another word for people who challenge tyranny: patriot. Scott Cromar Longwood Something on your mind? Write us Send your letter with your name, home address and phone number by email to insight@orlandosentinel.com or online at www.Orlando Sentinel.com/letters.