Trump’s provocative move deepens despair

Our unpredictable president has just announced that, contrary to the position of all rational people around the world, including Pope Francis, the most peaceable of men, the U.S. will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Not in my name. Not in our name. We always knew Trump was mad as a hatter.

May he change his mind, immediately. Inshallah. After all, he has plenty of experience changing his mind. May he recognize the error of his ways. Inshallah. May he realize that Palestinians and Israelis have an equal claim to Jerusalem. Inshallah. May he realize that his announced plan will bring nothing but anger and resentment, not just from Muslims, but from all who wish a peaceful world. Inshallah. May the House of Representatives, in its wisdom, begin drafting a bill of impeachment tomorrow. Inshallah. Judy Mellow Santa Fe

Real change

I applaud the bipartisan recognition of the U.S. to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It’s really simple, under Israeli rule — Christians, Jews and Muslims safely can observe their faith in the Holy City. Pre-1967, under Arab rule, Jews were banned from their ancient holy sites, namely the Western Wall. Israel is the only democratic country that has safeguarded Jerusalem for all faiths to cherish. Those concerned about this recognition should be more alarmed about the Palestinian Authority Martyrs Fund that the Palestinian authority pays to families of attackers. A significant portion from the hundreds of millions in foreign aid given to the Palestinians from the United States is used to cover the $3,000-per-month stipend given to each family of those responsible for killing, injuring or causing terror to Israelis. Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem should have happened 69 years ago. For more information, visit www.sfmew.org. Gerald Lance Bell Santa Fe

Power corrupts

The obscenely rich Koch brothers committed nearly $900 million dollars to winning the 2016 election. Their wealth equals $90 billion. They dedicated only one-tenth of 1 percent to corrupting and overthrowing American democracy for their libertarian agenda.

It is ironic that my personal equivalence to their “money is speech” freedom would be me spending only $60 to subvert, purchase and bribe the entire government from Congress, the states, the judicial branch, down to local elections. Their myriad dark “nonprofit” organizations have helped subvert voting rights. Obviously, the elite are legally more equal than more than 99 percent of citizens. Absurdly, there are numerous other greedy, wealthy oligopolists that are also pursuing the destruction of democracy. Their current success shows itself in the new monumental tax giveaways. Our resolve must be to crucify the Citizens United cross of dollars. Gary Reynolds Santa Fe

Real and present danger

While our country burns and floods from the impacts of climate change, President Donald Trump has decided to delay implementation of the 2016 rule on methane emissions from federal and tribal lands, claiming he must “protect” industry from burdensome costs (“Feds delay rule on methane emissions,” Dec. 8). However, technological developments in the growing pollution abatement industry have reduced compliance costs so much that many producers who complied with the rule ahead of time — producers from Colorado, Wyoming and Texas — testified in surveys and in hearings that compliance costs were only $100 to $450 per facility. And a study of marginal wells in the San Juan Basin found compliance costs to be approximately 2 percent of annual oil and gas revenue in the state. By taking the burden off of industry, Trump is placing it on the backs of citizens who must live with the real and present danger of climate change. Linda Burchfiel Santa Fe