Jeff Flake’s re-election depends on his holding to old principles

know before the first words are spoken that they will get their way.

Students of World War II know why we had to nuke two cities to get the attention of the Japanese. When they were told we demanded an unconditional surrender, they replied, “Well, yes, but first we have some conditions that must be agreed to.”

When told a second time that their surrender must be unconditional, they said, “OK. But first we have some conditions.”

That is the east-Asian psyche. Multiply that times 10 and you get the attitude of a moderate North Korean.

North Koreans do not understand and will not try to understand, why they do not rule the world. Anyone who tells you the Korean war ended in 1953 is an ignorant fool. A cease-fire was agreed to. The war continues.

If you doubt that, then talk to the survivors of the USS Pueblo. And if you can’t relate to that then shut up about how to deal with a nation of sadistic psychopaths. — T.G. Fisher, Phoenix

Immigration is a concern to Arizona’s independent voters like myself and to all who understand the economic and political realities facing our state.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake once thoughtfully considered this contentious issue in 2013, supporting comprehensive immigration reform as a member of the “Gang of Eight.”

Now it seems he is all for spending billions on a wall his constituents do not want while supporting Trump’s heavyhanded border approach.

This won’t help the good Senator in 2018. In the past, authoritarian solutions like walls and confinement appealed to voters that feared the effects of a porous border. This is simply not the case today.

Arizonans realize, and more so each day, how these policies will backfire on our state and cause significant economic and environmental pain on both sides of the border.

Senator Flake, independents make up a third of your constituents, and we’re motivated to vote for policies that fit the framework of our wallets.

Don’t stand behind proposals that hurt Arizona. Give independents a reason to support you in 2018.

Remembering where you once stood is a start.

— Matthew McGuire, Green Valley

Trump supporters don’t care if he releases taxes. They should

For all the Trump voters that say they don’t care about whether he releases his taxes, ask yourself if you would care if it were Hillary?

What are you scared of in those returns? Are you concerned that you really did vote for a criminal? That all those calls to “lock her up” only applied to Hillary and you don’t care at all if Mr Trump has broken the law? What do you really want?

If a president has broken the law, whether Democrat or Republican, he or she should be treated the same. “Lock HIM up”.

— Cheryl Reed, Sun Lakes