Americans can’t blame anyone else

Americans only have themselves to blame for a political system that lets the leader act like a dictator. And then, when Trump blatantly, forcefully and shamelessly flouts the law, there are no consequences. They should invoke the 25th Amendment and take the madman away.

The fact that he is considering pardoning himself means he knows he’s in thewrong. I know toddlerswho understand ‘‘consequences’’ better than this man.

His presidency has been a train wreck which has left hundreds of thousands of Americans dead from Covid inaction, on top of everything else.

If he is not seriously shamed and reprimanded for four years of thuggish mafia-like behaviour, America can never use the word ‘‘great’’ when referencing itself again.

Thinking too small

River Rd and the rest of SH2 north of the Siverstream intersection has been an NZTA stuff-up of enormous proportions ever since it began.

They had the opportunity to build it as a four-lane road at the start, but chose not to, and have been spending more and more of our money ever since trying to make it safe.

Yet no-one takes responsibility. Just another example of NZTA failing to plan for the future. It has happened all over the country, and we all suffer the consequences, starting with the Auckland Harbour Bridge: everything too small, total incompetence.

Thank God someone applied pressure and had the plans for the new Manawatu¯ Gorge replacement road changed to four lanes all the way. Commonsense at last. Graham Dick, Masterton

Be kinder to Karens

I have always enjoyed reading Rosemary McLeod’s columns, going right back to the 1970s and The Listener. That changed for me when I read her article Crimes and punishment (Jan 8), which included the chilling statement “Nobody likes a Karen”.

That ismy name and, while I didn’t choose it, it is also very personal and closely linked to my identity. Apast Stuff contributor, Jeremy Olds, also regularly used “Karen at the water cooler” to denote a gossipy, unlikeable office co-worker.

I realise that this isn’t intended to hurt; but what is with the notion that you can put together a group of not-so-nice behaviours and label them with a person’s name instead of simply describing the behaviours?

And just in case readers will now say my letter proves the point (Karens create fuss) I challenge you all to read the statement “No-one likes a [insert your first name]” and see how that makes you feel.

Rosemary, I felt de-humanised – you could have simply said “Nobody wants to be that person”.

On behalf of all Karens, please can we cease this unkind practice.

Karen Scott, Waikanae Beach