Americans’ tax struggle simply a ‘sport’ for Trump

Dear Editor, Betting sports fans who voted in 2016 to “give him a chance” were rewarded with a spotlight on their passion in the 120th week of Trump’s presidency. The world champions of baseball, the Boston Red Sox, attended a traditional White House ceremony honoring their accomplishments. But this event was less than conventional, with many members, including the manager, declining to participate.

Predictably, all of them were people of color. They joined other sports figures who have rejected White House ceremonies. The world of sports, which typically strives to be apolitical to protect its dollars, shows itself to be as divided and rancorous as the rest of America.

Also this week, we read news reports about Trump’s tax returns during the 1990s. Our president, while claiming the information was “fake news,” simultaneously boasted that his huge reported tax losses were part of the real estate industry’s game of manipulating U.S. tax laws to its benefit. For developers like him, taking huge losses and renegotiating with banks was “sport.”

Pity the poor Americans who feel that preparing their tax returns with H&R Block is less sport than inquisition, and who find their bank to be unfriendly about easing their struggles.

We have discovered that Trump’s approach to governance is indeed framed as a sport. Stir up underlying rivalries; excitement sells tickets (sixty million Twitter followers). Give no quarter to rivals, who are blood enemies and losers. Put your money on the royalty franchises with dominating assets. If you strike out or even lose, blame the umpires and the rules.

In Trump’s game, there is no traditional handshake with opponents after the competition — only rancid bitterness to build up for the next confrontation. And a hike in ticket prices. Tom Denton,

Highland