Insurrection
Personal property
As I read all the responses about cutting personal property taxes or raising the sales tax, I would like to share a story. While I was stationed in Florida, we had two bridges in the city that collected tolls even though they were paid for years ago. We were offered the choice to vote to raise the city sales tax or keep the tolls. I will write here what I wrote in the letters there: The sales tax will go up in the future, no matter what; we might as well get rid of a tax if we can.
— Greg Tank, Norfolk
Southern border
I had a recent glimmer of hope regarding bipartisan immigration reform. Serious negotiations, by all credible accounts, were making headway, and a meaningful start to fixing the border crisis, as well as aid to the valiant Ukrainians and Israelis, was in sight.
I knew former President Donald Trump and his team were working on House Speaker Mike Johnson, cravenly pitching a continuation of the status quo with people dying in order to bolster Republicans’ political hopes.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was supportive of bipartisan talks, and I knew the crafty politician was capable of bringing this home. Fooled again. McConnell might be caving, showing how little the ideal of public service is left in Congress. The virtueless Republicans, in support of issues rather than solutions, recognize that the only substantive issue that resonates is the border and the hyperbolic fear that it generates. That is more valuable than meaningful border control. They have abdicated their responsibilities and shrilly pointed their fingers at the president.
Collateral damage is widespread and catastrophic: fentanyl, dead Ukrainians, Russian gains, Israeli and Palestinian civilian casualties mounting. This behavior is reprehensible, unpatriotic and unchristian. We deserve better.
— Sean Horan, Chesapeake
Re “Jan. 6 was a protest and riot — not an insurrection” (Other Views, Jan. 5):
Jan. 6, 2021, was not a protest; it was an insurrection. Capitol police were attacked and assaulted. They had every right to use deadly force to protect themselves. They showed great restraint in not shooting people.
Only one protester was shot to death trying to break into the chamber. If the police had started shooting, would the insurrectionists have started shooting back? I believe they would have. You had people chanting, “hang (Vice President) Mike Pence.” They were searching for then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other legislators. If they had found them, what would they have done to them? It was a mob looking for violence.
Destroying government property, looking for people to harm, trying to stop a legitimate function of our elected leaders, was not a protest; it was a deliberate attempt to stop our government from conducting its obligations under the law.
— John Leavor, Newport News
Immigration
Immigration is out of hand. When people fleeing countries such as Venezuela seeking asylum reach Mexico, they have accomplished their goal. American citizens go to Mexico for business, vacations or just to visit. Having said that, how can anyone claim asylum from a safe country to our country?
Millions are coming in illegally. Who is paying for supports for them? Us, the taxpayers. Please don’t give me that Statue of Liberty excuse. My grandparents came here legally through Ellis Island and homesteaded 160 acres in Oklahoma. That was when we needed people for our vast country. That need no longer exists.
We need to secure our border and vet those we let in. I am fearful that some of those coming in are here to do us harm. Can you prove me wrong?
— Raymond J. Rich, Newport News