Guest Column

Open Letter to Ontario, Canada’s Premier Doug Ford

Dear Premier Ford, I am one of the many Americans who wish you well in your new charge as Premier of Ontario. I must say your outspokenness and the challenges you are undertaking in ‘Liberaldom’ Ontario seems very Trumpian, so a slogan like Make Ontario Great Again (MOGA) seems in order.

We must stop suffering fools

An old adage says we should "gladly suffer fools." The opposing view is that we should "stop doing stupid." Either way, the key concern is the direct impact that not confronting stupid or shortsighted actions has on morale and the long-term effectiveness of any decision-making/leadership process.

Discourse around minor children who either accompany parents who enter our country illegally

The discourse around minor children who either accompany parents who enter our country illegally, or worse, are sent here unaccompanied, has gotten out of hand. Democrats are playing the sympathy card while totally ignoring some important facts. They are not here legally. There is a prescribed procedure for asylum seekers. The decisions that caused them to be where they are was made by their parents. What is happening to our south is tragic. No question. But as European countries have learned the hard way, we can't take everyone in. One way to eliminate the problem is to prevent their entry in the first place. Once the smugglers and cartels get that message the problem would be solved, much like issuing speeding tickets in troublesome areas, it is proven to deter speeding. But as long as we don't have a clear policy and enforce it, the problem will continue. Please, Congress, do the hard work. Please citizens, be open to compromise. We have avoided fixing this for too long and the results of that procrastination is tearing us apart.

I guess I'm one of those mindless, Trump loving conservatives

I guess I'm one of those mindless, Trump loving conservatives who needs it spelled out for me because I'm truly not getting it. What is wrong with renegotiating or cancelling deals that aren't in our country's best interest? And what is wrong with seeking peace on the Korean Peninsula? Times have changed, a fact that liberals point out regularly on things like the relevance of our Constitution or confederate statues or immigration policies. There are some things one would think we could agree on, eliminating or containing the threat of nuclear war ought to be such an issue. It has got to be difficult to build trust when the other sides sees such distrust within our own borders. Like him or hate him, our President is a great negotiator. I wish the media would go silent on the Korean issue and let the 2 men try to work thing out.

Unable to find it in their hearts to give President Trump any credit whatsoever

Unable to find it in their hearts to give President Trump any credit whatsoever, the Trump haters are obsessing about the one thing that they think wasn't covered adequately in the negotiation with North Korea, that being their human rights violations which are many and horrendous. The first point is that those detractors weren't there. But more importantly, an open and freer No. Korea will automatically prevent much of those violations while at the same time making the entire world safer. Building trust and causing the change of decades old practices requires trust, respect, and hard work. Isn't it worth trying. Isn't this bigger than partisan politics. So, please, focus on what our President is doing not on what you think he is not. As John Lennon wrote in 1969, "Give peace a chance".

Bernie Sanders was robbed of a fair shot at the nomination in the 2016 Presidential race

There isn't much doubt that Bernie Sanders was robbed of a fair shot at the nomination in the 2016 Presidential race. Had the system worked without Democratic Party manipulation, it is a good bet Sanders could have been the nominee. Many people recognized a flaw in the system early on-Sanders was not a Democrat, he was an Independent.

The United States spends, on average $13,000 per year on student education

The United States spends, on average $13,000 per year on student education and according to Rasmussen, a rising number of Americans feel that we don't spend enough. What that is based on is unclear but probably it is based on our standing in the world, graduation rates, and standardized tests. It may be true that the $13,000 isn't doing enough. That is because the money doesn't go to the most important aspect of education, the teacher. If you assume a class size of 20 students, which is likely far below the average classroom size, $260,000 ought to be enough to pay the teacher well and cover a proportionate share of facility and support personnel. If it is not enough, there is a management problem not an education problem.

Letter to the editor Ontario hydro users could not have afforded another Liberal government

Premier Kathleen Wynne wanted to remain in power at all cost's and the provincial debt didn't matter to her one would think it was was more ego related when Wynne announced her pre-election plan and fair hydro plan, by 2020-2021 our provincial debt was expected to hit $370 billion we already pay over a billion a month in interest .

G7 Summit

The G7 Summit makes me stop and wonder as the French and Canadian leaders express their anger at President Trump. What I wonder is this: If things were reversed does anyone think those gentlemen would not be screaming to high heaven? The root of their current complaint is that their hands will be removed from the cookie jar. Healthy agreements have both sides getting what they want. Finally we have a leader who puts America and American business first. There will be pain as things adjust. Some of our products will go up, some will go down. Some businesses will suffer more as the scales get balanced. Most Americans believe that taxpayers can no longer bear the weight of subsidizing the rest of the world. For many centuries men have traded goods. In every transaction both sides received something they needed or wanted. When that ceases to be true, the deal must be renegotiated. It as simple as that.

Liberals will drag out the immigration issue with another round of heart wrenching stories

If there isn't enough current news to gin up public indignation, the liberals will drag out the immigration issue with another round of heart wrenching stories. But they, nor anyone else, will answer a few simple questions. One, if indeed, we "need" to take in more folks why shouldn't we revise our policy and our quotas? Doing so would take the illegality of their entry off the table. Two, What is wrong with securing our borders? Shouldn't we at least try to control the opiod epidemic sweeping our country and killing our people? Three, shouldn't we know who is here, legally and not legally for purposes of distributing benefits and bestowing privileges which are for American citizens? And finally, how much longer are you willing to kick this can down the road rather than have the hard negotiations to fix a system that has been broken for decades? If not now, when? If not us, who?

I'll give Kanye credit for bravery and setting an example to young people

I never liked Kanye West or his music. I found the words vulgar and rap just isn't my thing. But I'll give the man credit for bravery and setting an example to young people, especially black youth. In his recent nod to President Trump and in his thoughts about black people having a herd mentality rather than being independent thinkers, Kanye took some risk. But, he spoke the truth and has possibly opened the door a crack for meaningful dialog that could result in real change. Some say it was hype to launch a new album. I say it doesn't matter if it achieves results. I hope that people like me will embrace the attempt to shed light on one of this countries biggest and longest problems. It isn't necessary to agree with the messenger all the time. It is necessary to admit when they are right.

John Kerry is way out of line meeting Iranian officials to discuss the Iran Nuclear Deal

Unless he was asked by President Trump to do so, John Kerry is way out of line meeting Iranian officials to discuss the Iran Nuclear Deal. He seems to know that too because he is negotiating in secret. Imagine if all past Secretaries of State were running around trying to manipulate our foreign policy and influencing potential deals, there would be even more chaos than already exists. When it comes to international diplomacy, only the current administration should be in charge. Furthermore, is Kerry motivated by what is best for the United States or by preserving his own legacy? Remember he played a large part in crafting the deal.

Condoleezza Rice is right on! Paying college athletes will make matters worse

EDGEWATER, Maryland — In its recent report on college basketball, the special commission headed by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made several long overdue recommendations aimed at dealing with the sport’s “crisis of accountability.” But, wisely, it stopped short of suggesting that players be paid.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation scholarship program for low income students

'60 Minutes' aired a segment this past Sunday on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation scholarship program for low income students. The laudable goal of the program is to get low income kids into college where they will earn a degree and with it the ability to earn more money and lift their families out of poverty. Some 20,000 students have benefited from the program and most used the opportunity wisely. Colleges are helping with the program by giving preferential admission to kids simply because of their economic status. Why wouldn't they? A Gates scholarship is money in the bank for a college as well as a guaranty of a high rate of completion. As is usually the case, middle class families and students are the ones who suffer. To qualify for the program, family income must be below $65,000. Where is the advantage for a family with 2 blue collar workers who brings home $80,000 and pays all their own bills? Shouldn't it be weighted to include the social service benefits the poorer family receives? How many kids lost a rightfully earned acceptance in order to accommodate the poor kids? If I was a family earning over $65,000, with a bright student, I'd think about lowering my income. A 4 year college degree costs much more than what some families bring in above the $65,000 threshold. What happens to total economic picture of the country if 20,000 poor kids get a degree and 20,000 others do not? I have no problem with programs that lift the poor out of poverty. I do have a problem when it is at the expense of hardworking middle America.

If you are considering buying a home...

If you are considering buying a home, you should plan about 35% of your pretax income for total housing cost: mortgage, insurance and taxes. That is the model that most lenders use. So the proposal by HUD Sec. Ben Carson to raise the minimum payment for subsidized housing from 30% to 35% of adjusted income seems in line with accepted norms. He also proposes raising the minimum rent, that charged to the poorest families, from $50 to $150. That also doesn't seem unreasonable. These changes follow the Trump plan of lifting people from welfare to work. He is also looking to simplify the burden on housing authorities for outdated calculation methods and onerous regulations. Dr. Carson said, "Today we begin the necessary conversation about how we can provide meaningful, dignified assistance to those we serve without hurting them at the same time." This should be a concept that people on both sides of the aisle can embrace. For far too long, we have held down our poorest citizens and in doing so, did great damage to the black community.

Neither of these candidates is Native American. Warren is flat out deceitful and Ayyaduria is playing with perceptions

I wish I could say, "Only in Massachusetts" but I'm not sure that is as true as it once was. There you have it: Elizabeth Warren is again, running for the United States Senate. One of the things on which she hangs her hat, is her unverifiable Native American roots. Oh, it gets better. Warren is being challenged by Shiva Ayyaduria who is using his Indian heritage as a campaign slogan, calling himself the real Indian candidate. It seems that Ayyaduria doesn't understand the difference between Native American and Indian. Or, more likely, he thinks the voters don't know the difference. Neither of these candidates is Native American. Warren is flat out deceitful and Ayyaduria is playing with perceptions. It will be fun to watch how this game of Indians and Indians plays out.

We have every reason to be very proud of our First Lady

It is such a ray of sunshine to see a White House State Dinner being held with grace and class. In her quiet way, Melania Trump has rid the occasion of Hollywood heavy hitters and put it back where it belongs, as an event for foreign dignitaries and for building relationships. And she has stepped up to take the reins in planning the event. I have no doubt that the First Lady knows more about protocol and etiquette than any firm or person she could hire. By her involvement in the planning, she is demonstrating the importance of the event and its messaging. We have every reason to be very proud of our First Lady.

A princely name

I hear that Arthur is one of the possible names for the new Prince. I am sure 'Arthur Daley' the prince of entrepreneurs would be pleased to hear this.

Celebrate all births

The safe birth of a healthy baby is a cause for celebration everywhere. There are about 350,000 babies born worldwide and about 2000 in England each and every day although only one made the front page of most papers around the world and was a leading item on the news on April 23. It is time to celebrate all people and to remember it is not who you were born that makes you worthwhile but what you make of your life and the opportunities you take up. The Royal family has done much with Prince Philip's 'Duke of Edinburgh' awards and Prince Harry's work with disabled soldiers with the Invictus games. It is time to value not just the individual but all births.

Stop waffling on about guns

It is interesting that the latest sad mass murder occurred at a 'Waffle' shop given that the US Government is waffling on about gun control. It's not the citizen's right to bear guns that is the problem although the people's right to be safe should be the paramount concern. Some people by their prior actions, character or mental health should be precluded from access to guns. Regards,