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To the Editor:
1) It is true that crime is a problem in many cities led by Democrats. But it is also a problem in many areas led by Republicans -- for example, 7 of the 10 worst states for gun homicides (per the CDC) have Republican governors. As the letter said, "crime is on the rise everywhere" – so why reduce such a serious subject to the level of a tired Republican talking point?
2) Because crime is a serious subject, it deserves a serious discussion. Such a discussion would include the details of specific plans and policies formulated to deal with the problem. And yet this letter contains no specifics as to how Republicans plan to cope with rising crime. If you won't say what your party is going to do about crime, then why should I assume that your party has the answer?
3) The only concrete recommendation in the letter is this: "This November we must elect Republicans." Why? Because "we need leaders who take crime seriously." Unfortunately, no proof is offered that Republicans actually do take crime seriously. And, left to ponder that subject on my own, it's easy to come to the opposite conclusion. After all, Republican leaders have tried over and over again to minimize the violence and damage perpetrated by their supporters on January 6th. That stance is not taking crime seriously. Additionally, the leader of the Republican party has recently said that, if re-elected, he would look "very favorably" on giving "full pardons" to those convicted for January 6th offenses. This statement was made the same day that a January 6th rioter was sentenced to 10 years in prison for assaulting a police officer. Is pardoning those who assault the police taking crime seriously? The obvious answer is no.
4) The letter, then, is one that offers complaints about a serious problem, blames the problem on the Democrats, and then offers no actual Republican solution for that problem. Complaining without offering solutions seems to be a common Republican tactic these days, leading many to believe that GOP currently stands for "Grievance Only Party." Perhaps in future letters, Republicans could try making the majority of their arguments in favor of their own positions and policies, instead of focusing on complaining about the other side. As an independent voter, I would welcome such political discourse. Through it we might all learn if there are actual GOP plans and policies to solve a specific problem. And, we could intelligently decide whether Republicans are worthy of our vote.
Philip Loewen
Lewistown