Why I voted for Harris

I am writing in response to the letter from February 10, “Why would anyone have voted for Harris?” in which the author asked why anyone would vote for Kamala Harris. Before sharing my reasons, I would like to correct several falsehoods and slurs in the letter.

First, I do not hate Donald Trump. In my view, he is a mentally ill man craving adoration and driven by ghosts of past inadequacy (and admittedly the manipulations of many foreign leaders). I do fear the chaos he brings as I fear the consequences of hurricanes.

According to Newsweek, the letter’s 11 million immigrant figure resembles the 11.7 million undocumented people who were present in the U.S. before Biden took office. According to factcheck.org, about 300K more were removed or expelled than admitted under Biden.

Again according to Newsweek, the peak production of oil under President Biden was higher (13.2 million barrels per day in Oct. 2023) than the peak under Donald Trump (13 million barrels per day in November 2019).

The exit from Afghanistan was not great, but it was in reaction to a (bad) deal Trump reached with the Taliban (without consultation or approval from the Afghan government) and which resulted in the collapse of the government forces.

Among other reasons, I voted for Ms. Harris because:

The U.S. economy grew at an impressive 2.8% per year under Biden with unemployment ending at a low 4.1%. I believe the inflation was due to the disruption of supply chains during the pandemic and was rapidly reduced under Biden.

Donald Trump lies to us all, tens of thousands of lies were documented during his first term.

I could foresee that Trump would act with his primary purpose being to gratify his own ego. He is remarkably resistant to understanding reality or cause and effect. We are seeing that now.

— Sally Ann Rhea, Boulder

Strong USAID means a stronger America

As a voter in Colorado, I am deeply concerned about the reckless attempts to dismantle USAID, an agency that not only saves lives but also creates thousands of jobs right here in the U.S.

USAID’s partnerships with American companies, universities and farmers stimulate innovation and trade. Many Colorado-based organizations and businesses work with USAID, developing new technologies in renewable energy, agriculture and healthcare that benefit both developing nations and the American economy.

For less than 1% of the federal budget, USAID has created economic opportunities that far outweigh its cost. From building resilient food supply chains to investing in local manufacturing, USAID strengthens global markets that directly benefit American exports. Cutting this agency jeopardizes thousands of American jobs and allows China and Russia to replace the U.S. as a leader in global development.

I urge Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper to protect USAID and the thousands of Americans who proudly serve under both Republican and Democratic administrations. A strong USAID means a stronger America.

— Dana Inerfeld, Broomfield

How’s MAGA working out?

To the nearly half of the voting public:

How’s that warm MAGA feeling working out for you? Have you noticed you have been duped again by the Orange Demon, or did you not note the bite in your Musk gland?

Stay tuned, and win a free night at Mar-a-Lago Gaza…

— Jim Drevescraft, Nederland