Biden’s cancer diagnosis

Re “Biden found to have cancer” (May 19):

With all the conspiracy theories circulating about Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, I can’t help but wonder: Where has our collective goodness, kindness and humanity gone?

Granted, I haven’t read every conspiracy theory, but I have read enough to know many of those who have posted their opinions have yet to express any compassion for what the former president and his family are going through now. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t know the difference between a Democrat or a Republican. Heaven forbid these theorists ever receive the same diagnosis Biden has.

— Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach

Trump’s America

Re Eddington’s “The tale of Teddy and Donald” compared to Shelley’s “Trump or Bush, who had the better idea?” (May 18):

Eddington says Trump is using the power of his office to punish his political enemies and has “eclipsed the constitutionally dubious antics of Teddy Roosevelt.” Shelley says, “As trade deals go, Trump for Bush is looking like a pretty good one.” My only criticism of Shelley’s article is she didn’t take it far enough.

Trump for Bush, Obama and Biden is a terrific deal. No more nation-building. U.S. military troops are in about 178 countries with about 128 bases across about 55 countries. Yes, I will trade capitalism over the imposition of military power around the world. How can we cooperatively live in a world that is trying to bomb, or contemplating bombing, another country out of existence persistently?

— Tom Hersh, Newport Beach

Tariffs and free-market

Veronique de Rugy (May 20) has it all wrong because she fails to consider reality. The world does not have a “free market,” regardless of U.S. policies. Governments in other countries support their industries and businesses through tax, employment, subsidy, export and tariff policies allowing them to sell their goods and services at below actual cost, which is not “free market.”

This creates the illusion that we are getting it on the cheap from abroad whereas we are actually paying through the back door — unemployment, higher taxes, national debt and the inability to maintain a manufacturing base that supports a strong economy and nation.

— Steve Hawes, Sunland