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President Joe Biden last week had a telling, confounding response to a question on his decision to run again for the presidency. First, the previous night, he admitted that if Donald Trump were not the presumptive Republican nominee, he, Biden, might well not be running. Yet, the next day, when asked if any other Democrats could beat Trump, he said, “Yes, probably there are 50 of them.”
Mr. President, if there are 50 other Democrats who could very well defeat Trump, why, at almost age 82, are you running? If Biden is not convinced that he is the only Democrat who could defeat Trump and knows that more than two-thirds of Democrats feel that he is too old for another term, why will he not stand down?
Albert Einstein said that “God does not play dice with the universe.” Well, Biden is playing a game of electoral dice with his decision to run for reelection, and this is a risk that we cannot accept.
— Ken Derow, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
No inspiring Democratic candidate
Presently, the Democrats have nothing to offer this nation in terms of a viable presidential candidate. Joe Biden is reaching an age in which his decision-making capabilities may be affected. There is not one Democrat who seems capable enough to inspire the confidence of even the party’s staunchest support groups.
Thus, we are looking at the 2024 presidential race with apprehension because Donald Trump, despite his dreadful actions, apparently still has the strong backing of conservative and moderate Republicans, as well as a large bloc of some rather naive independents.
This scenario’s consequences are not just dire but perilous. Democrats, Republicans and independents must do better in choosing candidates if this nation remains a bastion of economic leadership and democracy.
— Dean Dranias, Plainfield
The RNC has obligation to act
When 2024 dawns and a new primary election season is upon us, it will be time for the Republican National Committee to act. It is in charge of setting up the rules for the primary elections so that Republican voters can choose candidates to run in November. How can the committee, in good conscience, allow Donald Trump’s name on any ballot? The party used to be the law and order party. It used to care about the Constitution. How can it allow voters to choose a man who will not have time to be president? He is embroiled in multiple lawsuits and criminal proceedings that will have him running from court to court in various states.
Apparently, judges do not want to be the ones to kick him off ballots in the various states. The 14th Amendment is clear: No insurrectionist can run for any office. Perhaps such a ruling may put their lives in danger.
So it is up to the RNC to steel its spine and do the right thing. Republicans have other qualified candidates who are not insurrectionists who can run. Take Trump off the ballot and give these candidates, who can actually be president, the chance to run.
— Jan Goldberg, Riverside
Ignore celebrity endorsements
Recently, there has been concern in the news about fake celebrity endorsements using artificial intelligence. Here is a simple solution: Ignore all celebrity endorsements and make up your own mind about the quality and value of a product or service.
Why should you care what Tom Selleck thinks about reverse mortgages, which insurance company Payton Manning favors, which soda brand LeBron James drinks or what bitcoin Tom Brady thinks is a great investment? Not to mention the legions of social influencers getting paid for telling you what to buy and think.
The problem is not fake endorsements; it’s the insidious nature of endorsements themselves.
— Robert J. Marder, Evanston
Tax costs of EV battery plant
The Gotion electric vehicle battery plant proposed for Manteno is budgeted at $2 billion and will supposedly create 2,600 jobs. It is slated to receive $7.5 billion in federal tax credits and $536 million in state tax incentives. That works out to more than $3 million in tax subsidies per job, and this assumes the success of the project, which is hardly guaranteed.
Someone please explain to me how this could possibly make any economic sense.
— Steve Willson, Huntley
Don’t forget Foxconn example
Regarding the Gotion plant: Remember Foxconn and Wisconsin before you start giving the benefits away.
— Mary Louise Rago, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Housing for migrants, unhoused
I have read that some respondents suggest that McCormick Place be used to house the migrants. As McCormick Place is recovering from the pandemic, I think this would be unwise. There are vacant schools in Chicago that still have to be maintained, costing Chicago for this maintenance. Why not house the migrants in these schools? One letter writer also suggested housing migrants in vacant office buildings — good suggestion if the owners of the buildings agree.
I do have one question: Why hasn’t there been more effort to make sure people who are homeless, including veterans, have shelter?
Chicago Tribune Opinion
— Patricia Bonk, Midlothian
Photo of customers is evocative
I have been admiring Antonio Perez’s image of Vesecky’s Bakery (“Vesecky’s Bakery closes after more than 100 years,” Dec. 6) throughout the day. His photo of customers waiting in line outside the long-loved shop conveys the “old-fashioned way” of the Vesecky family business. Reminiscent of a painting or a treasured greeting card, his work brings beauty to what I’m sure was an emotional and memory-filled day.
Many times, the perfect picture can tell a story more than words are able — this one has all the feels. Thank you, Mr. Perez.
— Kelley Dorner, Grayslake
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