Letters to the Editor: Troubled by downtown changes, Supreme Court corruption

Supreme Corruption

It has become evident where the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is taking this democracy. With two sex predators, two pious zealots, a deceptive justice and a clueless chief justice, SCOTUS has become the most politically corrupt, non-democratic sector of our government.

The present SCOTUS has created utter chaos with their politically biased interpretation of accepted precedence. They have stated on many occasions, they are not influenced by society, but then they cater to political persuasion.

SCOTUS has never upheld voting rights, or upheld women’s, people of color’s, or indigenous people’s rights. SCOTUS has taken away state’s rights with one hand, yet gives States rights with the other.

SCOTUS has not endorsed “FREEDOM FOR ALL,” as our fore-fathers had advocated. SCOTUS has become a self-serving institution with no oversight in the way they honor the basic principles of our democracy.

A term of 20 or 25 years on the SCOTUS should be considered, or an age limitation for justices. On for life is a formula for legal deity.

As much as I respected and admired former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she should not have stayed as long as she did, even though she was still productive till the end.

J. Adriano, Lexington

New direction

ABC36 News recently let community stalwart Tom Kenny go, and hired Paxton Boyd to replace him as co-anchor with Erica Bivens.

Tom spent the past 38 years presenting the news. He was president of the Friends of the Fisher House of Lexington, dedicated to providing a free-of-charge lodging for military families.

I sent an email to WTVQ News Director, Miranda Combs, asking if Tom’s replacement, Paxton Boyd, had recently been employed by RT (Russia Today) America as that network’s national correspondent. She confirmed this. RT America is/was an arm of the Russian propaganda network financed by the Russian government. Ms. Combs indicated that Boyd had “only” been employed there a couple of months. I suspect his employment was cut short when that TV network was dismantled March 3 after Russia invaded Ukraine.

This apparently was the “new direction” Ms. Combs alluded to when she explained why she did not renew Tom Kenny’s contract. I cannot stomach the idea that one of Central Kentucky’s news presenters once worked for RT America as opposed to a dedicated professional like Tom Kenny. This is solely my view as a long-time Lexington resident.

Dennis William Shepherd, Lexington

Trump support

In spite of knowing what kind of a person former President Donald Trump is, Arizona’s House Speaker Rusty Bowers, former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell all said that they would vote for him again if he was the Republican party’s nominee in 2024.

How is one to explain such willful blindness? I think that Trump’s first term was an unmitigated disaster; but these men evidently see something I don’t. Was it the $2 trillion in tax cuts for the rich and big corporations? Was it the gutting of environmental regulations? Was it the attacks on women’s rights or the lauding and raising up of white supremacy groups such as the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers? Was it the laziness and ineptitude Trump displayed daily? Was it the 307 days (almost a full year) that Trump spend playing golf during his 4-year term? Was it the 30,573 lies he told during the same period?

Whatever it is, I can’t find it. I think these men have a blind spot in their morality that you could drive a Mack truck through.

Jim Porter, Danville

Changing downtown

The first time I saw Lexington, I knew I would move there. After graduating from UK, professional opportunities took me to the West Coast, but I always knew I would return.

Last August, I moved back. I love the energy of downtown Lexington. Sadly, that energy is changing. Two weeks ago, I returned home to find someone had shot a bullet through my back bedroom window. It travelled across that bedroom, through a second bedroom, and lodged in the opposite wall! Fortunately, no one was there that night. Neighbors said a car racing the wrong way down a one-way street fired many shots that night.

I spent 37 years in a major urban city often called “lax on crime”. I never had anything close to this happen to me there. Every Saturday, the parking lots downtown are teeming with drunk people. This past Friday night, I was awakened to find 3 police cars trying to control crowds of people leaving the bars.

What is happening to Lexington? It is out of control! We cannot let our wonderful city become a shooting gallery threatening the safety of our citizens. Lexington is way better than that!

William Harris, Lexington

Regulated Militia

A “well-regulated militia” on the Fourth of July climbed to the top of a two-story building in Highland Park, Ill., took aim and started firing at the gathered crowd below. We’ve now had over 309 mass shootings this year to date. All those victims lost their freedoms. These attacks, if committed by international terrorists within the U.S., would have resulted in laws passed and wars started to stop the perpetrators. All Republicans politicians can offer is “thoughts and prayers.”

We’re all paying for it with this un-named Republican tax. IF we’ve actually placed a law officer and beefed-up perimeter security in each K-12 school building (roughly 114,000 public & private schools) across the country, then that is costing each U.S. household an estimated recurring $100 a year. Add in increased security costs for churches, synagogues, malls, and hospitals; hospital bills for the wounded; and lost wages (per a report entitled ‘The Economic Cost of Gun Violence’), then this tax costs each U.S. household an estimated $2,200 a year.

Be sure to thank your Republican representatives at the next election!

Joe Crouch, Lexington

Blaming women

Like all Republicans, state Rep. Nancy Tate (R-Brandenburg) and Sen. Robby Mills’ (R- Henderson) editorial says nothing. Their argument is unconvincing. Abortion is not and will never be about “unborn babies.” It is about forcing the will of the minority upon women. It is about assigning blame.

The editorial lays the blame on women and others including “activist judges (who interpret the laws passed by the legislature),” “dark money groups (who promote women’s rights and equality unlike racist groups like the Heritage Foundation),” and “those who want to put politics above the will of the people (like MAGA-fascism).”

Their amendment does not mention the male. In their editorial, they mention “mothers and families” - no fathers. According to them, only females are to be blamed and held accountable.

Yet, they implore all Kentuckians to support their claim of regulating morality by Constitutional fiat in which the Republicans may “boldly build a Commonwealth that values the dignity and humanity of every person.” Oh really?

Sorry! I would rather have a Commonwealth where “Equal justice under the law prevails;” a Commonwealth where the right of “Free Will is the right of All, not just the few.” Then all humanity shall be served.

Damian Beach, Frankfort