Letters: God save us. Biden 'attack' on Trump makes America look a lot like Russia

Maybe you just don't get it

America is polarized like never before. It is probably fair to say you can divide the nation into two camps: those that support former President Donald Trump and those that revile him.

Mar-a-Lago search: Ohio Republicans call FBI action political (dispatch.com)

After the FBI raid on the former president's Florida home, I suggest that both groups should be very, very afraid.

If a sitting president can use his department of justice to attack a political opponent, then no holds are barred.

If you hate Trump and are gleeful over the raid, please consider what precedent this sets.

Is it now fair game for the reigning political party to unleash the FBI on any and all political opponents? This isn't Russia, this isn't a banana republic, or is it?

If you are not frightened by what this represents, you simply don't understand what this means.

God save us.

William M Babbitt, New Albany

Maybe 'Our Donald' should flee to Russia

Donald Trump’s defenders maintain the execution of a search warrant on his Mar-a-Lago home was unnecessary because the former president was cooperating with investigators. But to believe a man who has resisted every attempt to hold him accountable for anything he’s ever done, and has a proven history of dishonesty, has suddenly had an epiphany about his responsibility to tell the truth and uphold the law is laughable.

Secret and top-secret documents in the hands of the man Russians call “our Donald” and Russian state media suggested should seek asylum in their country is of concern to everyone concerned about national security. Republicans who used to advocate for a strong national defense have devolved into advocating as Trump’s legal defense.

Chuck Ardo, Lancaster

Columbus Dispatch letter to the editor submissions

A child-sized fuel tanker, but no 'climate endgame?'

We live in an age of moral panic, with parents across the country terrified about the political indoctrination of their sweet young children, with such forbidden knowledge as “racism occurs,” “gay people exist,” and “trans people are human.”

Curious, then, that so many reactionaries should exhibit no response to those displays of explicit propaganda which cause actual harm.

Among the most egregious in recent memory took place at the Ohio State Fair, where nestled among the 14-foot tall Smokey Bear and Ohio Department of Natural Resources exhibits, I stumbled onto a sign reading “Welcome to the Exploring Oil & Gas in Ohio Play Area.”

This new attraction, touted by Gov. Mike DeWine as “teach(ing) children about the oil and gas industry,” is a playground consisting of a child-sized fuel tanker, as well as several vertical stacks of oil drums.

Oddly absent are any warnings of the “climate endgame” or “human extinction” being raised by climate scientists, attributable to the burning of fossil fuels.

World should target coal-fired pollution like duck hunters (dispatch.com)

Perhaps the area should consider adding hurricane merry-go-rounds, rising sea level wading pools, or broken water fountains to represent widespread drought and famine in order to present a truly educational look at the fossil fuel industry.

Craft brewers facing effects of wildfires, drought on price, quality (dispatch.com)

Parents, please take note. This is what actual, destructive propaganda looks like. For too long, the fossil fuel industry has twisted young minds into worshiping the obsolete waste that is actively killing them, and destroying their future. It is well past time to make a stand.

Aaron Dunbar, Lowell

Whaley couldn't keep city safe

In her Aug. 10 column "Nine died, but DeWine has only caved on gun violence," former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley failed to grasp reality when she wrote, "No matter where you live or who you vote for, you deserve to be safe in your community."

While Ohioans certainly agree with that sentiment, it is laughable coming from the failed mayor. For readers who may be unfamiliar with her record, Nan Whaley was completely ineffective at addressing rising crime in her city. In fact, she largely made it worse.

According to compiled FBI data, during Nan Whaley’s first six years as mayor, violent crimes increased by 23%, homicides increased by 70%, and aggravated assaults increased by 97%. But this didn't impact Whaley as she continued to promote soft on crime policies, push for canceling the city's police academy, and promote herself off a horrific tragedy.

Nan Whaley: Mike DeWine gave in to extremists, not reduced gun violence (dispatch.com)

The bottom line is Nan Whaley could not keep the people of Dayton safe because of her failed leadership. The Oregon District shooting was tragic, and we applaud the brave officers who responded. It is appalling that she uses the tragedy to create a campaign issue rather than curb the violent crime that plagued her city on a daily basis.

Dan Lusheck, communications director, Ohio Republican Party

How about a death penalty for 16-year-olds

Regarding your Aug. 9 article, "Time for redemption?," everybody wins with the new guidelines for sentencing juveniles except families and friends of the deceased.

How about these new guidelines: death penalty approved for 16-year-olds.

Take a life violently, lose yours.

Mark Weaver, Reynoldsburg

GOP needs to read data on kids

Please send a copy of the Aug. 10 article, "Data on Ohio kids: well-being has dropped," to the entire Ohio Republican Party.

It should encourage them to take care of those children who are already here. And perhaps even consider pro-choice is really a very good thing. What a sad state of affairs when Ohio ranks near the bottom on so many key well-being markers!

Joan Buffington, Hilliard

System fails kids once they're here

I have seen and heard too many personal stories from people about situations where the system has failed them, children's safety falling through the cracks with procedural delays, department inefficiencies and lack of personnel in the department itself.

One mother said, “I guess you have to wait for something awful to happen, like a death, before someone will step in and help.”

Is this due to: 1) lack of funding; 2) lack of training; 3) lack of adequate staffing; 4) a reactive bureaucracy; or something else?

Editorial on abortion ban: Ohio must support foster kids more (dispatch.com)

It is a crime that we are quick to pass a law enforcing life before a child enters the world, and yet we have no regard for children once they are here.

There will be more children needing this department in the years to come as incidents of neglect and abuse rise. Franklin County Children Services and our lawmakers who fund it need to figure this out now.

Karen Simon, Columbus

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: LETTERS: What does FBI raid on Trump home say about America, Trump?