OPINION: Talk of the Town: 'To heal the nation' - more reaction to Trump pardon

Aug. 11—Trump's charges — after Russian probe ...

TRUMP should be pardoned? After 2 impeachments, 3 felony indictments (including inciting the riot at the Capitol, threatening the lives of the vice president, building security and Congress, withholding classified documents, endangering national security, and interfering with the peaceful and Constitutional transfer of power) the Albuquerque Journal (opinion desk) thinks Trump should be pardoned for the good of our nation? What Trump has done is a challenge to the rule of law by disregarding it and his very obvious indifference to our Constitution and republican form of government by wanting to replace it with an autocracy of his own making. Don't you editors read your own ... articles about Trump's abuses while president and after? When does justice not apply to former presidents? Your logic escapes me; your political leanings do not.

PHILLIP GONZALES

Rio Rancho

Trump's goal: Return to rich white-male rule

IT was shocking to read the Journal's urging of President Biden to grant a pardon to thrice (maybe more) indicated former President Trump. Such a suggestion might make sense for an ordinary alleged criminal, but not in the case of Trump.

This man is interested only two things: Destroying American democracy and installing himself as the nation's first oligarch. Along the way, he will leave Americans who do not look like him — white, male, wealthy — in the dust. His goal is to return the nation to the time when white males ruled and women and minorities were expected to take a back seat and let the oligarchs make all of their decisions for themselves first and the rest later.

A pardon, unfortunately, will only unleash Trump and his followers to continue to push their phony victimhood and efforts to get back what they believe they "lost" to minorities and women. The only way to put an end to this movement is to put its dangerous leader behind bars. ... I urge Biden to remain on the sidelines and let justice run its course. Successful prosecutions may not silence this snake, but they definitely will remove his fangs.

D. Reed Eckhardt

Santa Fe

Heal the nation — by putting Trump on trial

... THE scandal of Watergate pales in comparison to the assault Trump has made against our democracy and the rule of law. In contrast to Trump, who will never admit to wrongdoing, Nixon stepped down.

What does Trump stand for at this point besides lies and corruption, narcissistic self-aggrandizement, and incompetency? A pardon would only confirm his status as a martyr among his followers. In all likelihood, even if convicted, he will never face prison time. Let that be his "pardon."

Yes, let's heal the nation — by adhering to the principle that "all men are created equal": Trump is not above the law. Let him stand convicted if convicted. His attempt to subvert the 2020 election results and peaceful transition of power should not in any way be condoned.

LAUREN ROOT

Albuquerque

Trump prosecution isn't political

THE Journal's Aug. 6 editorial opines that President Biden should pardon Trump and that the "presidential administration is criminally prosecuting the prior president." In the same paragraph, the editorial cites a recent poll which indicates that the majority of people think the charges are "politically motivated." Finally, the editorial cites President Ford's pardon of former and disgraced President Nixon as an example of healing grace. Let's look at the facts, shall we?

First, a grand jury — not the Biden administration — issued the indictment: a group of more than 23 citizens picked randomly from voter rolls.

Second ... the notion that the criminal charges are politically motivated is premised on the misguided belief that the criminal charges are unsupported.

Finally, Nixon did not continue to repeat his transgressions after his pardon (or even after he resigned the presidency). Trump continues to attack the rule of law and anyone who seeks to uphold it. He will not stop. The only thing that could heal this country is if Trump publicly acknowledged reality, expressed remorse for his conduct, and withdrew into private life. And we all know that's not going to happen.

JANE GAGNE

Albuquerque

We need to stop a cancer like Trump

... A pardon for Trump is not just unwarranted, it is also undemocratic and unworkable. A majority of the public believes Trump acted either illegally or unethically. That same majority would not look favorably toward his being once again able to escape responsibility for his conduct. American justice requires that no one be placed above the law. To carve out an exception for a chronic lawbreaker only undermines the public support of law generally.

... Trump was a corrosive element throughout his presidency and he has essentially pledged to do even more harm to the Constitution should he regain the presidency. He is and will always be a clear and present danger to American democracy. The answer to a cancer like Trump is not to excuse his conduct with a pardon. That would only encourage him to continue his treachery and his fascist agenda. ... There should be no allowance given to him to further his devious ends in the form of a pardon.

BRIAN HILL

Albuquerque

Cancel culture? Recall the Dixie Chicks

AT A recent concert, Jason Aldean said, "... cancel culture is a thing, it's something where if people don't like what you say, they try and make sure they can cancel you, which means try to ruin your life, ruin everything." Mr. Aldean and country fans everywhere have conveniently forgotten that, if there is a textbook example of cancel culture, it is what these supposed lovers of free speech did to the Dixie Chicks.

Within 48 hours of singer Natalie Maines making one statement critical of George W. Bush ("We're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas"), thousands of radio stations refused to play any of their songs, the death threats started coming and their career in country music was over.

Ironically, poor little Jason is now moaning about being "canceled" by one video channel while his controversial single flies up the charts and fans flock to his concerts to show support. Someone should ask Aldean what he thinks about those fans and radio stations who punished the Chicks for exercising their freedom of speech. Because that was a real cancellation.

TOM FENTON

Socorro

Stolen truck leads to headache

A holy homeless man took my truck, and how routine it is for New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division to issue some company a fresh title. It was wintertime and the theft spanned the monthslong cold snap that gripped us last year.

So, I let the holy guy sleep in it until the insurance expired but still, he refused to bring it back. I reported it stolen. The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) gets lots of calls like mine, Albuquerque ranked a shameful fourth in 2021 among American cities, having 6,525 vehicle thefts that year according to NICB, the insurance industry's association that tracks annual vehicle thefts. APD recovered my Ford Expedition ... within 48 hours and had it towed into some tow yard.

To the recovering police officer's credit, she called me to come get it before the salivating tow company hauled it away; regrettably, I missed her call. ... This confirms the cops know that the system is indeed a state-sanctioned scheme — not just to bilk someone out of $500, the typical fee to get a vehicle released, but if it remains unclaimed after three weeks, MVD will issue them a fresh title so they can sell it. ... I'm out of my truck and get charged a repossession; and the holy homeless man is out of his hotel.

MATTHEW PAUL

Albuquerque

Drinking the Kool-Aid? On EVs this time

BEFORE we all start drinking the EV Kool-Aid, it woul be wise to distinguish between what sounds good from something that actually does good. First, the minerals that go into one EV battery can power 90 hybrids supplying over 37 times as much emissions reductions as one Tesla. (See the Wall Street Journal 7/19/23).

Moreover, these rare earths come from countries that often use forced child labor to extricate them, a fact seemingly lost on your contributors.

Moreover, the current average price of an EV hovers around $50,000. If one of your contributors is struggling with a $400/month electric bill how is she going to afford payments on a $50,000 car? Ah, the tax rebate, you say. In order to take full advantage of a $7,500 rebate a family of four needs an adjusted gross income of over $80,000. How many New Mexicans fall into that category?

Moreover, the average weight of an EV is 5,500 pounds, about the same as a Ford F-150 pickup truck. What is going to be the long-term effect on our infrastructure, roads, bridges, parking structures, of these overweight vehicles? No one knows.

The state of California can't support its current electricity usage yet it's mandating that only electric cars be sold in the near future. Is there any thought process going on here?

JOEL WIDMAN

Rio Rancho

EVs aren't free of generating emissions

THE frequent portrayals of electric powered vehicles as being "emission-free" may need some modifications. When you charge your car's batteries, some, if not all, of the grid electricity stems from the burning of coal somewhere. There are emissions, only probably not where the car is.

Additionally, if you scrap a working gas-powered car with 50K-100K useful miles left, the amount of resources consumed to replace it with an electric car is considerable. So considerable that maybe any potential savings of resources will never be recovered.

Lastly, there is a day of reckoning approaching when tons and tons of batteries will arrive at the landfill creating environmental problems we have not yet anticipated. The environmental cost to address those problems is unknown.

I fervently hope that electrical vehicles will bring some kind of environmental improvement, but I remain skeptical.

WILLIAM BENNETT

Albuquerque

It's time to move the Village Center forward

WE lived in Los Ranchos for 25 years and raised our two sons in the village. We love its rural nature and continue to spend time there connecting with friends, walking the ditches and shopping at local businesses. The planning and development that is improving Fourth Street north of Osuna provides us with more options to visit and "buy local."

The 12-acre Village Center south of Osuna, supported by thoughtful planning and community input, is designed to meet the needs of residents and visitors.

A central gathering spot that offers restaurants, shopping, public spaces, a hotel and, most importantly, housing options for people of all ages, will help the village thrive.

This type of mixed-use live, work, play concept has already added value and been successful in other parts of the city — we've enjoyed the transformation and revitalization of the Sawmill District, the Old Town area and Nob Hill.

We recognize change can be difficult and can have lasting positive impact.

We hope the village trustees stay the course and move forward with the Village Center development project so village residents (current, future, former) and all who appreciate the beauty of Los Ranchos can benefit.

DAVID BERNSTEIN ANd ERIKA RIMSON

Former 25-year Los Ranchos residents

ABQ VA hospital saved my son's life

TWO and a half years ago my son had an accident with his four-wheel vehicle. It tipped over, throwing him to the ground. He broke 10 ribs. ... He had several stays in the University of New Mexico Hospital.

During the stays he was never in a room; only in hallways. For two years he spent about 20 hours a day in bed. During this time, they had to remove up to five liters of fluid from his abdomen every three weeks. This treatment eventually caused him to have a hernia.

I got a call from him at 4 a.m. one morning asking me to look up on the computer what it meant when the hernia became rock hard.

The findings were alarming: Get to the ER immediately. Reluctant to go to the same hospital, I told him to get to the VA hospital. (He had spent five years in the Navy.) Within two hours of his arrival, he was in the operating room.

The surgeon told his wife, "We will do everything we can, but he is in critical condition." You can imagine it was a long day for our entire family.

Finally, at about 5 p.m., my daughter-in-law called to say they have removed five inches of intestine.

He spent 11 days in ICU. ... They adjusted his medications and since then he hasn't had to have paracentesis (removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity). He will never be able to work again, but is slowly improving. ...

I have read horror stories about VA Hospitals and the poor treatment patients have received. They certainly aren't talking about the Albuquerque VA hospital.

I have no words to thank them for saving my son's life. ... Our veterans deserve this treatment. Thank you, VA, from the bottom of my heart.

MARY JANE SWAFFORD

Salisbury, MD