Readers sound off on measuring presidential success, New Year’s resolutions and Israeli airstrikes

Nostalgia for the Trump years forgets the chaos

Ossining, N.Y.: This country is flooded with gullible xenophobes being led around by their noses by a sociopath. Voicer Phil Antico is a prime example of this sad phenomenon. He claims that because we are so “mismanaged,” the former president and failed coup leader will be reelected.

Antico is completely under the spell of his master, believing every doomsday utterance he spews — a guy who claimed non-existent “American carnage” but proceeded to cause just that by the time he slithered out of office.

But let’s look at this “mismanagement” Antico so fears. We have the lowest unemployment in more than 60 years, with nearly 15 million jobs created in the last three years. Manufacturing jobs are booming again. We are retaking the lead in chip manufacturing. We are the global leader in energy production while leading the way towards a cleaner future. Our infrastructure is being repaired and upgraded for real, unlike the last guy who kept touting “infrastructure weeks” but could not produce actual results. COVID-spurred inflation has been cut by two-thirds without causing a recession, a rarity.

We have a president who respects the Constitution and defends the separation of powers. Our allies once again support us as we lead the world on numerous diplomatic fronts. We are no longer a global laughingstock because of the former guy’s juvenile, petty behavior. And our moral compass is straight as we stand up to the fascists, despots and dictators so admired by the twice-impeached and indicted proven fraud and rapist, Donald Trump. Robert Rundbaken

Shunned for the holidays

Forked River, N.J.: Voicer Mary Caggiano is wringing her hands over the amount of Christmas stockings on the White House fireplace this year. It’s too bad Mary didn’t get a Trump Christmas card this year because finding First Lady Melania Trump in the photo is like a “Where’s Waldo?” of Christmas cards. I would also add that Kimberly Guilfoyle in that photo looks like something out of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Please don’t let the kids look at it. Jim Hughes

Resolve to eat better

Ithaca, N.Y.: It’s that time again. Millions of people around the world will make New Year’s resolutions that they plan to keep. Some decide it’s time to lose a few pounds or maybe make the decision to unplug from social media, but one of the more popular resolutions is choosing to go vegan. This was my own New Year’s resolution 12 years ago. With so many striving to get healthy, lose weight and lower their carbon footprint, going vegan is the single easiest way to make all of this happen, and it’s easier now than ever. Fast-food giants like Burger King, Subway and White Castle all offer vegan options. Earlier this year, Taco Bell introduced nacho fries with vegan cheese nationwide, and their inventory sold out within a few days. Plant-based startups are constantly introducing new products. Make a resolution that benefits all. Eric C. Lindstrom

Happy to be here

Brooklyn: I write a letter to Voice of the People pretty much daily. Some are printed, and I want to thank The News. I love reading others’ opinions, and I think VOP is a perfect platform for freedom of speech amongst the readers. Happy, healthy holidays to my fellow Voicers. Let’s hope 2024 brings us more letters of hope. Mariann Tepedino

Price of an island

Stratford, Conn.: To wit, this presently disinterested party (as a native-born NYC-er) posits that for a toll fee of a mere 9 bucks less than the original May 1626 asking price of $24 for the entire island (from the Indigenous Lenape and/or Algonquin to New Netherland Director Emeritus Peter Minuit), the public will soon be allowed to traverse virtually 100% of its encompassment via motor vehicle, and the last vestiges of Big Apple egalitarianism will be forever changed. Such represents the ultimate manifestation of inflation in Manhattan. James Matteo McHale

Traffic alternatives

Lackawaxen, Pa.: Voicer Frank A. Russo claims that fewer than 10% of motorists using the high-occupancy vehicle lanes have the requisite number of passengers, and as a disabled veteran, he wants to be one of those drivers. If the Voicer is correct, the HOV designation should be removed and the lanes made available to all traffic. Alternatively, the Voicer can use Access-A-Ride, which is allowed in the HOV lanes. John A. MacKinnon

Club member?

College Point: NYC has been trying to raid and shut down these illegal smoke shops for a year already, but only more have opened up. Meanwhile, Mayor Adams was celebrating and taking photos with Empire Cannabis Club (the biggest illegal chain cannabis smoke shop in NYC) on Nov. 21. Everyone knows Empire Cannabis Club. They have been on the news and in every newspaper multiple times for more than a year now over raids and shutdowns for selling cannabis illegally, but they just reopen the next day. How is the mayor cracking down on illegal smoke shops when he is in bed with the biggest illegal smoke shop in NYC? Ronald Shen

Bitter dealings

Bronx: I’ve been a huge Mets fan since the ’69 series. I was thrilled to death when the Wilpons sold the team to Steve Cohen. The Mets finally had an owner willing to spend money. He has done so the last few years and things did not go as planned. This year it seems he has gotten gun shy about spending money. No Shohei Ohtani. His contract is ridiculous. No Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The one guy who wants to be here, the face of the Mets, is still waiting for a contract. Pete Alonso wants to be a Met for life and you show him no love or money. Like I said, coal in my stocking. Susana Burgos

Second string

Manhattan: It is not the Yankees, the Mets, the Knicks, the Giants or the Jets. The best team in New York is the New York Rangers. And what does the Daily News do about that? They take the wire service story and print it. No assigned reporter to cover this terrific team, which may win the Stanley Cup. Why can’t you afford to pay a beat reporter to cover this N.Y. team? Richard Simon

Rightful place

Manhattan: There are issues besides her son that Cher deals with at the moment that could also have a bearing on her wellbeing (“Cher files for conservatorship of adult son Elijah Blue Allman,” Dec. 29). Cher recently said she’s done holding out hope for a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Repeated snubs by the organization have left her with resentment toward the industry and any interest in being part of it again. Her latest single “DJ Play a Christmas Song” hit the top spot on the Billboard chart, making her only the second act after the Rolling Stones to score a No. 1 record in each of the last seven decades. With such a history, Cher, 77, should be voted in. Alan Lehrer

Wanton killing

Ridgewood, N.J.: Re “Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in largely emptied north” (Dec. 29): Now this is population control. The Nazis would be proud. Here in America, hunting humans is largely illegal. In Palestine, it is sport. Peter J. Peirano

Biased framing

Bronx: Again, your article (“N.Y.-born hostage killed on Oct. 7,” Dec. 29) blamed Hamas for “massacring” 1,200 people when the facts show that many were killed by Israeli forces. You also fail to use the word “massacre” to describe Israel’s killing of more than 20,000 people. W. Twirley

Selective grief

Bronx: President Biden is devastated to learn that American Judy Weinstein was killed by Hamas. I don’t recall him being devastated when American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by the Israeli military. Richie Nagan

Unsympathetic

Manhattan: The pro-Palestinian protests around the country are proving how right Israel is. Many of these protests are violent. And they’re calling Israeli actions war crimes. What Hamas did to Israelis are the worst crimes against humanity anyone can commit, crimes literally on the level of Nazis. For these protesters to not even make mention of this, I wonder how humane they are. Danny McDonald