Sunday letters: DOT traffic woes; Biden appeasing Iran; Trump and the Supreme Court

Why is this happening?

I’ve lived in Rhode Island for only 49 years, so somebody with a longer memory may be able to answer this:  Does RIDOT ever complete a project on time, or even actually complete one at all?  Or is its policy to start them, then let them sit?

The infamous Barrington-Warren bridges were years late and millions over budget; they’re already undergoing re-repair.  The big story nowadays, of course, is salvaging the Washington Bridge, which, we are informed mournfully, is already behind schedule and may have to be replaced entirely. Apparently, so are “improvements” such as the rotary at the Henderson Bridge (featuring bad pavement and worse signage), the poorly marked merging patterns on Route 95 North by the Providence Place mall, and lane adjustments on Routes 146 and 295 that have been endangering drivers for months and months.

Are they all merely parts of a perverse experiment to determine how much it takes to achieve complete gridlock?  Will this Barringtonian ever see his children in Cumberland and Cranston again?  Who profits from this, besides makers of orange barrels and cones?  Why is this happening?  The difficulties in just getting around in this state are rapidly transitioning from embarrassment to disgrace.

Luther Spoehr, Barrington

State should declare a bridge emergency

Now that it has been made known that the westbound Washington Bridge may need to be replaced, would it be possible that the governor will finally realize that we have a full fledged emergency on our hands?

There have been several interstate highway bridge issues in past years in various states and they were resolved quickly by declaring emergencies and getting any and all possible resources from around the U.S. to assist.

The people of Rhode Island and our neighbors that use this interstate daily cannot permit our officials to be their usual provincial selves and think of this as business as usual. Rhode Island has repeatedly proven that it cannot build bridges in a timely manner within budget. We must hold them completely accountable on this one.

Stephen Stoner, Barrington

Biden administration appeasing Iran

While it appears that United States and British airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen has only degraded the Houthis' ability to fire upon shipping in the Red Sea by 15 percent, Shell Oil has indefinitely suspended all shipments through the aforementioned sea.  Shell fears a successful attack could cause a major ecological disaster in the region.

Obviously, the Biden administration’s policy of appeasing Iran has turned out to be a dismal failure. Already negative economic effects caused by this disruption to commence are reflected by auto companies like Tesla and BMW, closing production due to supply shortages.

It has never been clearer that the American people committed a self-inflicted egregious error in electing Joe Biden as president, since former President Trump had Iran near total economic collapse. Biden’s appeasement has allowed that country to resume its path to achieving a nuclear weapon, sell oil, and receive frozen funds, thereby giving the Iranians the wherewithal to continue funding their terrorist proxies in the region, to include Hamas, Hezbollah, as well the Houthis.

Peter Buonfiglio, Cranston 

The Supreme Court and Donald Trump

In response to William Tilchin's open letter to a select group of our Supreme Court justices with whom he disagrees ("Supreme Court has every right to find Trump ineligible to run," Commentary, Dec. 14), I must say that I would expect better from a professor emeritus of history, from any college or university, and certainly from one as prestigious as BU. However, I am sadly and sorely disappointed.

Mr. Tilchin's commentary would have valid points, if President Trump had been convicted of insurrection or rebellion, per the Constitution, 14th Amendment, Section 3. However, he hasn't been convicted of anything, not even jaywalking in Mr. Tilchin's hometown. I am deeply saddened that our professors of history can't even seem to remember that in this country, people are innocent until proven guilty.

Mr. Tilchen doesn't have the right to decide all on his own that President Trump is guilty, or disqualified. Nor do the folks out in Colorado or Maine, without a court conviction. Oh, and I am no fan of President Trump − I will be casting my vote for an alternative in the Republican primary. That's how democracy works.

Paul Muller, West Kingston

Taxpayers 'owing' borrowers

The story "Student loan forgiveness to start ahead of schedule" (News, Jan. 13) reported that loans of under $12,000 that have been paid down for at least 10 years would be forgiven.  Disturbing and incomprehensible was a statement issued by the White House in announcing the forgiveness.

A spokesman said, "These steps will help additional borrowers get the student debt relief that they need, and frankly, that they're owed."

In what universe do the taxpayers "owe" borrowers who freely applied for, accepted, and promised to repay their student debts?

Lonnie Barham, Warwick

Writings that resonate today

I am struck by how analogous the writings of the psychologist and social theorist Erich Fromm are to the issue of Donald Trump when Fromm writes about the Nazis in Europe and Black people in America, quoted in the monumental bestselling book, "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents"by Isabel Wilkerson. In her book, Wilkerson says that:

Fromm found the working class to be among the most susceptible, harboring an “inflated image of itself as the most admirable group in the world, and of being superior to another racial group that is singled out as inferior.” A person in this group “feels: ‘even though I am poor and uncultured I am somebody important because I belong to the most admirable group in the world – I am white’; or ‘I am Aryan.’”

A group whipped into narcissistic fervor “is eager to have a leader with whom it can identify,” Fromm wrote. “The leader is now admired by the group which projects its narcissism onto him.”

I feel that Fromm, except for a few adjectival phrases, is speaking of Donald Trump.

Michael F. Geisser, Warren

Many unsung heroes at the zoo

You have highlighted just one of many outstanding zookeepers at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Your article about elephant handler Brett Haskins was outstanding ("Dances with elephants," News, Jan. 20). Many are not aware of the jewel we have right here in Providence. The people who care for the animals are all great caretakers.

But there are so many others involved in the running of a zoo and all are very dedicated to the conservation of the animals. Come visit your zoo.

Janet Noke, Warwick

Mental health and weapons ban

After every mass shooting one group wants to ban assault weapons and one group wants to focus on mental health. Here's a thought:  Why do we have to do one or the other?  Since both sides have offered a course of action which could have a significant impact on reducing mass shootings, why not do both?

Louis Sperling, East Greenwich

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Sunday letters