Trump and Hitler; the new American way; thoughts on abortion; candidate picks: Your letters

Tump's authoritarian tactics reflect Hitler's

When authoritarian leaders know that they are losing, they tend to activate personal government disruption.

This was the case with Adolf Hitler when he realized that he was losing as the Russian army was advancing from the east and American and allied armies were advancing from the west. The first order from Hilter was that if any post had to be abandoned and there was no chance to return, to burn all documents. Hilter used forced labor and prisoners of war to build massive tunnels and multiple sanctuary rooms in the Owl Mountains in southwestern Poland. The mountains contained the hardest rock in the world, and the work was not visible from the air because of the trees. Not even the local inhabitants knew what Hitler was building. The project included complete living space for 1,000 Nazis soldiers so they could cause government disruption, secure substantial monetary assets and more. This impenetrable complex was to house Hilter’s newly trained soldiers known as "werewolf" soldiers who were to be more vicious the Nazi SS stormtroopers.

This is the same outline of planning that Donald Trump is using to cause disruption in United States, the world’s most sensible democracy. If Trump knew he would return to Washington, why did his family remove 15 boxes of confidential, classified material when they moved to a greatly constructed Mar-a-Logo compound? In a way, hidden from normal civilization, that's where he tries to continually disrupt these 246 years of democracy. He uses unchecked lying and non-ethical morals designed to brainwash his dwindling number of followers into believing that he will prevail by continued disruption of democracy government through family fraud.

Adolf Hilter once said if you tell a big lie often enough, people will believe it.

Robert Thullner, Herreid

Perry a responsible state representative

In recent days we have received three postcards from an individual or group identified only as “South Dakota Strong” with a Watertown post office box address. Why would Codington County folks feel the need to inject themselves into a Brown County primary election with misleading statements, including allegations that Carl Perry voted to raise taxes? This is not accurate. Carl Perry has not voted to raise taxes. Carl attempted to help citizens with his votes to lower the state sales tax from 4.5% to 4%, to eliminate the food tax and to institute a two-month gas tax holiday. Unfortunately, all failed.

Carl also voted for House Bill 1053, which was legislation that would have enabled counties to impose a half-percent sales tax if an individual county needed funds for a project like infrastructure and if voters approved the increase. This enabling legislation failed, also.

As long-time residents of Brown County, South Dakota, we appreciate those willing to toss their hat into the political ring. We particularly voice our support for the re-election of Carl Perry and would encourage District 3 voters to do the same.

Over the years, we have had the pleasure of knowing Carl and observing his involvement in a variety of community activities including as Jaycees president, with the Snow Queen Festival, as Frosty as well as with the chamber of commerce.

Currently, Carl serves on the Health and Human Services, Commerce and Energy and Retirement Laws committees of the state House of Representatives. If re-elected by Brown County voters, Carl Perry will continue to thoughtfully and responsibly represent Brown County citizens.

Dennis and Marilyn Maloney, Aberdeen

Schaefbauer would offer fresh perspective in Pierre

I write to urge your vote for Brandei Schaefbauer, who is a candidate for the District 3 House of Representatives in the primary election on June 7, 2022.

Brandei was born and raised in Mobridge and worked on the family farm through high school. She graduated from Presentation College and worked at Avera St. Lukes in Aberdeen until she and her husband started to have a family. She and her husband raised four wonderful boys, and when all of her children were in school, she studied for and obtained her license as a real estate broker She is very active in the church, currently running the food pantry for those who struggle feeding their families. She is a hunter and a member of the National Rifle Association.

Brandei would bring a new and refreshing voice to legislative deliberations in Pierre. She not only brings a farm and business background to her role as a legislator, but the fresh perspective of a wife and mother. In these days of division and partisan strife, we desperately need to bring our state and country back to the foundational principles on which they were built: hard work, common sense, family values and respect for the dignity of every human being. A vote for Brandei would be a vote for our children, our community and our future.

I urge your vote for Brandei on June 7.

Rory King, Aberdeen

Fear, ignorance, greed are the new American way

Sadly fear, ignorance and greed are becoming the new American way.

Fear of those who don’t look like us, ignorance of how laws are made and enforced and greed that drives the wealthy to want more whatever the cost to the rest of the nation.

As a nation built on laws and equal protection under the law, the wealthy get by and everyone else gets prosecuted. We have more people incarcerated than any other nation, with the majority being people of color. Sadly, as citizens, we allow this to continue.

The current affairs in Buffalo, N.Y., and across this nation are bringing us closer to the actions of the Nazis that led to World War II. Fear of a group that’s different from us. Fear leading to violence and fed by ignorance and propaganda. Not being a part of the “master race” in WWII meant you were persecuted and killed. With white supremacy on the rise in America and our politicians and celebrities fanning the flames or turning a blind eye, we are creeping closer to being ruled by those who won’t give up their power, even if voted out of office (greed). They are working on changing the laws in many states so the legislature has the final say on who wins elections and who is slated to the Electoral College to choose our president.

Citizens need to wake up, get involved and vote in every election (even primaries). Understand who and what you are voting for. It’s OK to listen to both sides and make your own decision. Register as an independent. The more registered independents there are, the more candidates will run on more common sense solutions rather than party line rhetoric. Be an American citizen and vote.

Rick Young, Aberdeen

Exceptions should be allowed for abortions

In my heart, I'm pro-life. I believe the only way a woman should be able to abort her child is in cases of rape, incest, human and sex trafficking and when the woman’s life is in risk. However, I'm one individual. I haven't lived the life that most women have. Thus, I believe that abortion should be an essential right after all other options have been analyzed and exhausted.

Digging through the dirt in order to support abortions for low-income families means having to overturn the 1976 Hyde Amendment. It bans federal funds from being used for abortions except in cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is in risk. This amendment is flawed for many reasons. First, federal funds include programs such as Medicare. So, if a woman who is of low income gets pregnant, she cannot pay for the abortion using Medicare. Thus, she's usually is forced to carry the child to term. Some 15.6 million women rely on Medicaid for their health coverage. The program is inherently racist because of inequities in income, as 30% of Medicaid enrollees are African American women.

Granted, 15 states have extend abortion coverage to low-income women. South Dakota, however, hans't ​– even cases of rape and incest.

The abortion battle has two sides: those who argue the federal government should continue its law and limit states' rights, and those who believe the federal and state governments should limit access because of due process and life clauses in the constitution. No matter which side wins, it will be a long time before the majority of America is on the same side.

However, the constitution is organic. It's time for government to enforce a measure that allows a child-bearing person to choose whether or not to have a child.

Ali J. Rothschild, Aberdeen

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Tump; abortion; local politics have attention of local letter writers