Readers sound off on money in politics, mass shootings and animal waste

To beat the corruption, publicly fund elections
Western Springs, Ill.: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of free vacations and valuable gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow. Thomas said he and his wife were “dearest friends” of the billionaire and his wife for more than 25 years. How long would they have been dearest friends if Thomas was not a Supreme Court justice?
This is just another way the super-wealthy influence government, this time the Supreme Court. Billionaires and corporations exert the greatest influence on government thanks to the Supreme Court’s 5-4, precedent-overturning 2010 Citizens United decision, which permitted unlimited political contributions by individuals and organizations. The five justices in the majority, including Thomas, were appointed by Republican presidents. Unions can also make unlimited contributions, but they are the aggregate of thousands of small donations from workers. The Citizens United decision means one or a few billionaires can buy more political speech than tens of millions of ordinary people combined. This helps the ultra-rich get richer while so many ordinary people struggle. This is a rigged system.
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Huge contributions are so powerful that the tens of millions of dollars contributed by fossil fuel interests— mostly to Republicans — are driving that party’s congressional delegation to block the transition to renewable energy even as global warming approaches tipping points, endangering the habitability of our planet. Incredibly, with our dystopian campaign finance system, fossil fuel interests put profits and Republicans put large contributions above protecting our planet.
Public funding of election campaigns — costing about $10 yearly per person for federal elections — would equalize contributions, reduce conflicts of interest and make it more likely that government decisions were based on fair debate and merit. Richard Barsanti
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Associate Justice Clarence Thomas is pictured at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Crooked
Queens Village: Clarence Thomas has been hanging out for 25-plus years with his Nazi-admiring billionaire Republican donor and pals. Yet Clarence has said they don’t discuss politics. Right! And I have a bridge to sell you, old boy. By the way, does anyone remember the old Walt Disney silly cartoon character Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion? It’s time we update it to “Clarence the Crooked, Cross-Eyed Liar.” Lawrence Krasner
Overlooked
Manhattan: Voicer Thomas McNaughton is somewhat misleading about the ability of the majority of voters to effect an amendment to the Constitution since they are able to do so only through their representatives. As to the Second Amendment specifically, the trend since District of Columbia v. Heller has been to censor “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State” from the original text, as if not considering it makes it go away. Diogenes need not seek his honest man in the U.S. Supreme Court. Michele P. Brown
Death toll
Garden City, L.I: Back in the 1960s and ‘70s, I recall the nightly news showing the day’s Americans killed and wounded and Vietnamese killed and wounded. I am pretty sure this increased awareness of what a horrible waste of life Vietnam was. Mass shootings are becoming a daily event, thanks mostly to the NRA and its delusional supporters. Maybe the networks, and all media for that matter, should start showing each day’s adults killed and wounded and children killed and wounded. Truly disgusting. No one is taking their guns away, just keeping them out of the wrong hands. Paul Falabella
Trying times
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Warwick, R.I.: Today, most Americans have serious concerns about the direction our country is heading in. Life has become a daily challenge to meet all our financial obligations and also to feel safe in any public space. Foremost is the erosion of our buying power caused by inflation and shortages of material and labor. This has created steep increases in energy, food and real estate. Active shooters in educational and indoor and outdoor facilities make many reluctant to attend. There is also the ongoing threat of our involvement in foreign wars that can inflict serious American casualties. Hopefully, inflation and shortages will show signs of improving. We still need solutions to deter active shooters but that will take strong protective measures. All safety means need to be explored now. Our resolution should be to live our lives with purpose and conviction as we contribute to the prosperity of all Americans. Bob Sweeney
Disavow
Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J.: Chuck Schumer encourages Republicans to get tough on crime by denouncing Donald Trump. I actually agree with Chuck, but in return, the Democrats should denounce the Clintons and the Bidens. Turnabout is fair play. Robert Stiloski
Metamorphosis
Ridgewood: To Voicer Vanamali Thotapalli: I will try to explain heaven by using caterpillars as an example. Caterpillars can only crawl so far and see only what is in front of them. They have low knowledge of what the world is about. When they become butterflies, they are able to go great distances and see and learn about the world. Humans are like caterpillars. They may think they know a lot based on their human understanding of the world and how it works. However, when they die, they become spirits and the whole understanding of existence is changed. Nothing humans think they know remains the same. Not being a spirit yet, I don’t have an answer to your question. John Sendlein
Disbelief
Providence, R.I.: The letter from Voicer Jim Black criticizes “Amazon and PayPal founders Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel [for] investing billions into anti-aging formulas.” Black is a Christian who believes that eternal life begins when you die. I am a lifelong atheist who offers this response: My life on Earth is all I’ve got / I don’t fit in your Christian slot / The death that merits fewest fears / is one I can defer for years. Felicia Nimue Ackerman
Do no harm
Glen Cove, L.I.: As a former resident of Rockaway Park, I was appalled to read the comments by Voicer Peter Galvin, who I know is an internist with apparently very biased opinions on a woman’s right to choose. Dr. Galvin, why would you not disclose your credentials when voicing such a biased opinion? As far as I know, a doctor should be treating patients based on their health and needs, not according to his or her political beliefs. I’m wondering what you would do if you had a patient in crisis, with at the least an ectopic pregnancy and needed mifepristone and ultimately a medical procedure to save her life — would you deny her the drug and send her away just because her situation doesn’t fit into your beliefs? I was in this situation with a family member and I would never want you as her internist. Very sad. You are a doctor, not God. Elyse Rubin
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No-show
Manhattan: Don’t get me wrong, I love “Sherri” immensely! It is the icing on my morning cake. But in the short time the show has been on, Sherri Shepherd has developed somewhat of a swelled head. She has been renewed for not one, but two years! Jennifer Hudson only got renewed for one. She took off all of last week and is taking off all of this week also! She has taken up the habit of skipping Fridays! How spoiled can we get? The thing is, Sherri is infectiously funny and has an amazing smile. With everyone back this week, like the revamped “Live with Kelly and Mark,” “The View” and Jennifer Hudson, where is Sherri? We don’t want to see a rerun from March! Michael DeSouza
Curb your dog
Bronx: I love animals. I currently have a cat and have had a dog. To see these pet owners walk their dogs and allow the animal to use the bathroom on the sidewalk is downright disgusting. Some even allow the animal to use the bathroom right in front of my apartment building with no regard for their neighbors who must walk out of the building and avoid stepping in dog waste. There must be a strict law put in place to make dog owners accountable for not cleaning up after their animals. Bad enough dealing with litterbugs who throw trash all over the ground throughout the city without topping it off with puddles of dog waste up and down the sidewalks. Arlana Solomon Girven Walker