Sounding off: Trump has been stoking fires for years

Make no mistake — the insurgency in Washington was not an unexpected, spontaneous incident. President Trump and his Republican supporters have been stoking this for years.

Trump has consistently been coddling the vilest elements of society — neo-Nazis, proud punks (or whatever) and similar hate mobs — egging them on with his loud, clear “dog-whistle” language, and the Republicans have been with him all along. The banana- republic insurrection in Washington was the inevitable result.

It’s clear that the Republicans are no longer a legitimate democratic political party — they have become some sick, debased thing that I can’t even name.

The division in America is no longer between Democrats and Republicans, but between decent, patriotic Americans and Trump’s ugly brute mobs.

Larry Fish, Wilkinsburg

Impeachment won’t calm the nation

I am appalled Congress is further inflaming the current political situation by impeaching the president. This type of action is definitely not what is needed at this point to calm what has been months of increasing polarization and nastiness on the political front. The name-calling, exaggerated grievances and vindictiveness have to stop.

Let’s just get through the next few days and start anew without further agitating the tens of millions of people who are supporters of the president. Enough already!

Jean Brinzer, Penn Hills

George Washington would not have approved of insurrectionists

Trump insurrectionists and Rush Limbaugh are of the opinion that the Founding Fathers would not mind their violent insurrection words and acts. They are wrong. For instance, here are the words of George Washington to Gen. Henry Lee on an ongoing insurrection, written Aug. 26, 1794:

“This insurrection is viewed with universal indignation and abhorrence, except by those who have never missed an opportunity … openly to justify the daring infractions of law and order … attempting to suspend all proceedings against the insurgents, thereby to gain time, and if possible make the evil more extensive, more formidable and more difficult to counteract and subdue. … I see, under popular and fascinating disguises, the most diabolical attempts to destroy the best fabric of human government and happiness that has ever been presented for the acceptance of mankind.”

Washington would have dealt immediately and forcibly with President Trump and his insurrectionists. America remains in danger.

Bruce Braden, Carmel, Ind.

Biden should demand election investigation

President Trump is accused of inciting a riot with his rhetoric about a stolen election. On Jan. 7, President-elect Biden said the incident was the result of Trump’s long record of disdain for the rule of law.

What happened Jan. 6 is nothing for our country to be proud of. But — and there’s always a but — Biden must also be held accountable for refusing to remove the fuel that feeds the unrest. There are more than 70 million Americans who have concerns about the integrity of the election.

Instead of being divisive, all Biden has to say is he will not have American citizens believing he won this election by means that were not honorable. Therefore he must demand a thorough investigation and audit of the election results. Let the investigation show no fraud was involved in his victory.

That should shut up Trump and possibly ease the concerns of his more than 70 million followers.

Lou Mangione, New Kensington

Keep following the covid-19 rules

The year 2020 was a year of daunting challenge. Covid-19 created significant negative impacts on all aspects of life. We’ve all been touched in one way or another by this virus. We’ve mourned the loss of friends and family, we’ve lost income, we’ve lost touch with those we love. 2020 wasn’t the year that we had planned or hoped for.

Yet 2021 has dawned, bringing with it new hope for a brighter tomorrow. There is optimism as the covid-19 vaccine becomes more widely available. We look forward to the time when we can resume our typical activities safely — going to school and work, traveling, eating in restaurants, and at some point, not wearing a mask.

But we are not there quite yet. We still have miles to go before we’re able to resume activities as we know them. So, as we step forward with anticipation, I implore you to:

• Continue to wear a mask when outside of your own home.

• Maintain social distancing.

• Avoid crowds indoors and outdoors.

• Practice hand hygiene — often.

When you have the opportunity to receive the vaccine, get it. I did. If you haven’t had a flu vaccine, get one.

Don’t avoid other preventive health care measures. Health care systems are prepared to care for you safely.

Finally, share. Share with your neighbors who are hungry and cold. Share your well wishes with your friends who are lonely. Share you time with those who need help.

We are getting through this together. And we will come out on the other side. Together.

Dr. Carol Fox, Unity

Trump is exposing corruption

President Trump has poked a hornet’s nest with his so-called conspiracy theories. But he does not have enough strong backers to defeat the people and organizations who have been working since day one to take him down.

I believe there are elements working to change our country and values as we know them. I am afraid they are going to succeed.

I think there has been major corruption for years in our government and organizations such as the FBI, CIA, Department of Justice, and Democratic and Republican parties, and it is now being exposed by a non-politician and disruptor.

We are watching daily the “shining city on the hill” disappear. If you are aware of history, you know that all cultures eventually have fallen for one reason or another. Could this possibly be happening to the United States of America?

Claudia Graitge, Collier

Reschenthaler should resign

Dear Rep. Guy Reschenthaler:

Last week, President Trump incited a crowd — that he had assembled — to advance on the Capitol buildings. Their conduct constituted rebellion against the government you have pledged to support and defend. You called what happened “reckless events,” as if we were enduring high school high jinks instead of a despicable assault on the rule of law. Your characterization is worse than pathetically inadequate; it reveals colossal misunderstanding. The president suborned this; his criminal responsibility is both proximate and substantial, and his goal was overthrow of our federal, representative, democratic republic. “Reckless” indeed.

The past four years have witnessed Trump’s erratic behavior, abysmal judgment, intolerable treatment of others, indifference to suffering, self-serving actions, self-absorption, and ignorance of history, philosophy and fact.

Yet you are a slavish Trump booster, supporting him, enabling his pitifully inadequate performance as president.

Last week you participated in the foredoomed effort to object to the properly cast ballots of hundreds of thousands of citizens, seeking their disenfranchisement because their votes run contrary to your interests. I cannot abide such arrogant presumption.

You are obviously in over your head. Sadly, you have demonstrated neither the maturity nor the judgment for the position that has been entrusted to you. Please, for the good of all Pennsylvanians and our country, submit your resignation statim.

Larry A. Clever, New Kensington