Clash of ideologies

To the editor:

Claims by former President Donald Trump and his supporters, repeated following his indictment in connection with the events of January 6, 2021, that he's a target of political persecution would be laughable if so much wasn't at stake.

If Democrats weren't so slow to prosecute him and weren't so lenient toward him, he already would have been tried, convicted and serving life. He certainly would not be walking around freely while awaiting trial on such serious charges.

But a Trump free to run for president in 2024 as head of a party dominated by dangerous fascists who are loyal to him benefits weaker Democratic candidates. People will vote for such Democrats as an act of self-defense.

But Democratic actions continue to be discouraging. 

As Ron Isaac wrote, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) violated an agreement with labor to hire only union workers, pay prevailing wages and mandate a state-certified apprenticeship program for safety (The Chief, July 28).

As reported by Crystal Lewis, the New York City Parks Department is trying to push small vendors out of Bella Abzug Park in Manhattan and replace them with vendors working for a large corporation, Paradis In The Park (The Chief, July 28). New York City's mayor is a Democrat, Eric Adams.

Then there's the migrant crisis. Adams has not handled it well.

But he's right on one thing. He hasn't received much help from Governor Kathy Hochul or President Joe Biden, both Democrats. Neither has Biden asserted the federal government's power over immigration policy to stop Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbot's deadly policies toward migrants. They continue to flee to the U.S., often from countries whose well-being has been sabotaged by U.S. foreign policy.

Perhaps a bipartisan chorus will be formed to serenade the migrants with a Clash song, "There ain't no asylum here/King Solomon, he never lived 'round here/Straight to hell, boys/Go straight to hell, boys."

Richard Warren