Ride out the trade war for its long-term gains
Staten Island: President Trump is charting a bold new course for American trade policy, and it’s important that the American people trust his plan. As a young American, I know I certainly do. Much of the discussion surrounding tariffs — like with most things political — has stirred debate, but let’s cut through the noise and focus on what really matters: protecting American workers, strengthening our economy and holding foreign nations like China accountable for years of unfair practices.
For decades, China has manipulated its currency, stolen American intellectual property and flooded our markets with cheap goods, all while restricting access to their own markets. That’s not fair trade, it’s economic warfare. Trump is the first leader in a generation to do something about it. He’s fighting back. Tariffs are a tool — not a punishment — used to level the playing field. When implemented strategically, they encourage companies to invest in America, create jobs here at home and stop relying on adversarial nations for our critical goods. It’s about bringing back American manufacturing and restoring our economic independence.
Indeed, it may raise some prices, but the cost of inaction is far higher: lost jobs, weakened industries and greater dependence on hostile regimes. Trump is playing the long game, and he deserves our trust and support as he fights to protect the American worker.
Now is not the time to panic! It is the time to stand strong and back a leader who puts America first. Peter Giunta
Institutional strength
Brooklyn: All universities need to follow the example set by Harvard University (“Harvard says it won’t bow to Don’s demands,” April 15). The Trump administration is attacking our democracy through its attacks on education at all levels. What kind of government tries to control what higher education institutions are allowed to teach and expose their students to? They want to crush any independent thinking. The law firms that are caving to Trump also need to follow Harvard’s lead and not give free aid to his efforts to silence any criticism or resistance. Ed Kenny
Dishonest deporter
Woods Cross, Utah: Trump is arguably the most powerful man on Earth but says he has no power to facilitate the return of a wrongly deported man (“Trump’s contempt of court,” editorial, April 14). Wow, what an incredible wimp our so-called president is. He is being asked to return only one out of some 300. He’s good buddies with the Salvadoran dictator, who he’s paying $6 million to house deportees. Our president claims that even with all this leverage he has, there is still a no-return policy? Horse pucky. Kimball Shinkoskey
Now that’s illegal
Staten Island: If we are paying El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele $6 million to house deported prisoners, why can’t we pay him to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia? The government admits to the error and has an obligation to right this wrong. The Trump administration and all those involved in this travesty should stop the nonsense and be given a deadline to comply or face jail time for defiance of the Supreme Court’s order. Ellen Settanni
Cross-border abuse
Hampton Bays, L.I.: Hitler had his concentration camps in Poland. Trump has his in El Salvador. Gene Kelly
Race-based discrimination
Manhattan: You just know that if Kilmar Abrego Garcia was blond-haired and blue-eyed and looked like a Ken doll, Trump would have him back in this country in a trice. Joie Anderson
Lost respect
Manhattan: I totally agree with Voicer Itai Sneh about Bill Maher being duped by Trump. I have lost all respect for Maher. I even sent an email to him about my disappointment. Imagine someone being so naïve as to believe that the Trump who wined and dined him is the real Trump and not an act specially tailored to impress Maher. I will no longer watch Maher’s program, as my esteem for his integrity has fallen flat. I wonder how many others had this same impression and felt let down by Maher’s being so easily taken in by the huckster in chief. Marcia Epstein
Being played has a price
Manhattan: Bill Maher, our resident media peacemaker, got played. Our president has shown himself to be a self-centered egotist. He never denies it. He has always said he is “doing it for you.” By putting his self-sacrifice up front, he got millions of Americans to buy it, and now we are all paying the price. Maher should join “Morning Joe” in the Hall of Shame. Neil J. Pollicino
Need more people
Freeport, L.I.: As a Social Security recipient, I strongly endorse Stanley S. Litow’s stance on the value of this program (“Social Security is a great investment,” op-ed, April 13). However, Elon Musk has a valid point in his characterization of it. A Ponzi scheme pays profits to earlier investors with funds received from new investors. That is exactly how Social Security works. Payroll deductions for it do not get set aside in a special insurance fund, they go into the general fund along with income taxes and other federal receipts. And benefit payments are doled out of the general fund just like other federal expenditures. The program is based on there being ever-growing generations of youth to support retired seniors, which is becoming less the case as our population growth declines as it’s doing in many countries. Now if only we could draw in more immigrants to prop up this essential program instead of deporting them. Bob Sterner
Public waste
Brooklyn: It’s illegal for a human to urinate in public. So how sanitary are our streets when dog owners allow their pets to urinate on sidewalks, in front of private property and on the trash cans now mandatory for separating garbage, food, etc.? Marie Walsh
Minimal maximum
Forest Hills: How can Miriam Yarimi only be facing up to 15 years for recklessly and irresponsibly ruining a family for life? This was far from her first driving offense and she should have been in jail a long time ago, off the streets and away from law-abiding citizens — those walking and driving. This punishment is more like a slap on the wrist. As always, the justice system takes care of the criminal and not the victims. Disgusting. My heart hurts for the family. Sherri Rosen
Costly oversight
Albany: New York’s antiquated Scaffold Law drives up the cost of insuring affordable housing projects, a fact that John Crotty unfortunately doesn’t address in his recent op-ed on construction insurance (“A new insurance company for affordable housing,” April 8). This 1885 law holds property owners –– including the city and state –– and construction firms 100% liable in lawsuits filed over worksite accidents even when they are only 1% at fault. Because of this only-in-New York liability standard, construction insurance costs are the highest in the nation. It’s not just housing. Resources meant for building and repairing our schools, roads, and bridges and maintaining the MTA are drained. Habitat for Humanity cited the law as a major barrier to rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy. Every dollar spent on lawsuits and liability coverage is a dollar wasted. The state should also address unregulated litigation financing, which Crotty references as “limitless funding of liability lawsuits.” Tom Stebbins, executive director,
Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York
Defensive measure
Brooklyn: Voicer Jake Pickering falsely claims that Israel has conducted a 17-year murderous military siege against Gaza. When Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it handed over a thriving greenhouse industry for the Palestinians, which they looted and destroyed. Hamas seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007 and subsequently started five wars against Israel. Lawrence Freedland
Host with the most
New Windsor, N.Y.: Very saddened to hear about Wink Martindale’s passing. The Winker hosted 19 game shows, second only to the great Bill Cullen. “Tic Tac Dough” was his longest running show for seven years, though he was also great on CBS’s “Gambit,” which lasted four and a quarter years and premiered on the same day (Sept. 4, 1972) as “The Price is Right,” which is still on today. I’ll always remember his genial, warm personality and his smile. Though he lived to 91, the entertainment world feels his loss. My condolences to his wife Sandy and family. Rest in peace, Winston. Not many remain of the old guard, sadly, but the memories stay forever. Todd Schuster
