No kings here — then or now

It’s no coincidence that Hamilton’s buried under Wall Street, after serving as an aide to Washington during the war, who then appointed him Treasury secretary. But, contrary to musical mythology, he was about as popular as Ted Cruz, contributing to his demise.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham describes Hamilton as “a man willing to sacrifice the American undertaking in liberty to the expediency of arbitrary authority,” and noted Jefferson suffering “wonder and mortification” at the prevailing Federalist climate in governing circles.

In a speech to the Constitutional Convention, Hamilton spoke of an American monarch, saying “that it will probably be found expedient to go into the British form.”

He favored a strong national government, sought to emulate the British financial system, was skeptical about institutions based on regular elections, was willing to entertain the possibilities of a hereditary or a lifelong presidency or Senate, and wanted money for the federal government to be raised by tariffs on imports. Sound familiar?

A contributing author of the Federalist Papers in 1787, inspiring the Federalist Society — whose wealthy, manicured digits have touched everything from compromised judges on the high court, the fall of Roe, ending separation of church and state, women’s and civil rights, and their dark-money darling, Citizens United, making corporations people — bringing us directly to the nightmare Project 2025 manifesto and Trump.

This isn’t a new fight. Wealth, arrogance and ignorance have always been trying to undermine the people’s power.

Not happening, Alex. No kings here. Let’s sing a song!

PJ Breslin, Rifle

Challenge to Trump critics

I have a challenge for all you Trump haters out there. You want to change my mind, make me see things as you do? Show me your source for all the personal opinions you have that are not actual facts.

There are rules: The source must be from a person who has critical thinking skills that have sources for their “opinions,” and you may not use mainstream media as a source. One more thing — it cannot be just one person’s “opinion.” These opinions without a factual basis are doing more harm than good to “We the People.” It divides us, and it may conquer us. What happened to “Together we stand and divided we fall”?

Laura Cammarota, Parachute

Give the tie to the ranchers

The tie goes to the runner in baseball, right? Well, the same should be true for Colorado ranchers.

A recent investigation into a cow killing (depredation) revealed wolf tracks near the dead cow’s carcass — but there were also bear and coyote tracks present (everybody loves a free meal). The investigation into the killing was deemed “inconclusive.”

Consequently, the rancher could not file for financial compensation. This is so wrong. The rule needs to be changed regarding these situations. Give the tie to the ranchers.

Gary Pax, Carbondale

Hurd’s support for tax cuts is indefensible

Congressman Jeff Hurd and the others who support the Big, Billionaire, Boondoggle are either unable to process math or are warriors against the poorest working Americans. Let’s give him advice to change his position.

Tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans continue the reallocation of wealth to the richest of society at the cost of increasing our national debt. It is really a simple concept. The Congressional Budget Office reviewed the proposal and found that it would result in the lowest 10% of households seeing their ability to support their family drop by 3.9%. The wealthiest would experience a 2.3% increase — that is unconscionable.

In addition, this monumental failure of reason balloons our national debt by more than $3.5 trillion, which likely ensures high interest rates. It is impossible to take anyone seriously who purports to care about the national debt and supports this bill. They are either lying about their position or too uninformed to be trusted with decision-making.

Tax increases are plus numbers, and tax cuts are negative numbers — that is as real as gravity and the sun rising in the east.

According to the Federal Reserve, the top 10% of households by wealth hold more than two-thirds of all household wealth. Since Reagan’s presidency, the share of middle-income household wealth has fallen from 32% of all wealth to 17%, as tax policies benefited the richest households.

This bill would further the war on the working class, which requires educated citizens to object and oppose. The future of 90% of our fellow citizens calls for you to act. Congressman Hurd’s phone number is 202-225-4676.

Robert Schultz, Carbondale