A challenge in return: Put facts first

Dear Editor,

I appreciate your column ("What about September 12th," Page 16) in the Sept. 17 issue of The Katonah-Lewsiboro Times.

I too recall a time after 9/11 where the nation came together, as well as the world to assist the victims of terror. The togetherness only lasted a short time; a long drawn out war in Afghanistan fractured the sense of community at home and abroad. As each day, week and month passed, President Bush's declaration that "the people who knocked down these buildings will hear all of us soon" became hollow as it was clear civilians were being killed and injured while the country where 15 of the 19 terrorists were from, Saudi Arabia, had no repercussions. And history now repeats with Israel in Gaza.

I accept your challenge for a better discourse; to your point, calling someone MAGA is in essence name calling. It is born out of the frustration of the times we live in. There was a time where fact and truth were paramount, where criminal behavior was a disqualifier for public office. No more. For those who believe in truth and justice as the American way, it is frustrating to see approximately 50% of the country voting for politicians who lie, supported by media who lie (Fox paid $787 million for a big lie) to the detriment of all. We live in a time where rioters are deemed patriots and pardoned after attacking and injuring police (where were those law and order folks when you need them?), where a deportation program is in place to arrest and remove criminal immigrants but detain and arrest people at their job or at an immigration hearing, where a nation whose rich history has been built on the hard work of all, including people of color, only to see the story literally white washed.

So I too have a challenge; if you express support for a candidate or have a criticism, do it with fact. For example, while Mike Lawler lauds his tax saving with SALT and senior Social Security deductions, he fails to say how the bill:

• Only partially corrected a bad tax bill passed in 2017 by the Republican party to harm blue states

• Was funded by cuts in healthcare subsidies, food assistance programs and Medicaid, which take effect after the midterm elections

• Gave the richest individuals and corporations the biggest tax savings

• Has lead to a $2 trillion deficit in 2025 and $1.97 deficit through the first eight months in 2026.

I hope your readers will embrace the challenge.

-Richard R. Levine, Katonah