To the Editor:
Re “The Axe Is Sharp,” by Maureen Dowd (column, Nov. 19):
Whereas studying Ms. Dowd’s column on whether or not President Biden ought to run for a second time period, I used to be struck by a historic parallel. Like Mr. Biden, President Lyndon B. Johnson had served a deeply charismatic president and used his in depth senatorial expertise to seal that president’s imaginative and prescient with laws.
However going through well being issues and declining recognition due to the Vietnam Warfare, in addition to surprisingly sturdy opposition by Robert F. Kennedy, Johnson determined that his second had handed.
As David Axelrod has famous, it’s time to think about permitting different Democratic leaders to step ahead. Mr. Biden has served the nation honorably for longer than most Individuals have been alive, guiding the nation via darkish occasions and leaving a transparent legislative mark.
For his swan tune, he can attempt to maintain on to energy till he’s 86. Or he can select to information the nation peacefully via the turbulence of the approaching electoral storm — not from the marketing campaign path, however as a gradual presence within the Oval Workplace. I can consider no greater service.
Greer Brigham
New York
To the Editor:
I believe it’s too late for a change within the Democratic candidate for president in 2024. As a substitute, let’s get on with actual communications about President Biden’s accomplishments, and begin mounting a actual marketing campaign to win again among the misplaced constituencies that supported Mr. Biden in 2020. The place on this planet is the Democratic marketing campaign?
Michael T. Ferro
Endwell, N.Y.
To the Editor:
I used to be so disheartened to examine President Biden’s response to David Axelrod’s sage recommendation. As a substitute of calling Mr. Axelrod a nasty identify, Mr. Biden ought to hear and withdraw from the presidential race to permit youthful Democrats to take a shot at it.
I believe that just about any Democratic candidate has a greater likelihood than Mr. Biden of beating Donald Trump, who’s himself fairly unpopular. However, sadly, as with so many older politicians, ego has gotten in the best way.
I believe Mr. Biden has accomplished some good issues as president. However all indicators are pointing to a loss for him subsequent November. And never a loss to only anybody — a loss to Mr. Trump, who has been promising an authoritarian regime.
Is that this how President Biden desires to be remembered — because the politician whose ego brought on the demise of American democracy?
To the Editor:
Re “In October, Johnson Stated U.S. Tradition Is ‘Wicked’” (information article, Nov. 18):
Mike Johnson, the brand new Home speaker, publicly lamented final month that this nation’s tradition was “so darkish and wicked it virtually appears irredeemable,” casting blame for this largely on the L.G.B.T.Q. neighborhood.
Furthermore, Mr. Johnson then “choked up” as he led a name in prayer, beseeching, “We repent for our sins individually and collectively.”
Omit me and my proudly queer ilk out of your collective flagellations, thanks very a lot, Mr. Speaker!
Hate underneath the cloak of non secular piety can solely result in wicked violence, a far better sin.
Ted Gallagher
New York
Skip the Drive-By, for the Sake of the Setting and Psychological Well being
To the Editor:
“When Individuals Are Hungry, It’s Not for Human Interplay” (entrance web page, Nov. 8) discusses the quickly rising use of drive-throughs and the explanations for his or her recognition.
True sufficient. Nevertheless, the article barely touches upon a important concern: Drive-throughs are chargeable for a substantial amount of air pollution and global-warming emissions. I’ve seen drive-throughs with 20-plus automobiles, all idling for a lot of minutes. The cumulative impact of all these automobiles in all these drive-throughs is critical.
I dwell close to Minneapolis and wholeheartedly assist its ban on new drive-throughs. For people who find themselves unable to get into the restaurant, lodging will be made, similar to a employees member bringing out the order. The remainder of us can flip off our automobiles, go into the restaurant and get an order to go.
Nic Baker
Roseville, Minn.
To the Editor:
I learn this text with a gnawing unease.
We’re experiencing a disaster of human connection. Charges of despair and nervousness proceed to rise. And the pandemic threw gasoline on an already simmering flame of loneliness about which our surgeon basic has written so eloquently (“We Have Turn into a Lonely Nation. It’s Time to Repair That,” Opinion visitor essay, April 30). Drive-through tradition just isn’t serving to.
In truth, a wealthy physique of proof means that the tiniest every day interactions truly do matter and might have a optimistic impression on well being, well-being and a way of belonging. In truth, one intelligent examine demonstrated that individuals who have even the smallest gestures of reference to their barista expertise a extra “optimistic have an effect on.” These connections with strangers will be pleasant and ship among the most surprising joys.
So simply say hiya to somebody, maintain a door open, make eye contact, bear in mind the identify of the server at your common espresso store, thank the child bagging your groceries.
Much less just isn’t extra in relation to the necessity for human connection.
Reena L. Pande
Milton, Mass.
The author is a doctor and the previous chief medical officer at AbleTo, a digital psychological well being supplier.
The Menace to New Orleans Consuming Water
Whereas President Biden has granted help to briefly halt the disaster, that is only a Band-Assist to shut a gaping wound. As a New Orleans native and an activist devoted to city renewal and fairness, I do know that we have to basically deal with the problem of local weather change for our most weak communities.
We’ve got seen huge variations in environmental responses based mostly on the racial and revenue composition of residents of a given space. New Orleans isn’t any completely different. Local weather change impacts folks of decrease socioeconomic standing disproportionately, but they typically have better boundaries to receiving assist.
Final yr the USA Environmental Safety Company opened its Workplace of Environmental Justice and Exterior Civil Rights to handle a few of these challenges. Nevertheless, there is no such thing as a laws that mandates native jurisdictions to truly implement packages that implement environmental justice ideas. As well as, local weather change conversations in our extra marginalized communities are wanted however not occurring.
Fast fixes is not going to clear up the issue. We want coordinated motion throughout federal and state governments that additionally entails enter from neighborhood members. Our most weak residents mustn’t bear the brunt of local weather change on this nation.
Monique Brown
New Orleans
