I’ve voted for Democrats, Republicans and third-party candidates.
I consume news from various sources, though most tend to gaslight or straw-man the other side. To get a more balanced perspective, I use AI to “steel-man” — that is, to search for the strongest points in each side’s argument. Sadly, this kind of honest framing is largely absent in today’s hyper-partisan environment.
I believe the best way out of this pervasive slog is for each side to hold its own accountable. I deeply respect comedian Bill Maher for doing just that — and recently, Sen. Ted Cruz, who called out antisemitism on the right.
Maher critiques “woke supremacists” and describes them as the most intolerant segment on the left. He argues that while both sides have changed, the left has become increasingly censorious and less open to debate.
At the 45th annual Night to Honor Israel in San Antonio, Tex., Republican Ted Cruz warned of a “growing cancer” of antisemitism on the right.
Good for them. We all need to seek out the good and rediscover our shared values rather than fixating on the bad, which fuels a systemic breakdown of our great nation. Otherwise, we risk losing our sense of community and common unity.
Alan Slootsky, Boca Raton
Get to work, Congress
As a union member, I know what it means to stand together for the essentials that keep families and communities strong. Republicans in Congress are holding the budget hostage, pushing cuts that would end health care for millions of families.
Working families already carry enough burdens: rising costs, stagnant wages and the daily stress of making ends meet. Increasing health care costs in the middle of these challenges is not just irresponsible — it’s cruel.
Democrats are standing firm to protect Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts. They understand that health care is a lifeline and not a bargaining chip. Working people can’t afford higher premiums or lost coverage to satisfy an extremist agenda.
Republicans gamble with our health, our jobs and our economy to score political points. Unions fight for good jobs, fair wages and benefits at the bargaining table. Congress should do no less.
Dianna Moore, North Lauderdale
Just let this sink in
Federal workers are missing paychecks. The longer the shutdown lasts, the longer they will continue to go without.
Many are going to food banks to provide for their families, but Congress is still receiving their paychecks. Amazing. Do they really care about the people they represent? I think not. Let it sink in. I never thought I’d see this in my lifetime.
Barbara Morris, Boca Raton
The root of all evil
It’s important to remember the huge role that money played in the 2024 election.
Trump won by a measly 1.5%, partly because of his large donations from wealthy people, like Elon Musk. The promises of huge tax cuts swayed a lot of voters.
Kamala Harris had only a short time to campaign, while Trump campaigned for eight years. But all that money and promises of tax cuts didn’t just help Trump win; it also hurt our democracy. It has made our institutions weaker and our democracy less fair.
Sheila Jaffe, Boca Raton
A president’s vulgarity
At a press conference on Oct. 17, Donald Trump said President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela “doesn’t want to f–k around with the U.S.”
He actually said those words on TV.
And we ban books from public schools and take books off library shelves because people think some of the content is harmful.
What could be worse than a child watching TV and seeing the President of the United States talk like that and asking a parent, what did the president mean?
Gilbert Lachow, Boynton Beach
Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length.
