by Linda Schmitt, Corvallis
OK, one kudo. NATO members raising contribution to 5%. Trump did that through bullying and threats, as he does with every opponent (silly you, you thought those countries were friends). Appropriate tactics, since he is leading us from morality to immorality. America, once a haven of freedom and tolerance, now a nation of cruelty and imprisonment. Are you not worried that imprisoning noncriminal adults won’t one day come for you or your grandchildren? I am. Sure, these draconian measures will scare people away, no longer dreaming of freedom and prosperity in America. Now they see us becoming an immoral nation, with Gestapo tactics and steady erosion of civic pride. Not to mention jails, the ones in poorer states and in impoverished nations. We used to distribute medicines; now we distribute prisoners. What a fall from grace.
Kevin says
Linda, those friendly countries you speak of have been the greatest financial partners to themselves! Bullying? All the way up with a “Red Hot Poker”. You sound like a juvenile.
Brenda Allington says
I am in despair as I see the cruelty imposed on innocent, hard-working people who have done no harm to anyone– ever. I have visited concentration camps in Germany and silently prayed that people would NEVER AGAIN be gullible enough to accept disinformation and blindly accept the ruination of their lives and destruction of their country by the wealthiest and most entitled.
Fall from grace indeed. Again and again……………………..
Gomez says
Test comment. Sometimes when i try & respond to a comment in a thread on the Opinions page at the Star I get this error message;
403 Forbidden nginx
It’s frustrating because we’ll be into a good back and forth and then this pops up & I am unable to respond. Anyone else ever get these?
Mike Miller says
I also do, as if our ability to comment is being rationed, and after that ration is out, censored.
I also see several new comments that weren’t online earlier today, but are dated prior to today.
It’s gotten to the point that I copy/paste my comments into a saved folder, because it seems the competency/practice of this paper is… inconsistent… at best.
Gomez says
Mike. OK, thanks, so it’s not just me. Not sure if it’s some sort of moderating/admin thing or a tech glitch. You & I are often on opposite sides of matters so that makes me think that it’s more likely some sort of tech/software glitch rather than censorship.
Mike Miller says
Welcome.
I’m thinking the same thing you are… but I know I’ve been censored in the past by Victoria “I make the rules around here!” Howell.
Maybe the BS mgmt/owners can get their paper fixed, but I don’t hold confidence in that based on what I’ve seen for too many years.
John Grant says
Good that Mike and Gomez can sort out glitches and conspiracies on the part of the Star.
But can either of you, or anyone else, help Kevin out with what alliances are, why they are and why they are, among allies with common aims??
The letter to the editor was acknowledging a time Trump’s bullying style actually got positive results; a growingly uncommon outcome.
With the absence of ANY substance, Kevin sounds like the juvenile bully on the playground.
Tracy says
I get them often and am not engaging in prattle.
Mike Miller says
Really? By that very comment, you actually did prattle. Look it up. SMH.