In a recent letter to the editor, a writer suggests that Democrats are turning away from their party because of its policies. I think that the exact opposite is true. I believe many people are turning to the Democratic Party as the last best hope for our nation. Why? 

• Democrats will stand behind and support such Democratic New Deal programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Republican policy advisors and major contributors are pressuring once again to cut these programs 20% or more over the next few years (see “Social Security Checks Threaten to Fall 20%”,  Minneapolis Tribune, June 14, 2019). David Stockman tried to implement cuts in the early 1980s under President Reagan.   Former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming famously called seniors “greedy seniors” when his proposed cuts were opposed by Democrats during the Obama administration. The recent Republican tax cuts exploded the deficit and will be used to justify these cuts. It was the Democrats who opposed such cuts in the past and can be counted on again. Democrats in Congress advocate for higher taxes on the rich to eliminate the Social Security short fall.

• I am very concerned about the condition of the earth we leave my grandchildren. The leader of the Republican Party calls climate change a “hoax,” even as leading scientists warn about the need to take action now. He uses executive action to increase pollutants from cars and coal-burning plants, and to weaken regulations on corporations that expel methane and toxins into our environment. His party supports him in these efforts. To support the Republicans’ attacks on our environment is unconscionable and reckless. Our children and grandchildren will pay the price. Democrats oppose these actions and support efforts like the Paris Accords to convince the world  to work together on this monumental threat.

• The Democrats support treating all people with respect. It rejects jailing families, women and children, who are desperate to escape extreme violence and poverty.  It rejects separating children from their parents, or denying them healthy food and safe living conditions. There is no defense for what the Trump administration is doing to children and no defense for Republicans who support him.

Please understand. I don’t hate Donald Trump, but I see him as grossly unfit to be president. And I don’t hate Trump supporters. My goodness, I have siblings who voted for him. But I truly don’t understand how anyone can support a man who constantly lies, avoids paying his fair share of taxes, belittles our international friends, cozies up to dictators, changes policies on a dime without reason, appoints unethical and corrupt people to his cabinet, explodes our deficit in good times  and calls our press the enemy of the people. What part of this is defensible? So, indeed, I believe people will turn from this man and his party and look to the Democrats for a return to sanity, responsibility and decency.

Mary Hinnenkamp    

Albert Lea