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Humans use both words/language and actions to make decisions and draw conclusions about the world in which we live. Words are important; in fact, we like to say that your word is an extension of who you are. However, as the saying goes, actions can speak louder than words.

In Brad Kramer’s Point of View printed Jan. 29, he writes that America’s golden age is under way. He asserts that federal government exists for the purpose of defense, facilitating trade and providing infrastructure. His words indicate that Trump is the answer. Words are useful, what about actions?

Trump has nominated unqualified, inexperienced and arguably immoral individuals for many of the important cabinet positions who oversee our way of life. Those are the experts to whom he will entrust our defense, our economy, our infrastructure, our health, our safe transport.

Words: Trump values law and order. Actions: Trump pardons over 1,500 lawfully convicted participants in the Jan. 6 insurrection, who committed violence against the Capitol Police, willfully vandalized our nation’s Capitol, and attempted to stop the peaceful transfer of power essential to our democracy. Trump sat during this tragedy and watched it unfold on television and did — nothing.

Trump promised us all that beginning day one he would reduce grocery prices, lower the price of gasoline and revitalize the economy. Instead, he arbitrarily imposes tariffs on our closest neighbors and allies resulting in higher costs for food, fuel and other goods we depend on. In the meantime, the stock market, which pays close attention to both words and actions, has declined accordingly. Are layoffs the next action heading our way?

Mr. Kramer describes an America as being in a dark fog overrun with hyenas, home of egregious governance, despicable department of justice cronies, overrun by radical anti-American invaders and more. Strong words indeed. And yet, this is the same America that over the last four years has led the world in economic growth, oversaw the longest continuous job creation in our nation’s history, improved wages and working conditions for middle America, tackled our failing infrastructure and made a stand against Russian imperialism.

Elon Musk, billionaire Trump advisor, promised pain to solve all our fiscal problems. Trump is also saying there will be pain, or maybe some pain, or maybe no pain, but it will all be worth it. Elon now has unfettered access to our nation’s financial computers and systems, your private data with no oversight, no security clearance. Looks and feels a lot like pain is here as promised.

Golden age? Nothing but meaningless words. Americans, is this what you signed up for? Time to listen to your gut, make some decisions, and take appropriate actions. Call your legislators. Ask this newspaper why they continue to publish demeaning, disrespectful and divisive columns that do not align to their publicly stated expectations for public submission.

Jeff Miller
Albert Lea