Voter IDs, ICE raids, Trump on Robert Mueller's death

Are proper voter IDs really a problem?

A more appropriate name for the SAVE Act would be the Destroy American Democracy Act, not the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act [“Critics warn over ID bill,” News, March 15]. It seeks to fix a problem that does not exist.

The real purpose apparently is to block millions of American citizens from voting in the midterm elections to help the Republicans retain control of Congress. President Donald Trump’s goal is to undermine democracy to protect himself.

Let’s not forget that Trump recently said that Republicans should “nationalize” and “take over” voting in at least 15 places. This is very scary talk from the president who took an oath to uphold the Constitution. He is willing to disenfranchise many Americans in order to prevent the “possibility” that one illegal vote could be cast.

If the president and the Republicans in Congress truly wanted a safer election process, they would create a nonpartisan commission, invest in helping Americans obtain the necessary voter IDs, and phase it in over time, just like the government did with new identification standards for flying, phased in over nearly two decades.

— Gerry Ring, Old Bethpage

The SAVE Act appears to be a desperate attempt by Republican legislators to make voting more difficult for married women who have changed their surnames. Proving one’s citizenship is likely to be an onerous task, requiring a trip to an agency with acceptable documents in order to re-register. If the verification takes the form of presenting documents at the polling place, the lines are likely to be jammed. How many people will wait on voting lines, become disgusted, need to leave to use a restroom, or just leave?

Is there a real noncitizen voting problem, or is the GOP trying to solve a problem that either is insignificant or doesn’t exist?

The best way for incumbents to stay in office and first-timers to be elected is to support only reasonable causes and policies.

— Jordan Ruzz, Patchogue

In New York State, one must show documents proving identity to get a driver’s license. When the REAL ID and Enhanced driver license program started, my wife had to go home and come back with a marriage license. Annoying but not crippling.

New York City required three forms of ID just to apply to shovel snow this past storm. But to choose who will run our country, any registered voter can just walk right in and cast a ballot. And some Democrats call the voter ID law proposal a Jim Crow law. Really?

— Thomas Gawiak, Medford

I see no mention of what will happen on Election Day. I have been a poll coordinator in past elections, and in all likelihood, determining who may vote will fall on that person to validate whatever documents are being presented to verify if that person is eligible to vote.

We are not trained in document forgeries. How can this bill pass that responsibility onto a person in a significant but short-term position? Election Day is stressful enough without adding this level of scrutiny.

— Jerry Dubuke, South Farmingdale

The “Save Me” act is overwhelmingly popular among all Americans [“Trump’s ‘SAVE ME’ act rivets Senate,” Opinion, March 20]. Trying to defame it by defining it as a political tool ignores the obvious rationale preserving the right to vote exclusively for citizens. It does not discriminate between citizens who are Republicans or Democrats, just legal voters.

— Edward Surgan, Westhampton

American dream has always been a myth

Business owner Christian Saravia says that “the American dream is not what it used to be” [“Hempstead Village businesses suffer amid ICE raids,” News, March 15]. I would say it differently. The events happening now reveal the American dream to have been a myth all along.

The wealth of this country was largely built with the labor of slaves who were not treated as humans and, then when their humanity was acknowledged, they were considered three-fifths of a human in the 1787 compromise. Women didn’t get the vote until 1920. Black women were not assured the right to vote until 1965. That’s a 45-year gap.

Gender and race have always been defining factors in this country for what a person’s rights actually are. What is different now is that we are seeing this play out in our streets in real time. In this way, the true ugliness of the “American dream” is shown for what its violent origins reveal: xenophobia, racism, misogyny, and exploitation.

— Janet Rudolph, Rockville Centre

Remarks on Mueller’s passing are stunning

President Donald Trump should hang his head in shame after what he said regarding the passing of former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III “Directed FBI, probed Trump,” News, March 22]. Trump said, “I’m glad he is dead.” What was Trump thinking?

Mueller was a highly decorated veteran Marine officer wounded in combat fighting for his country. He was highly educated while Trump had his school records, including grades and SAT scores, hidden from public view. This is the person who can launch a nuclear war.

— Gene Reynolds, Ridge

Donald Trump is a national disgrace. On the day Robert S. Mueller III died, Trump said, “Good.”

Our presidents used to be models of decency. No longer, at least not this one.

— David Sills, Oceanside