Modesto residents express growing frustration over Republican refusal to stand up to Trump | Opinion
Regain control
“Donald Trump Expands His Power,” (modbee.com, Feb. 19)
President Donald Trump and his billionaire friend, Elon Musk, are burning down Washington. They are bypassing Congress and its control of our budget by gaining access to every government agency and firing or demoting and replacing career civil servants with Trump loyalists.
We are losing government employees who have the experience and knowhow to keep our government running. The people replacing these dedicated civil servants will have no experience or knowledge of how our government works. Trump thinks he has the mandate of the people to do this. But the framers of our Constitution thought otherwise and put up guardrails and checks and balances: Congress and the Supreme Court.
Congress must take back their job of making laws and writing our budget. We need to keep qualified public employees and regain control of our country.
Thomas Gough
Modesto
Spineless Republicans
“Donald Trump Expands His Power,” (modbee.com, Feb. 19)
It seems that, as Republicans bowed to kiss Donald Trump’s ring, their spines were removed.
Janie Meily
Modesto
Electeds must stand up to Trump
“Central Valley Democrats who backed Laken Riley Act betrayed their Latino communities | Opinion,” (modbee.com, Feb. 19)
It has become obvious that our Republican Senators are not calling out President Donald Trump for actions he is taking that usurp the functions of the Congress (namely, by withholding funds already allocated by Congress, closing federal agencies, withdrawing from The Paris Climate Accord and threatening NATO and our European allies).
Trump’s actions must be called out whenever they are illegal. What the Senate is risking by failing to do so is the collapse of our Democratic Republic, the legitimacy of the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law. I understand that many senators are fearful of retribution by Trump. However, by not calling out these actions, they surrender their role as elected representative of their state. It won’t be long before our government is in chaos, we will have lost any power to curb the worst of his actions and the Senate and House of Representatives will be abolished.
Is this the legacy you want to leave?
Anita L. Young
Modesto
Stanislaus County under threat
“Modesto native, an Elon Musk insider, is at the center of the DOGE access controversy,” (modbee.com, Feb. 19)
The Department of Government Efficiency and President Donald Trump’s immigration policies are harming Stanislaus County. Intensified immigration crackdowns are undermining the region’s agricultural industry, which heavily relies on immigrant labor. Farms are facing labor shortages, jeopardizing crop yields and threatening the economic stability of the county’s largest sector.
The dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has left Latino, Black and other marginalized families with reduced support and growing uncertainty. These rollbacks erode progress toward equitable opportunities, potentially unraveling the economic and social fabric of Stanislaus County.
Local policymakers, business leaders and community advocates must urgently evaluate the impact of these actions and take decisive steps to safeguard the well-being and future of our whole community.
Pearl Alice Marsh
Patterson