THE WASHINGTON TIMES

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Cayman initiative is warfare

Recently, Pascal Saint-Amans, a representative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), was in Cayman to explain the OECD position with respect to the proposed European Union and OECD "black list" of the Cayman Islands. I am not sorry that I missed his visit, as the true position of the OECD cannot be explained politely. Published January 14, 2019

EDITORIAL: A Mexican standoff is a game for children, not responsible grown-ups

It's a Mexican standoff over a Mexican wall. More than a fortnight into the partial government shutdown, neither side was willing to budge. The longest government shutdown in history isn't likely to be surpassed for a long time. One good thing that may come of this game is a recognition by everybody that shutting down the government for partisan advantage is the kind of game that only small children should play. Published January 13, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Trump has power to build wall

Our nation seems to be treading uncertain days. We have a president who campaigned and won promising to address the illegal immigrant issue on our southern border, yet Congress is defying him. Published January 13, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Get rid of Buck Act now

While Republicans promote themselves as the party of no taxes, the Democrats try to sell themselves as the party of the helping hand. Both parties are thieves of hard-working taxpayers. Neither party has ever met a tax it didn't love. Published January 13, 2019

EDITORIAL: Smokers should think twice before falling in the tank for pot

Everyone enjoys his bad habits, else they wouldn't be habits, but fortunately most of us have the sense to swear off the ones that cause lasting harm. The obvious danger of tobacco to health has pushed cigarette smoking to a record low. Sad to say, the use of marijuana is growing now that ambiguity over its legality is well advanced. Potheads are sometimes thought to be mellow folk, whose only bad habit is wearing out the sofa while lost in lethargic reveries about what they can't remember. Surprising to some, pothead behavior occasionally ranges into violence. Potheads should learn the underside of the drug before joining the high life. Published January 10, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Say bye-bye to BDS

Leave it to Sen. Chuck Schumer to try and improve his street creds with progressives by threatening Israel ("Senate Democrats back BDS anti-Israel movement with filibuster of Mideast partnership bill," Web, Jan. 8). American-Israeli interests should not be made into a partisan issue. Mr. Schumer is sending the wrong message to the new Congress. Published January 10, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Carlson wrong on ‘market forces’

Fox News host Tucker Carlson recently used his platform to rail against market capitalism, claiming that "families are being crushed by market forces." While poverty certainly exists among American families, it is absurd to attribute it to markets. Published January 10, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Don’t tread on Taiwan

Taiwan has never accepted the fabricated "1992 Consensus" by Beijing's definition, which is fundamentally "one China" and "one country, two systems" ("China willing to use 'force' to absorb Taiwan if necessary," Web, Jan. 2). Published January 9, 2019

EDITORIAL: Europeans fret that immigrants bring hostile cultures to long-established societies

As native populations in Europe decline, they're increasingly being replaced by immigrants from different and sometimes hostile cultures. The long-term question bothering many Europeans is whether the complex cultures in Europe, carefully cultivated and which have contributed much to the world, can survive this infusion. Published January 9, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Fix ‘leaky’ immigration now

America's elected legislators should be looking at our immigration problem like they would leaky plumbing in their homes. Water damage from the leaky pipes will cause rot that will damage and eventually bring down our entire structure. Published January 9, 2019

EDITORIAL: The nasty rhetoric of political debate is getting out of control

The Democrats set the tone of the rhetoric we can expect from them on the very day that Nancy Pelosi became the speaker of the House again. Rashida Tlaib, a freshman Democrat from Michigan, speaking before a giddy audience applauding her every word, had described President Trump in the most vulgar terms possible, and promised that "we're going to impeach the motherf-----." Published January 8, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Deterrent cuts weaken U.S.

New Democratic House leaders are reportedly reducing America's nuclear deterrent. The chairman of House Armed Services Committee proposes cutting several parts of the U.S. nuclear-rebuilding-and-modernization program. Cuts are especially directed against two programs intended to deter Russia and Red China. Published January 8, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Unusual military relationship

"Trump on unprecedented collision course with retired military commanders: 'It's not normal'" (Web, Jan. 6) brings up a solid point concerning the phenomenon of politically vocal, retired senior military officers. A bit of background may help provide a greater understanding of this phenomenon. Published January 8, 2019

EDITORIAL: The tax collector is chasing Americans out of the high-tax states

Prosperity is returning to U.S. communities that have been taking a licking, a reason for cheerful celebration as the new year begins. Recent figures show the economy is going gangbusters, but in some places Americans are simply going. Americans feeling the bite of greedy tax collectors are voting with their feet and migrating to states where they're more likely to find fortune. Published January 7, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Globalism would destroy U.S.

American politics has evolved over the years. Republican vs. Democrat, conservative vs. liberal, right vs. left. Today the stakes are much higher. It's more than a difference in philosophy to reach a common goal. The struggle is between those who are considering a world society with no borders, no countries and a single currency. For this to happen, America would have to no longer exist or else it would have to be in such disorder that it could no longer function as we know it. Published January 7, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Trump thrives on chaos

President Trump appears to be taking the advice of wise people in his pursuit of troop-level changes in Syria. He seeks protection for the Kurds from the Turks, to shut the door on Iran, and to combat increases in the Islamic State as many left-wingers and even some Republicans condemn him for the high turnover rate in his administration. It is my opinion that this is a healthy nature for his organization and that renewing and refreshing with new people who bring new energy as new challenges arise is a good thing. Mr. Trump is not afraid of organizational chaos or change, and he uses these as leverage to promote his agenda and meet his promises to America. Published January 7, 2019

EDITORIAL: Redeeming Iran

No matter how intense, the heat of summer yields to the moderating breezes of its successor season. Brutal governments that scourge their own inevitably face movements that hold out the promise of liberation and peace. The passage of 40 years, time enough to span three generations, tests the ability of the suffering people of Iran to endure the inhumanity of their radical Islamic regime. Published January 6, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Tlaib, other scum disgrace office

Usually, a freshman Congress member is a little more reserved in their public comments. Not so for new Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who isn't wasting any time picking a fight with the president ("Welcome to the 116th Congress, the 'impeach the motherf--' era," Web, Jan. 4). Ms. Tlaib's insane profanity last week kind of sums up the caliber of Democratic newbies. Published January 6, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Border walls shown to work

The experiences of other nations conclusively show that border walls are effective. The results in Israel and Hungary are dramatic. David Rubin, the former mayor of Israeli city Shiloh, said that when Israel erected a high-tech wall on its southern border, illegal immigration was completely eliminated. From 2010 and 2012, approximately 55,000 illegal immigrants entered Israel. Many perpetrated serious crimes, so the Israeli government built a wall near the Egyptian border. The wall was completed in 2016, and that year only 11 illegal immigrants entered Israel. After they raised the height of the wall an additional several feet in 2017 not one illegal made it through Israel's southern border. Published January 6, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Fight Pelosi et al.

After listening to Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer recently rant and rave over what they intend to do for the next two years in their quest to impeach our president, I couldn't help but to wonder whether they were born vindictive, anti-social malcontents or have had to work at it. Published January 3, 2019