Readers sound off on deregulation, benched ballers and U.S. manufacturing

Forked River, N.J.: I watched that powerful CNN town meeting from Palestine, Ohio, Wednesday night. The residents demanded answers from Alan Shaw, CEO of Norfolk Southern Railway. Shaw said he will learn from this tragedy — but he never learned from previous deaths and disasters his railroad caused. When asked directly if he would buy the homes these people have owned for years, Shaw diverted and gave lip service that offered no real answers.

This train had a worn wheel bearing that led to its wheels catching fire and traveling another 21 miles before it exploded. Shaw said he spends a billion dollars a year on safety, yet this two-mile-long train that was on fire had only two employees and a trainee on it. People were calling 911 for more than 40 minutes but the train kept going. The people of that town are sitting in hospital emergency rooms with nosebleeds, violent sickness and migraines, all from greed and negligence.

Donald Trump gutted many environmental and safety laws, including those involving train safety. So instead of having modern braking systems and warnings, this train and so many others have brakes designed more than a century ago. On Wednesday, Trump used that town as a campaign stop. In reality, he was simply returning to the scene of the crime.

Shaw and so many CEOs like him spend tens of millions of dollars putting money in the pockets of our Congress members to fight safety regulations. Imagine if they had spent that money on brakes that weren’t designed when silent movies were in theaters. Jim Hughes

Hopewell Junction, N.Y.: Up until Feb. 21, Pete Buttigieg was trashing white construction workers. On Feb. 22, he shows up dressed like one. Freddy Sacco

Manhattan: I have sent many letters to Voice of the People. For the past 20 or so years, I’ve probably read thousands of letters you’ve printed. The letter from Voicer Kurt Vorndran about “Lift Every Voice and Sing” just may have been the best ever! Raymond McEaddy

Manhattan: Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to split the U.S. into red and blue, then shrink the government. I agree. The first thing that should be shrunk is MTG’s role in Congress. Carl L. Maury

Manchester, N.J.: Voice of the People columns are trending away from including anything re Trump recently, but this deserves mention — he recently spouted that we should bring back hanging and firing squads, even possibly the guillotine, and lock up 13- and 14-year-olds who steal a car for long periods of jail time (instead of proper alternatives). Benedict Donald never ceases to amaze us all. Alan Berman

Bronx: In a recent annual medical checkup, aside from some minor problems, President Biden was given a clean bill of health. Dr. Kevin O’Connor performed the examination, but what most did not realize is that the doctor’s field of study and specialty is paleontology. For the unfamiliar, especially you liberals, this is the study and examination of ancient fossils. Bob Pascarella

Charlotte, N.C.: Well, well, well. Our current president visits war-torn Ukraine. Our former president couldn’t even be bothered to visit the American cemetery in Normandy because it was raining. Remind me again — which one was the wuss? Barbara Haynes

Pearl River, N.Y.: Here we go again. Dumb Lemon of CNN attacks Nikki Haley about her age for running for president. What does Lemon know about a woman being out of her prime? He’s a misogynist who prefers men over women and by his actions, not only with Haley but towards his female co-workers. Why, oh why, is he still employed by CNN? Others have been fired for less. The women of CNN should be screaming at the top of their lungs about him still working. People like Lemon are the reason why this country is divided politically. Everyone should be treated equally no matter what political party they are affiliated with or their race, gender or religion. Lemon is a disgusting person. Robert Brennan

Kew Gardens: Gov. Ron DeSantis is trying to entice members of the NYPD to take their skills to Florida. However, members of the NYPD are doing an excellent job policing one of the world’s greatest and most exciting international cities, and because of that performance, members of the NYPD have swagger. Does the Florida governor truly believe that members of the NYPD are going to desert their brothers and sisters for some small town in Florida and become like Barney Fife of “The Andy Griffith Show”? Glenn Hayes

Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.: I just read in the Daily News about George Santos co-sponsoring a bill to make the AR-15 the national gun of the U.S. Instead, I propose making Santos the national idiot of the U.S. He meets all the criteria. Craving attention, he should resign and relocate — there would be thunderous applause. Steven Goldfinger

Bronx: Re “Subway surfing boy, 15, killed” (Feb. 22): Contrary to your sub-headline, “Hit by beam as he rode atop car on bridge,” the boy was not hit by the beam. The beam didn’t move. He hit the beam. W. Twirley

Ann Arbor, Mich.: Great article by Stefan Bondy (“Silver continues to hide from load management issue,” Feb. 23) on one more way the NBA puts their superstars first and fans last. But two solutions weren’t mentioned. First, if a superstar is scratched from a game, the ticket owner has the option to get a full refund if she/he/they so desire if the fan chooses to do so before game time (of course, the NBA would require teams to announce in advance when a superstar is not playing). The second solution would be for the superstar to only sit out a game (when not officially injured) for home games. Then the owner would be more invested in getting the value of the investment in the player’s contract. Of course, the best solution would be if both of these solutions were put into place. Steven Stein

Washington: In regard to Bernie Sanders and Bill Gates both expressing support for taxing robots, here are a few related economic development and environmental ideas: Solar panels are made in China with a very high carbon footprint. Why not have them made in the U.S.A. with a low carbon footprint? This can be done with clean, advanced manufacturing using robots. As long as the price is competitive with Chinese imports, it will be economically sustainable. Personal computers also can be manufactured here at lower cost with advanced manufacturing and should be. If computers can be made in America sustainably, televisions should also be. Advanced-manufacturing robots should not be taxed. The great American manufacturing revival will continue to improve when robots are subsidized on both the state and federal levels. Gary Lefkowitz

Holliswood: I’ve noticed many letters to Voice of the People recently urging all of us to go vegan, either for our health or to save the planet, and now even going as far as citing God (Voicer Addison K. Lantz). For me personally, when animals in the wild stop eating other animals, and when big fish stop eating smaller fish, maybe then I will consider it. Until that happens, I’ll take my steak medium rare. Thank you very much. Gregory W. Chupa

Jacksonville, Fla.: Recently, after only six short years, the Ryan of TV’s “LIVE With Kelly and Ryan” announced he’s leaving the show in a few weeks to concentrate on his other show, “American Idol”! Did Kelly Ripa have the same adverse reaction to this sudden departure as when her former co-host Michael Strahan was leaving for a full-time gig on “Good Morning America”? Surprisingly, no! Instead, with crocodile tears, these two did nothing but a lovefest with each other, with Kelly complimenting Ryan to the point that it became nauseating! Who will be sitting beside her next? Her longtime husband Mark Consuelos! Hey Mark, be wary — men who sit in that seat next to Kelly don’t last very long! Carl J.C. Hafner