Readers sound off on enduring democracy, the MTA and a rat czar

Newburgh, N.Y.: Two days ago, on Dec. 1, the United States turned 90,000 days old. If our nation’s birth was the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, then Dec. 1, 2022, is 90,000 days after.

This is pretty cool and worthy of a moment to give thanks that we live in the U.S.A. It is less than 30 days after electing our leaders in the most basic demonstration of our freedom and self-determination — voting. For those who take this for granted, consider that much of the world’s population lives under dictators’ rule and, as in Ukraine, many would die to live in a democracy such as ours. To quote Winston Churchill: “Democracy is the worst form of government to have ever existed except for and including all others.” We face the choice between democracy or dictatorship each day. A dictator can seduce free people to give up their liberty with promises, threats, hatred, fear and violence. Nothing shows this more clearly than the internal division gripping our nation and the attack on the Capitol Building on Jan. 6. Democracy is a fragile thing and we the people need to defend it.

Can this country, conceived in liberty that all men are created equal, long endure? Will we defend our democracy so a nation “of the people, for the people and by the people shall not perish from the earth? Will the U.S.A. survive until April 19, 2050? That date is 10,000 days after Dec. 1, 2022, and 100,000 days after July 4, 1776. Time will tell if our democracy makes it to then, adds a digit and flips the odometer again. Drew Kartiganer

Bronx: Hands down, the best book I’ve read all year is “The Scheme” by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. Vilma Nelson

New Haven, Conn.: U.S. corruption is destabilizing the world. Surely, our corruption is hypocrisy and we are no longer the beacon of democratic ideals. This messaging weakness creates despair and is emboldening our enemies. Democrats and Republicans need to join together to clean up this mess. Ahron Possick

Sebastian, Fla.: Despite claiming ignorance of the tax fraud being committed by their top financial executives, wouldn’t the Trump Organization and Diaper Don himself be guilty under the legal principle of respondeat superior? Hal Lichtman

Jamaica Hills: So let me see if I have this correct: The MTA says they need $600 million to meet their budget, and they also say they lost $600 million to fare-beating. So instead of going after the fare-beating freeloaders, they want the hardworking honest people that do pay the fare to pay another 5.5%? Reason #117 to leave New York City. Yvonne Scibelli

Manhattan: While congestion pricing is intended to pay for transit improvements, the cart is being put before the horse. To get people to switch from autos to buses and subways, provide these improvements first. Congestion pricing alone won’t be nearly as effective in getting people to switch travel modes. To accomplish this, New York State should issue bonds initially secured by the state but to be repaid from congestion pricing revenues. Raymond Tillman

Manhattan: I am writing this to voice my complete agreement with the op-ed by Ralph Gardner Jr. (”How to stem the e-bike tide,” Nov. 30) regarding the huge numbers of e-bikes, scooters and motorized vehicles riding on the sidewalks, running red lights and going the wrong way on one-way streets and against the traffic. I have written about this before but have pretty much given up on other forms of complaints. I hope that maybe with Gardner’s op-ed and hopefully more letters to the editor, something will be done about this continuing problem. Douglas Leeds

Brooklyn: We thoroughly enjoyed reading Ralph Gardner’s op-ed about the dangers of rampant e-bikes on our city’s streets and sidewalks. However, we felt his last paragraph was more of a suggestion than a solution. Yes, picking up our own food orders would foster community interaction and give us some exercise but it wouldn’t do a thing to solve the problem. He said that the police employed a ticketing blitz but that didn’t work. Why engage in a ticketing blitz when enforcing the law ought to be routine? What happened to “see something, say something”? We think the solution would be to register every e-bike in NYC, require license plates and identification and make the businesses that employ these people financially liable for any fines. This would incentivize responsible behavior by both employers and employees. Gail and Ed Temple

Jackson Heights: Can your paper please publish some of the resumes submitted for the new position of “rat czar”? Readers would be very interested to review the qualifications and past positions that would include swashbuckling and a bloodthirsty demeanor. We could also use the laughs. Glenn B. Jacobi

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Westwood, N.J.: Regarding NYC’s rat problem, just wondering if anybody checked to see if the Pied Piper might be available. Anthony J. Cappiello

Ridgewood, N.J.: Congratulations to Congress for priming a wildcat railroad strike by union members. The contract renewal was predicated on sick days and family time. It was never about the pay. Imposing this contract on the union whose members have said no deal is asking for trouble. About a quarter to a third of America’s logistical requirements are by rail. A strike will hurt everyone dependent on goods moved by rail. Plan for a strike and very tight supply lines. Peter J. Peirano

Brooklyn: I’d like to thank Alexa D’Angelo for so clearly stating the case for not switching the city’s retirees from traditional Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (”Millennials can save Medicare,” op-ed, Dec. 2). I hope the mayor and City Council consider the consequences of their decisions on this matter before they do something that will impact the health and financial well-being of thousands of their constituents. They should also keep in mind that senior citizens vote and will not forget those who stabbed them in the back. Ilsa Ruthen

Bronx: There are alternative approaches to managing the city’s rising health-care costs that should be considered. Savings could be achieved through measures such as negotiating with hospitals for a more equitable reimbursement rate, addressing skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs and auditing current insurance providers. The burden should not fall on workers, retirees and their dependents. The unions and the city worked in good faith during past financial crises in 1975, 1991 and 2008 to preserve benefits for all current employees and retirees. A special panel composed of retirees with management and labor backgrounds, the comptroller, other city officials and City Council members would go a long way. Stuart Eber

Richmond Hill: I have looked it up and verified that there is no god, angel or saint named Black Friday. That means we can go about our lives as normal humans and eat, drink, shop and decorate as we see fit. If we plan it right, we can all have fun and worship God in a dignified manner. Amen. Robert Clolery

Richmond Hill: For those who are complaining about NYPD officers not being fired for crimes they committed, riddle me this: Why can criminals commit offenses and be let out free but cops can’t do the same? Francheisko Perez

Keyport, N.J.: My delivery person sent a note last week that due to many reasons, they would no longer be delivering the paper. Since then, we’ve received the paper once. I call every day and am told the same thing: “I am sorry for any inconvenience,” and that today’s paper will be delivered either today or with tomorrow’s paper. Well, neither has happened for the last 10 days. I call and call but am told sorry — but that I can read it on the web. I have a phone but can’t figure out how to do the crossword on it. Just too old, I guess. Thanks, Daily News. Joe Napolitano