DEAR EDITOR:

Donald Trump won the election. I accept that he’s the next president. I do not, however, complacently accept the unqualified advisors being gathered to join the upcoming Trump administration. The president must meet no qualifications except age and citizenship, but advisers must pass security clearances and earn senate approval.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, does not know enough about epidemiology. He understands brain worms and opposes vaccines, although he won’t eliminate them.

Multiple presidents and their children died from diphtheria, smallpox and polio. Despite RFK Jr.’s personal feelings, we need our vaccinations.

The Defense Secretary will be Fox News broadcaster Pete Hegseth.Tulsi Gabbard is nominated to be director of national intelligence

On the matter of budget, Trump may freely seek advice from whomever he chooses, but let’s not have Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two of the wealthiest guys anywhere, promising to launch a severe austerity program on Americans. I bet wealthy people won’t do any belt-tightening. And Trump thinks, by appointing another no-nothing as Secretary of the Treasury, that they do not need to be vetted.

The big failure of Democrats was failing to explain just how good Biden’s economy is. Our GDP is $27.5 trillion. Our closest competitor is China at $17.5 trillion. We drill more oil than anyone, anywhere. President Biden passed the Infrastructure, Chips and Inflation Reduction Acts (among others) that will rebuild our highways, waterways and bridges, plus supply broadband everywhere. We have brought the manufacturing of chips and plenty of jobs back to the USA.

The Inflation Reduction Act closes tax loopholes and fights climate change. Groceries are up because employees got wage hikes when stores fully reopened after COVID, and because prices anywhere rise after four years. Gas prices rose because oil manufacturers gouged us.

In fact Republicans lied about the economy. Watch carefully what Trump does. Will inflation move up again? Do jobs fail? Do not sit and watch if / while Trump and his helpers blow up the national debt with their tariffs and taxes. Please understand. Tariffs imposed by Trump will be paid by Americans.

Do not be fooled. Rich Republicans intend to put the tax burden on the shoulders of the middle class until we’re poor. They want to pay no taxes. People voted them into office despite their lies; and people must be prepared to vote them out.

The Heritage Foundation has written a rule book to control our behavior and tell us we must live austerely and without recreational sex. Our kids will be taking military readiness tests. We must say no. And remember, the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 forbids use of the military against citizens.

LINDA COCUZZI RICHTER

Niles