We need an ‘Alliance for America’
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
COURIER LIFE, DECEMBER 4-10, 2020 17
OP-ED
BY MAURICE KOLODIN
We may still be the United
States of America but clearly,
and sadly, we are no longer
the united Americans of
America.
Throughout our history,
Americans had different political
opinions. And that is
fi ne. The cornerstone of our
Democracy is having differences.
Differences in religion.
Differences in race. And, yes,
as previously stated, differences
in opinions about what
is best for our country.
Overall, and for most
years of our country’s existence,
we all peacefully coexisted
while maintaining
our differences and different
opinions. The different political
opinions were discussed
and debated; heated at times,
but always in a civilized manner.
Civilized. Meaning in a
civil manner.
Political differences were
settled by elections. Heated.
Hard-fought. But when an
election ended, Americans
remembered one thing, fi rst
and foremost. We were all
Americans. This was our
country. We were opponents
— not enemies. Elections
were “fought” to win — not
for annihilation.
Between elections, Americans
understood that in order
to govern, for our collective
survival, people with different
opinions had to compromise
so as to accomplish things
for our collective well-being.
What was obvious was that,
in order to move forward, we
had to do this together for our
country.
Working together, by people
with possibly differing
views, is considered an alliance;
people working together
for shared goals while still
maintaining different views
on other matters. It is done in
a civil manner and without
anger or hatred toward each
other.
That is what we need
now — an “ALLIANCE FOR
AMERICA!”
We must remember that
this is our country – ONE
country with ONE people!
We must concentrate on our
shared goals, not our few
disagreements. We must not
let politics and partisanship
come between our common
needs, desires, and goals.
Political parties are merely
vehicles for a broad perspective
of its membership. Virtually
no one agrees with everything
any political party has
as its positions in its Party
Platform. In fact, the truth is,
virtually no one knows most
of the positions that their
Party has in its Platform! And
therein is likely the problem!
So many of us are “partisan
soldiers” in an army whose
members do not really know
what they are fi ghting for!
Wake up, people! I am not
suggesting that we abandon
political parties. Let’s just put
them in their proper perspective.
They do not, and should
not, govern our daily lives.
What should govern is each
of us feeling that we are part
of an “Alliance for America.”
Pursuing shared and common
goals for our joint betterment.
Let’s look at it another
way: at the typical Thanksgiving
family get together, do
we go to enjoy being with the
whole family or, primarily, for
the purpose of arguing with
the stereotypical “crazy uncle”
that every family has?!
The “Alliance for America”
should be viewed as our
joint family get-together. Let’s
not confuse where our true
interests lie for our collective
well-being. The efforts we
need to make to work together
is more than a full time job
and that leaves no time to concentrate
on being roadblocks
for each other.
We must remember that
the primary purpose of a political
party is to elect its candidates
to public offi ce. As an
addendum, to fi nd jobs for the
party faithful. And you know
what? That’s all good for us! It
is when we, the voters, forget
that membership in a political
party is not comparable to belonging
to a cult. That elected
offi cials are public servants
who are to be respected and
supported if they are doing
a good job. But the political
party and the elected offi cial
should NOT be worshipped.
Tolerance for our differing
opinions must be shown, understood,
and accepted. Disagreement
should lead to discussion,
not destruction.
Several weeks from now,
our country will have a new
administration in the White
House. I believe that the ideas
expressed herein, and the concept
of an “Alliance for America,”
is in sync with the ideas
and direction that the Biden-
Harris team would like to see
the American people follow.
Toward that end, I would
hope that, to promote the
same, Biden-Harris would
consider creating AMBASSADORS
2 AMERICA 4 AMERICA.
This non-partisan, nonsalaried,
appointed group
should be comprised of celebrities
from different walks of
life; from sports, entertainment,
academia, politics, government
service, military
service, religious leaders,
union leaders, business leaders,
etc. These Ambassadors
would carry the “Alliance
for America” message to our
entire country and all of our
people.
Perhaps our country can
begin to return, at least in part,
to what we once were. Perhaps
even to what we always should
have been. Perhaps.
Hon. Maurice H. Kolodin
is President of Shorefront
Partnership Alliance.
Weighing in
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to
the article, “Weigh in on Proposed
MTA Fare Hikes at Upcoming
Hearings” (November
30, 2020).
Riders Alliance Executive
Director Betsy Plum urges
the city to advance an equitable
recovery for all. Her plan
involves not only stagnating
the fare but also sacrifi cing
the health and safety of everyone
in New York City. The
fact is, the MTA terminated
24/7 service in order to clean
and sanitize its train cars as a
means of protecting its workers
and its riders. Right now,
their fi nances are supposedly
“ravaged” by the pandemic.
With that said, her suggestion
that the MTA should double
down on service but not
increase the fare is outright
unreasonable. Would a fare
hike of $0.05 to $0.10 really be
so bad in order to protect and
maintain the train network
we all depend on?
The article begins by describing
the potential fare
hikes as a “regressive tax
on essential workers.” This
fare hike is a proposed 2 - 4%
percent increase from the
current $2.75 single-fare. Although
some critics, such as
the Riders Alliance, believe
the MTA should be focused on
providing and restoring 24/7
service, the reality is that
the MTA is already stretched
thin on resources and its own
supply of workers, most of
whom are considered “essential”
themselves.
If the MTA does not receive
its proposed fare hikes,
we may expect to see a decline
in quality or possibly even
a downsizing of our current
transit system. Let the MTA
continue to do what it has
been doing to safeguard New
Yorkers during this unprecedented
and chaotic time.
Sincerely,
Byron Lo
Native Brooklyn Resident
We must put an end
to gerrymandering
Dear Editor,
If this past election has
taught us anything, it’s that
each of our votes truly matters
and must be counted. To
make sure that a fair election
process happens every time,
we must have fair electoral
maps and end the practice of
gerrymandering. We all need
to play an active role in how
our political maps are drawn
during the upcoming redistricting
process.
Redistricting is the process
of redrawing our districts
to refl ect the change in
our population recorded by
the Census, which occurs every
10 years. Gerrymandering
happens when politicians manipulate
this process in order
to draw electoral maps that
ensure their party wins more
districts that are out of proportion
to the actual percentage
of the population. Gerrymandering
changes the value
and weight of every vote. It’s
unfair and it’s wrong--no matter
which party tries it.
Our political system is broken
and politicians are making
it worse by using gerrymandering
to ensure they get
re-elected. Gerrymandering
contributes to hyper-partisanship
in our politics and allows
politicians to pander to
special interests, but ignore
the people they represent.
2021 is an important year
because we the people can
call and lobby our elected offi
cials as they draw maps. We
can demand and attend hearings.
We can make it known
that it’s time to end gerrymandering.
I’m asking my
neighbors to join me and push
for fair maps.
New York will be drawing
maps in an entirely new
way next year, after a process
change was approved by voters
in 2014. We must ensure
that the results are fair maps
for all.
Sincerely,
Rachel Karp
11231