Santa Fe

Just asking

Are there any tariffs on Russia? Saudi Arabia?

Sarah Hunt

Santa Fe

Stop Save Act

The U.S. House is considering the Save Act. The bill restricts the right to vote for millions of American citizens by requiring proof of citizenship presented in person, such as a birth certificate or a passport, in order to register to vote. It ends registering to vote by mail and online, as well as voter registration drives.

The Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law has information about how this bill restricts voting rights for women, young people, lower-income citizens, and people who can’t afford a passport or have misplaced their birth certificate. Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency team will have access to private voter information.

Please speak up! Write to your congressional representatives. Encourage your friends in red and blue states to do the same. This is not a partisan issue. Voting is a fundamental right for all U.S. citizens.

Claire Romero

Santa Fe

Successful merger

The merger of the Santa Fe Youth Symphony with the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus that happened last summer is quite successful. I attended a joint event performed by both professional musicians from the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and musicians from the Youth Symphony on March 19.

The performances were excellent. And the overall program did a great job of telling the story of the education benefits of the merger. Local music teachers and local students described their experiences with the merged organization: scholarships for excellence in music and for low-income students, mentoring by Santa Fe Symphony musicians, in-school programs, after-school programs, and Youth Symphony collaboration with Santa Fe Public Schools.

The merger of these two local music organizations is more than a musical partnership — it’s a commitment to the next generation. In troubled times, music is a balm. I encourage you to check out this fine organization.

David Van Winkle

Santa Fe

Yes, ‘agitate’

Your editorial (“Be adults: Tone down the political rhetoric,” Our View, April 2) indicates that possibly you do not understand the reality of dealing with bullies, liars or sociopaths in general. With normal, moral, well-adjusted adults, what you urge would be on the mark. But we cannot operate that way with this White House.

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández is exactly right: “legislate, litigate, agitate.” Sociopaths are bullies and tend to operate first by seduction and that not working, they turn to sadistic meanness. Being nice to them never works. Sen. Cory Booker’s historic speech is a form of “agitation.” The White House has no defense. We need more of this. At some point a few Republicans may come to realize their leader is taking them down the road to autocracy. Don’t let democracy be compromised. Fight back!

Robert Seymoure

Las Vegas, N.M.

Keep Social Security

The column from David Brooks (“Fight for Social Security: Our generation earned it,” My View, March 31) is a good and true piece. The money in the fund belongs to the working people of this country who participated in this program. I myself have been on Social Security for more than 10 years. I would die to protect it for us.

The people should not let these two dishonest crooks, President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, take it away from us.

Jose Gurule

Santa Fe