I think the Democratic Party has a problem with getting together and endorsing Abdul El-Sayed for the Senate. Voting for the first Muslim senator and physician is a big ask for some Democrats.
As a retired nurse, I like his "Medicare for All" plan. Health insurance should be for all, not just the wealthy. Taking power away from big insurance companies is good. El-Sayed knows how to set it up and how it should be run.
In order to get him elected, we need the Michigan Democratic Party's current representatives and senators to come out and endorse him.
Since El-Sayed won the primary, some Democratic politicians are helping behind the scenes, and some, like state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, are speaking at rallies with him. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren show up and endorse him.
There are still many Democratic politicians who chose to stay quiet.
It should be clear: all are on board to endorse El-Sayed for the Senate if we want to win this tough race.
Faith Allen
Hazel Park
The Trump/Dolly mashup you didn't know you needed
With genuine respectful apologies to the late decent and beloved Dolly Parton …
(Editor's note: The following is the writer's parody of the 1977 Dolly Parton banger, "Here You Come Again." Enjoy!)
Here he goes again.
Just when we thought King Trump couldn't 'shame' us further.
He escalates his wars, just like he's done before.
Can't wrap our heads 'round his massive ego.
Here he goes again.
Just while we're still reeling from 'Lake America.'
He pulls another one, can't even get more dumb.
And pretty soon we're wondering where is "Trump Strait?"
All we can do now is shake our heads.
Because he's lost all his senses.
Just leave it up to him and we'll all need strong meds.
He's messing up our world and putting up more fences.
There he goes.
Two years to go.
Oh, two to go.
There he goes again.
Susan Scannell
Allen Park
Trump is putting American jobs at risk with changes to obscure maritime act
For more than a century, the United States government has protected American shipping and national security through the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act.
The act requires cargo carried between U.S. ports to be transported aboard American-built, flagged, owned and crewed ships.
Unfortunately, the act is now in limbo, and American jobs and national security interests are at stake. On March 17, in the wake of the war with Iran, the Trump Administration approved the longest, broadest and most far-reaching Jones Act waiver in history that allows foreign-flagged ships to transport oil, natural gas and fertilizer between our country's ports. The waiver was initially to last 60 days. It has since been renewed twice to run through mid-November. It's time for the waiver to end.
As a U.S. Coast Guard credentialed ship captain on the Great Lakes, union member and seafarer for over a decade, I’ll be the first to acknowledge U.S. shipping industry has problems that need addressing. Our shipyards are few and far between, our merchant fleet is aging, and our workforce is shrinking. However, when faced with American resolve, these are not unsolvable problems.
The Jones Act has core benefits, one of which is protecting national security. Around 80% of U.S. military cargo is carried by American-flagged and civilian-crewed merchant vessels.
Considering the tangle of flag-of-convenience shipping, it is common sense that vital military cargo be carried by American-flagged vessels. Waiving the requirement opens us up to the risk of our military logistics being manipulated by foreign powers. Alarmingly, there have been recent reports throughout the industry of American vessels being kicked out of port while actively engaging in cargo operations to make room for Russian and Chinese vessels. Clearly, a ship of an adversarial country should not be given preferential berthing in an American port.
The Jones Act also protects American mariners and accounts for roughly 650,000 jobs for seafarers and maritime adjacent industries. Jones Act sailors enjoy a better quality of life, higher wages and benefits, and broader avenues of recourse against poor employment practices than sailors of foreign or flag-of-convenience shipping companies. Rather than implementing stopgap measures with temporary waivers, our government should consider practices that result in a domestic shipbuilding boom and a surplus of highly trained officers and crews.
Yet, for decades there have been those who have wanted to waive or outright repeal the Jones Act, saying it would lower fuel prices. There is no better time to test this theory than during a period of global turmoil. Opponents do not have the statistics to back up their claims. In fact, after several months of continuous Jones Act waivers this year, the price of a barrel of oil has not changed appreciably. At the pump, Americans are paying on average 29 cents per gallon more than when the waivers were enacted.
Our country is in a period of increased saber-rattling over populist “America first” messaging. Simultaneously, politicians and the U.S. Maritime Administration are allowing dozens of foreign ships to move American cargo between U.S. ports. Under current rules, Chinese or Iranian airlines are not permitted to fly domestic routes from Chicago to Houston. We do not allow Russian or Syrian licensed truck drivers to haul freight from Detroit to Philadelphia.
Maritime transportation should not be treated differently. There is too much to lose.
Captain Daniel Towner
Traverse City
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lake America today. Trump Strait tomorrow? | Letters
