President Trump's announcement to leave the Paris Agreement, an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions, signed by every nation in the world except for Syria and Nicaragua, threatens the short-term national security of the United States and long-term habitability of our planet.
Former Army Capt. Michael Breen, CEO of the Truman National Security Project, describes climate change as a "threat multiplier" that "makes the work of men and women in uniform increasingly difficult ... Extreme weather conditions around the globe threaten to strengthen the hand of the extremists we oppose on the battlefield."
Trump's election was announced during a working group of the Paris Agreement signatories in Marrakech. I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Katharine Mach, co-director of the working group, describe how the world's delegates looked to China to see if it planned to honor its commitments in light of the U.S. election results. China handily stepped up, and it will continue to fill the void in international leadership if we abdicate our role.
American businesses understand the importance of being on the team that is shaping the future. Walmart is one of 17 of Fortune 50 companies that support honoring our leadership role in the Paris Agreement.
Yet, Sen. John Boozman, was one of 20 senators who urged the White House to leave the Paris Agreement. Who is Sen. Boozman looking out for? His oil and gas donors or Arkansans that now face a less secure future?
Leaving the Paris Agreement hands foreign powers control over our destiny, and leaves our military in jeopardy. It's bad for American business, and it's bad for American citizens.
Arkansans should vote out Sen. Boozman for prioritizing his political donors over us.
Kristen Meyer
Fayetteville
A little advice for Republicans, Democrats
I did not vote for President Trump. I voted for Darrell Castle from the Constitution Party. But I said the same thing when Trump was elected as I said when Obama was elected, "He is my president, until he proves unworthy of the office." The same would have gone for Clinton.
But I have to laugh at the letters I read anymore. To the Republican so-called conservatives, you and I were mad about Obama's vacations and how much it cost taxpayers. But you say nothing about Trump going to Florida almost every weekend. The last time I looked, Trump will cost us as much in 10 months as Obummer cost us in eight years! Let's try and be consistent.
Trump has done some good, not all good but still pretty good. I think Ted Cruz would have been better, but he's not president. I'm still waiting for Obamacare to be repealed, but with the RINOs in office, that's not happening. I'm also waiting on tax cuts and spending cuts, but that's not happening either.
To the Democrats/progressives, I say really? You lost. Get over it. After all, that's what they told us eight years ago. But seriously, they should consider if conservatives acted toward Obama like they are acting about Trump. See Kathy Griffin. Democrats would be screaming for prison time. And your stupid protests and vandalizing private property need to stop. Come on, grow up.
Marvin Bair
Rogers
Commentary on 06/15/2017