Opinion/Letters: FDA and politics; election results; Hanson and Trump

The Providence Journal
Letters to the editor

Of course it is political

We should by all means keep politics out of the FDA ("Let's keep politics out of the FDA," Commentary, Nov. 18). Too bad it is too late. The FDA was created more than a century ago by politicians. Politicians appoint and confirm all of the executives. Both have had a century to establish how to serve political interests.

The process may be a little slow when the governor of New York demands approval authority also.  He must have labs and scientists stashed away somewhere for this. He does not trust or want drug firms to develop vaccines because they make money.  Unlike politicians. He does not oppose politicians running medical research — just Republicans.

It is one thing to die while waiting for the vaccine. It is another thing to die while waiting for New York.

Richard E. Ralston, Marina del Rey, Calif.

The writer is executive director of Americans for Free Choice in Medicine.

Things that did happen

The letter “Things that didn’t happen” (Nov. 18) submitted by Richard Fyans contains several serious errors.  Mr. Fyans states “We were told by the news media that Biden would win in a landslide and Democrats would win the Senate and gain seats in the House. None of this occurred.”

While his remark about the House sadly turned out to be true, his reflection about a landslide presidential win was not. Trump himself characterized a win by the margin achieved by President-elect Biden as a “landslide win.” In both the 2016 and the 2020 contests, the electoral college margin was the same even though Trump lost the popular vote in both elections and by significantly more in 2020.

Mr. Fyans also needs to be informed that with the vice president as a tie breaker, the Democrats can still win the Senate.

Thomas Frank, Providence

Comparing Trump to Patton?

Victor Davis Hanson has struck again. Is there a competition for who can win the sycophant award at Trump Tower? Mr. Hanson has bested Lindsey Graham when writing "The unconventional deliverance America needed," (Commentary, Nov. 15).

He compares President Donald Trump to a combination of Patton, Sherman, John Wayne and just about every masculine cowboy and gunslinger in Hollywood. My favorite line in Mr. Hanson's comparison is "They reminded Americans that war is hell, and the only thing worse than fighting so brutally against dangerous enemies is losing." 

Mr. Hanson seems to ignore the fact that the man who lost the election had also never fought in any combat or even succeeded in running any company! Have we forgotten bankruptcies and bone spurs, sir? I can't imagine Shane or Gary Cooper walking in on undressed women at a beauty pageant or grabbing body parts without invitation. I also can't imagine Donald Trump walking away unnoticed, as Ethan Edwards did in "The Searchers," after winning a battle. Donald "I'm the Greatest President Ever" Trump blows his horn loudly and often, though it is difficult to see what the noise is about. 

Mr. Hanson says Trump will likely leave office as "a tragic hero." I'll accept that. If Trump's followers and sycophants need to see him that way, fine. As long as, at long last, he leaves office.

Richard Donelly, Providence