Trump's Cabinet picks; Doctors work long hours

Fox guards the chicken coop

With Donald Trump naming new candidates every day, I wonder which fox will guard which chicken coop. Let’s consider some of them.

Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence: a Russian apologist about whom former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh wrote, “Couldn’t pass a security clearance.”

Peter Hegseth as Secretary of Defense: former Army National Guard platoon commander at Guantanamo Bay and co-host of the Fox program, who bears a tattoo used by white supremacists and was accused of sexually assaulting a woman he described as paid in return for secrecy.

Matt Gaetz as Attorney General: an attorney with extremely limited legal experience who allegedly trafficked a 17-year-old girl across state lines for sex. Eventually, his behavior was so egregious that his chances of being admitted were so unlikely that he withdrew.

And finally, RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services: a leader in the anti-vaccine movement with no medical or public health experience, who believes that autism is caused by vaccinations and fluoridation of water supplies causes disease, neither of which has any evidence to support it .

This last proposed date scares me the most. As a primary care physician for over 30 years, there is probably no more effective treatment for maintaining the health of my patients than administering vaccines. The appointment of RFK Jr. to this position could lead to a decline in vaccination rates and therefore an increase in illnesses and deaths from preventable infectious diseases.

Given the lack of qualifications for such important, high-level appointments in the incoming Trump administration, it is clear to me that the only true qualification to demonstrate is complete and unconditional loyalty to the President-elect.

Dr. Chris Campanile, Cranston

Long working hours make a good doctor

According to an article by Jack Perry in the Journal, residents pushing for a union want bargaining power to allow them to work less and get paid more (“Resident Doctors Make Union Bid,” News, Nov. 21). They believe that a starting salary of $64,000 to $70,000 is not enough for them, even though only about 13% of households in the United States earn that much.

What is the reason we pay interns and residents so much money and even more to resident physicians? We don’t want them to think about the money. We want them to think about healing other people, and we want them to be paid enough to focus on that.

But why do we want them to work so long? First, doctors “carry” their patients. They are supposed to look after the well-being of their patients around the clock. You better get used to it. This is the nature of the medical profession.

Secondly, working incredibly long hours as an intern has something to do with you. You don’t focus on anything else. And this year it penetrates. You’re going to be a doctor.

Third, working 36-hour shifts teaches you that in the event of a future national emergency, you can be at your best for 36 hours straight.

I did it and I’m glad I did it.

Dr. John Riedel, Narragansett

“Clueless” White House and Democrats

For any Liberal Democrats who are still shocked by the defeat their party suffered in this election and are desperately trying to figure out what went wrong, it might be a good idea to read Mark Patinkin’s article: Don’t Expect an Olive Branch .” by Sheldon Whitehouse” (News, November 17).

Senator Whitehouse represents the wealthy, far-left, ultra-liberal progressive elites in this country who support today’s Democratic Party. A bunch of ridiculously clueless, out of touch elites who have no idea what the average American goes through in their daily lives. Mr. Whitehouse seems to be obsessed with global warming or global climate change or whatever the left is calling it this week.

Here lies the problem that Sheldon Whitehouse and his ilk simply do not understand. When inflation is so high that many Americans have to work second and even third jobs to make ends meet, they don’t have time to worry about global warming. People like Mr. Whitehouse, a child of wealth, power and privilege, don’t have to worry about the cost of food and gas.

Let me give you a few more reasons why the Democrats were crushed. When the vast majority of Americans oppose illegal immigration and then see President Biden open our southern border on his first day in office and allow millions of unvetted immigrants to flood into this country, for which we then have to pay against our will, that is a… Huge problem!

Democrats are also losing young, white, heterosexual male voters. If you relentlessly push DEI initiatives at every opportunity, like Democrats do, is it any wonder they are losing this group of voters? DEI is nothing more than racism and discrimination against young, white, heterosexual men.

Luckily for Mr. Whitehouse, he represents Rhode Island, the bluest of blue states, where voters religiously support Democratic candidates, so Mr. Whitehouse will stay in office as long as he wants.

Frank P. Cardi, Cranston

Veterans must defend themselves against Trump

President-elect Trump’s disinterest and hostility toward various constituencies across our country has raised concerns among these groups and their supporters. Certainly immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community are and should be concerned right now. But there is another group that he has denigrated, whose members rely on the support of the U.S. government and the American people.

I’m talking about veterans of the U.S. military service, whether wounded or whole, and their families, especially their caregivers. According to Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff, Gen. Joseph Kelly, a Gold Star father who lost a son in Afghanistan, Trump described veterans as “suckers and losers.” He was specifically referring to the U.S. veterans who died in Belleau Wood during World War I.

Trump refused to fly the POW/MIAS flag over the White House, thereby denigrating Vietnam War hero John McCain and, by implication, other POWs by saying he favored those “who were not captured.” Trump’s attitude toward military service is also illustrated by the fact that he relied on five deferments (one allegedly due to “bone spurs”) to avoid military service during the Vietnam War.

Veterans, particularly those with service-connected health conditions, and those in need rely on the Veterans Administration for assistance. Federal support for homeless assistance programs also benefits veterans, too many of whom are part of America’s homeless population.

Veterans, their families, and all veteran advocates should be prepared to defend federal veterans programs in the new Trump administration.

Edmund McWilliams, Harrisville

The author is a Vietnam War veteran.

A better life?

Let’s look forward to it! With all the problems and concerns facing the United States, from wars abroad to an uncertain economic future under the newly elected administration, Republican leaders in Congress have addressed the most pressing issue before them by have ensured that the duly elected trans representative from Delaware cannot use the women’s restroom in the US Capitol.

Trump’s Cabinet picks; Doctors work long hours

ByAmelia Journalton

Fox guards the chicken coop

By Amelia Journalton

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