To the editor:
“King Donald’s” tariff war is an economic failure. One purpose of the tariffs was to encourage the creation of American manufacturing jobs. The opposite has happened; American manufacturing jobs have declined every month since April 2025. And instead of investing in their businesses, American companies have spent over $1 trillion in 2025 for stock buybacks, which benefit stockholders, but do not create jobs. Recent economic data indicate a jobless economy with persistent inflation in 2026.
King Donald’s first year was also marked by his cruelty, greed, lawlessness, lies and self-worship. It is hard to square his character flaws with his religious supporters. The only similarity I see is an omnipotent king and an omnipotent God.
The American Dream has faded away. According to livingwage.mit.edu, the living wage in Aroostook County for a family with two working adults and two children is over $25 per hour, which is about $104,000 a year. If you are a young family of four, can you afford child care, health care, housing, one or two vehicles, and one or two student loans with a yearly income of $104,000? Many Maine families of such means would have a financial crisis if a family member became seriously ill, had a severe accident or lost a job.
The second most important domestic political issue in the 2026 congressional elections should be health care. Why do we need profit-making insurance companies to act as gatekeepers for our health care? Why not provide a Medicare option for all Americans and truly create a “liberation day” for young Americans and small businesses?
The most important issue should be the impeachment of King Donald. Today, 250 years after declaring our independence from a mad King George, it is ironic that we have our own mad king. Yes, start with impeaching King Donald, and then proceed down a list including Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem and Robert Kennedy.
Stephen Freeman
Presque Isle
