I was encouraged to read about the public health alliance being formed by Illinois and other states, in response to the continued dismantling of federal agencies dedicated to providing factual, science-based medical recommendations to the public.
However, I am very concerned by the political rhetoric that threatens to turn public health into yet another political football, with each of us choosing sides based on our political affiliation. It is imperative that we the people can trust our public health officials to give us the best possible advice, based on their objective and professional judgment, not based on their political party.
Unfortunately, our current federal leadership continues to sow mistrust in public health officials, especially those from “blue states,” by lumping all past-and-future medical advice under the umbrella of our public response to COVID-19. This generalization is unfair, but it is effective. In order to rebuild trust in our public health officials, I believe it is imperative that the “blue state” alliance leaders acknowledge and discuss what we got wrong during COVID-19. We did our best, but we did not get everything right, and it’s unreasonable to think that we could have. Much worse than making honest mistakes is a refusal to acknowledge and learn from these mistakes.
The American public knows that we didn’t get everything right — most notably over school closings (with a generation of kids living with the consequences). If we continue to double down and refuse to discuss what we might do differently next time, how can we possibly expect the people to trust our leaders’ advice about our health care? I believe this lack of forthrightness is partly responsible for the damage currently being allowed to happen at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal health agencies.
It is of course very difficult in these hyperpolarized times to admit collective mistakes and to have complicated, nuanced discussions over public policy. But if we don’t have these conversations, then we are doomed to continue spiraling into a society where nobody trusts the government unless it’s the government they voted for. This isn’t good for people, and it isn’t good for America.
— Karen Glennemeier, Wilmette
What about Americans?
According to the health policy organization KFF, paying for 10 years of Affordable Care Act health subsidies would cost approximately $335 billion. This comes to $33.5 billion a year. Republicans claim that we can’t afford this, but yet they are giving Argentina $20 billion through a currency swap! This money should be used for Americans, not a country notorious for reneging on its debts.
What happened to “America First”?
— Teri Tappen Zandi, Park Forest
Advice for Democrats
Every day, I read the letters in the Tribune. They are often filled with angry indignation toward President Donald Trump. I don’t like Trump, but I would ask these writers what they hope to accomplish with these letters. Trump haters will cheer, and Trump lovers will boo. It’s better to ask why Trump won last year and what Democrats can do differently.
I believe that many of the people who voted for Trump were independents who were well aware of his flaws but looked at the left and said, “I don’t want that.” If Democrats are going to win back those voters, they’re going to have to start by taking some mainstream positions.
For example, violent repeat offenders should be in jail. Period. If two people are applying for a job, the more qualified person should be hired. Period.
If Democrats can’t do that, I hope they enjoy the tenure of President JD Vance.
— Gene Sweet, Chicago
A psychological crisis
If you observe the MAGA movement long enough, you come to realize it is driven more by fear and anger than by policy. Despite their rhetoric of “personal responsibility,” many followers resist taking responsibility for their own mental health — choosing projection over introspection.
Rather than seeking therapy or community support, their pain is redirected outward. Fueled by false narratives, this group targets immigrants, teachers, journalists, health care workers, nongovernmental organizations and judges. These scapegoats are cast not just as opponents but as existential threats — dehumanized to the point in which harm seems justifiable.
This is not normal political disagreement. It’s a dangerous emotional and psychological crisis wearing a political mask. Social media amplify these projections, creating echo chambers where fear grows unchecked and outrage is rewarded. In this ecosystem, truth is optional, objective reality becomes subjective and escalation is incentivized.
Instead of addressing trauma, the movement builds identity around grievance. Instead of healing, it feeds on imagined enemies. Language has shifted from “get them out” to “eliminate them.” History tells us this shift is never harmless.
We are witnessing a slow psychological collapse that, left unaddressed, threatens our civic fabric. We need more than political fixes — we need emotional infrastructure. Trauma-informed mental health access must be expanded. Algorithms must be redesigned to reward truth and connection over rage and division. And as citizens, we must engage in emotional literacy and civic repair before more damage is done.
This is our wake-up call. Let’s not ignore it.
— Jana Nebel, Plano
Justice applies to us all
Democratic politicians are now expressing concerns that President Donald Trump is pursuing charges against James Comey and Letitia James for political reasons. But let’s not forget that it was Trump who faced years of investigations and accusations led by the actions of these same figures. Justice should apply to everyone, regardless of party. If past actions are now under scrutiny, that’s not politicization; it’s a consequence.
Those who set the precedent shouldn’t be surprised when it’s applied in return.
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— Al Zvinakis, Lemont
Heal a divided nation
President Donald Trump and his team deserve acknowledgment for their role in helping broker the recent peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. Whatever motivations may have driven him — the pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize, the hope of earning a place in heaven or simply the belief that change is possible — the outcome stands as a testament to what diplomacy, persistence and vision can accomplish.
Aboard Air Force One, Trump recently remarked, “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven, but I’ve made life a lot better for a lot of people.” That spirit of making lives better is the essence of leadership. If applied at home, our nation would benefit greatly.
The same qualities that forged this agreement — negotiation, peacemaking, fairness — are urgently needed here. To end fear-driven detentions, reopen government through compromise, seek internal peace that fosters unity, refrain from using justice as a political weapon (even if he feels such tactics were used against him) and treat allies abroad as allies rather than adversaries. Imagine the energy it takes to continue fighting old battles — and how powerful it would be if redirected toward uniting the nation and boosting its morale.
If Trump is capable of sitting down with sworn enemies to negotiate peace, then surely he is capable of sitting down with fellow Americans — regardless of party — to resolve our nation’s challenges.
If the agreement between Israel and Hamas endures, it could bring lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The Nobel Peace Prize would be one kind of honor. But the greater prize would be to heal a divided nation and restore trust among its people — a legacy no award can match.
— Lawrence “Skip” Sams, Evanston
Trump’s double standard
In the wake of several shootings in Mississippi recently, including a high school mass shooting in Leland that killed six and injured 12, I have heard nothing from the White House or any other spokesperson about the federal government sending the military or other federal forces to assist in dealing with the terror and tragedy of these incidents. Since Chicago is being demonized by President Donald Trump and his minions, why isn’t this horror that happened in Mississippi grounds for military involvement?
However, the president’s eyes and ears are focused only on the “radical liberal” states to enrage and embolden his MAGA followers.
Are shootings in Mississippi not as relevant or heinous as Trump’s skewed vision of crime in Chicago? Chicago doesn’t need military help. The people of Chicago and the nation need unity and purpose to enforce and enrich gun laws to eradicate mass shootings.
And boots on the ground won’t get us there.
— Barbara Metrik, Wheaton
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