Trump cashes in on pandemic stimulus checks being sent to you

President Trump took the unprecedented step of having his own name printed on the Treasury Department stimulus checks. And there is a follow-up notice that must, by law, be mailed to people whose stimulus payments were directly deposited into their bank accounts.

But instead of the customary generic form letter from the Treasury Department, this letter indicates that it came from the White House, with the salutation “My Fellow American,” and it’s signed by Trump, touting his administration’s efforts. The envelope indicates that it came from the IRS, making it hard to ignore.

With this combination, Trump is effectively able to benefit from distributing an estimated $293 billion of taxpayer-provided stimulus, with postage and mailing costs paid by the IRS, to promote himself and his campaign. Ironically, a major reason we even need this stimulus is because he failed to act and took deadly missteps in dealing with the potential pandemic, at least through February, while he continued to downplay the danger, even during crowded campaign rallies.

David J. Roberts, associate professor emeritus of accountancy, DePaul University

Voter suppression

The GOP hierarchy, from President Donald Trump on down, are down on mail-in voting. As Trump famously told Fox News when his political filter failed, “If we have mail-in voting we’ll never elect another Republican.”

However, Republican voters in red state Montana disagree. Montana is one of 30 states that allow it without requiring an excuse. Instead of showing up in person, 70% of Montana voters mail in their ballots, electing roughly 60 % Republicans to state and federal offices. Extending such voting to 100% of voters in swing states is what terrifies Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the rest of GOP elite grasping at voter suppression to stay in power.

Walt Zlotow, Glen Ellyn

Thank you, Moms

The coronavirus should not make you forget there has been one person who has been there for you whenever you are sick. Who was there when you were born and who is there for you now. Your mother and many other mothers are first responders to any sickness or heartache.

Mothers are always on the front line, battling everything from the common cold to the measles. They don’t come with sirens blaring, but they have rescued us whenever we had a high fever, or tummy ache in the middle of the night, and if needed, cleaned up the awful mess we often left behind without complaining. Mothers are extraordinary caregivers.

Many of the old scars left behind from early childhood were cared for and bandaged by mothers. These indiscriminate boo-boos were often accompanied by an affectionate kiss that somehow eased the pain and allowed us to run and play again. No matter what your symptoms were, you could always depend on your mother to give you the right prescription to help nurse you back to health. They often knew what’s wrong with us before we did, and had an amazing ability to make us feel better just knowing that they were there.

Where would any of us be without the love and support from Dr. Mom? This Mother’s Day let’s thank our mothers for always being there — with or without their first-aid kits.

William J. Booker, Near West Side