To the editor:

Lately, several letters in this paper seem more focused on blaming President Biden than addressing the reality of what’s happening right now under President Trump. It’s starting to feel like Biden Derangement Syndrome–an obsessive need to attack the past while ignoring the consequences we’re facing in the present.

President Biden, for all his imperfections, did not cause the market to lose 6 trillion dollars in less than a week. He didn’t ignite a global trade war that’s now threatening American farmers and industries. And he didn’t campaign on promises to lower prices only to admit later he had no plans to do so. These are challenges unfolding now, under President Trump’s leadership, and they deserve our attention.

Here in Jefferson County, working families, small business owners and farmers are feeling the pressure of Trump’s renewed trade wars. The steel tariffs make sense because they are related to our national security. However, the rest of the nonsensical tariffs he single-handedly implemented on everything our country imports is a man-made disaster and every consumer, regardless of party affiliation, is paying the price.

Farmers in our region–already facing tight margins–are once again caught in the middle of political gamesmanship. Trump’s tariff fights with China and other trading partners have historically led to retaliatory tariffs that cut off key export markets for Ohio soybeans, corn, and dairy. When farmers can’t sell their goods, entire rural economies suffer.

Meanwhile, prices on everyday goods continue to rise. Tariffs function like hidden taxes, and it’s regular people–not foreign governments–who end up footing the bill. At the same time, billionaires like Elon Musk enjoy favorable tax treatment, weakened oversight, and growing influence–reaping record profits while communities like ours shoulder the burden of Trump’s poor policy decisions.

Instead of attacking a former president who is no longer in office, we should be asking hard questions about the current administration’s choices. How are these policies helping Jefferson County? Where is the plan to bring down costs on gas and groceries, improve healthcare access or support our public schools?

Voters here didn’t ask for political retribution, escalating trade wars or the dismantling of the VA or our institutions. They didn’t vote to watch their 401k’s evaporate. They voted for stability, opportunity and leadership focused on the future–not personal grievance about the past.

It’s time to hold those who are now in power accountable, and that includes Congressman Rulli, Senators Moreno and Husted – who have all been complicit – as well as Donald Trump. That’s what democracy demands–and what Jefferson County deserves.

Eddie Abdalla

Chairman

Jefferson County Democratic Party