LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Bonini's world would be scary place to live

At the Donald Trump rally on April 22, Sen. Colin Bonini (whose very presence there tells us all we need to know about whether would make a good governor) was quoted as saying that the United States was founded on “the belief that when government gets out of our way and lets us chase our dreams, all of us win.” Mr. Bonini must not have been paying attention in American history class when the 1780s were covered, as he appears to think that we are governed by the Articles of Confederation. He obviously has not read the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, which talks about the positive purposes or advantages of government: “to establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty … .” If Mr. Bonini’s (and, according to him, Mr. Trump’s) view had prevailed since the 1780s, our country would look something like this: Slavery and other forms of human trafficking would be common — maybe even widespread. But fortunately, the 13th Amendment got in the way. Child labor would be common, and very profitable for employers. But fortunately, the Fair Labor Standards Act got in the way. All schools would be private, and tuition would be very expensive; but fortunately, the establishment of public schools got in the way. All roads would be toll roads, privately owned; but fortunately, the building of public highways got in the way. Delaware’s beaches would be cesspools of pollution and closed to swimmers through much of the summer. But fortunately, the Coastal Zone Act got in the way. Jim Crow segregation and racial discrimination would be the rule. But fortunately, the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act got in the way. American rivers would be closed to fishing and would occasionally catch fire. But fortunately, the Clean Water Act got in the way. Epidemics of food poisoning and other food-borne diseases would be common, and we would not be able to have reliably effective medicines; but fortunately, the Pure Food and Drug Act got in the way. The Ebola virus would have been able to migrate to the U.S., and an outbreak would have occurred; but fortunately, the National Institute of Health and the Center for Disease Control got in the way. Our cities would be so unhealthy that people would have to wear face masks periodically, and sports stadiums would have to be relocated far from downtown; but fortunately, the Clean Air Act got in the way. Our most beautiful scenic wonders would be closed to the public and turned into mines, logging camps, or country clubs for the idle rich; but fortunately, the establishment of state and national parks got in the way. People lucky enough to have a job would commonly be working 50-60 hours a week with no overtime pay; but fortunately, the National Labor Relations Act got in the way. Relatively few people would be able to retire, for fear of facing destitution and even starvation; but fortunately, the Social Security Act got in the way. Senior citizens would face early deaths due to untreated conditions or illnesses, and life expectancy would be significantly lower; but fortunately, the establishment of Medicare got in the way. The American economy would have suffered several major depressions since 1933, since banks and stock markets were operated more like casinos than businesses. Fortunately, the New Deal got in the way. People like Mr. Bonini have been wanting to repeal it ever since. If he and Mr. Trump get in charge, brace yourself!

Daniel Pritchett Dover