A hard-charging gov’t in the Year of the Horse

Seaside Heights, N.J.: As we embrace the Lunar New Year, we find ourselves welcoming the Year of the Horse—a creature renowned for its energy, confidence, and steadfast belief that swiftness defines direction. Interestingly, this mirrors the current style of American governance.

Horses are known for their majestic dashes, with flowing manes and tails, while stable hands scramble behind with updated instructions. Similarly, recent policy implementations have mirrored this equestrian spectacle: grand announcements at full speed, followed by clarifications, reversals, and reminders that reality still holds sway.

When startled, a horse can suddenly veer off course. This administration has shown a knack for abrupt shifts—foreign policy declarations that transform overnight, budget plans that vanish by morning, and communication that suggests diverse maps and timelines are in use. Observing this process feels less like strategic chess and more akin to a lively rodeo.

Yet, the horse is a symbol of perseverance. It carries its riders over long, uncertain paths, even under challenging conditions. In this way, the presidency—despite policy detours, rhetorical outbursts, and social-media uproars—remains a formidable force in driving national progress.

Even a wandering horse can propel the caravan forward. Well, at least sometimes. Igor La Manna

Suggested edits

New Hyde Park, L.I.: To Vince Ferraccioli: Your letter should have highlighted reasons never to support a Republican again! They stand for: Storming our Capitol, wasting taxpayer money on untrained and unvetted secret police (ICE), vilifying local law enforcement, the National Guard, and all armed forces, defaming past and current government leaders—even while abroad—obsessing over restroom usage while defending a convicted felon with ties to a sex trafficker, deporting individuals without due process, and endangering citizens. It’s time for Republicans to renew their thinking and ideas. Matt Callanan

Risks of anonymity

Kew Gardens: People will do things under the cover of darkness they would not do in the light. That adage explains why ICE agents should not wear masks. If their faces were uncovered like other law enforcement officials, they would be less likely to commit the horrendous acts of violence against immigrants and American citizens. Glenn Hayes

We must live with it

Ithaca, N.Y.: President Trump’s been helping cronies sell and combust poisonous fossil fuels for years. Now he’s making it official (“Trump’s EPA revokes scientific finding that underpinned US fight against climate change,” Feb. 12). As your article clearly spells out, if Trump succeeds in repudiating the EPA’s responsibility for greenhouse gas regulation (an EPA function protected by U.S. court cases for two decades), we’ll be gagging, coughing and choking on truck, bus, car and plane exhaust, and shaking our fists at utilities, factories and other industrial sites whose chimney emissions grow more toxic by the day. Meanwhile, our own Gov. Hochul is busy extracting the spine from New York’s emissions-lowering Climate Leadership and Climate Protection Act by delaying or ignoring every element of it. Christine Sheppard

Selling our future

Northford, Conn.: It took Trump one minute to destroy the EPA and kill the future of a clean environment. Anyone with children, grandchildren or family should be outraged at what the fossil fuel industry is going to do to our country. It took decades to clean our rivers and streams, and now all that work is gone. It wasn’t long ago that cities like Los Angeles were under smog alerts week after week. All this to put more money into the pockets of coal, oil and Trump’s family. They want us to believe that China doesn’t care, so why should we? China is actually putting more money into solar, wind, water and batteries than most other countries are. All the money in the world isn’t going to save you when the air is polluted and the water is undrinkable. In order to care about people other than yourself, you have to have a soul. Alton Eliason

Bigoted bias

Manhattan: To Voicer Gil Lederman: I don’t think you noticed, but your shameful bigotry and bias slipped out there for a minute — publicly, in the paper — making ethnic jokes about the Muslim mayor just like a racist/bigot. I know you bigots don’t give a crap anymore, but that moldy orange that has you so emboldened won’t always be president. Words have consequences. I send this message to every Mayor Mamdani critic in New York as well: No, he does not owe your race, religion or creed any special attention. The only New Yorkers who need his immediate attention are the poor, hungry and homeless. T.S. Fallani

A question of access

Ledyard, Conn.: Voicer Joseph Beyhl asked, “Why are liberal Democrats so against and so afraid of having to use ID to vote?” I’d begin my answer by respectfully asking that he not decide how every liberal Democrat thinks and feels. I think the better question is: Logistically, how can we make it so that everyone has access to a free and easily obtainable form of picture ID? Not everyone drives, and not everyone stays in one place for a long period of time. The focus shouldn’t be on criticism, but rather on figuring out why we don’t have at least 80% of eligible voters voting, and fix it. Lisa Allen

Outsized impact

Bronx: To Voicer Richard Warren: Illegal immigrants fuel crime. They make up 4% of New York’s population but account for 14% of the state’s incarcerated individuals. Michael Abbey

Personal experience?

East Meadow, L.I.: I see that more than 30% of Republicans believe that their livelihoods are affected by immigrants. Can any of you please tell me, honestly, if you were personally affected job-wise? Also, please tell me what your job is and how you were affected by the influx of immigrants. Thank you. Ralph Nuzzo

One of the greats

Hallandale Beach, Fla.: I’m saddened to learn of the passing of Robert Duvall. He was an Oscar legend. He was great in “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.” He was one of my favorite actors. My condolences go out to his family and friends. Robert Duvall, RIP. Paul Bacon

Seen & rejected

Brooklyn: Voicer Jeffrey B. Freedman’s yearning for a modern, 21st-century Penn Station designed after “the magnificence of the 1910 architectural masterpiece” while retaining Madison Square Garden has already come to pass. It’s designed by Richard Cameron of The Beaux-Arts Atelier. The spires atop MSG also evoke the grand architecture of the 1890 arena. The plans accommodate through-running train capacity without demolishing the neighborhood south of Penn. Of the four submitted, this NYC-worthy plan, presented by ReThinkNYC, was the one booted to the curb. The decision speaks for itself. Joy E. Goldberg