Opinion

Dumb excuse

Defense attorneys argue that Ronell Wilson should be spared the death penalty after being convicted of murdering two detectives (“Cop-Kill Bill: $1 Mil,” Dec. 6).

One expert for the defense testified that he couldn’t use a ruler, thereby demonstrating a level of mental functioning, or lack thereof, that would make application of the death penalty impossible.

However, Wilson had the cognitive skills necessary to acquire a weapon, aim it and kill two detectives.

This task requires considerably more brain power than the use of a ruler.

Wilson’s convenient inability to use a ruler does at least prove, however, that he is a lot smarter than the shrink who examined him.

David Rabinovitz, Brooklyn

Obama’s intention

I agree with Michael Goodwin’s point that President Obama has started destroying the world’s best military (“Obama 2: Even More Reckless,” Dec. 2).

I don’t agree with his assertion that he doesn’t accept the idea that Obama is intentionally trying to destroy America.

That is exactly what he is doing, and he told us he would in 2008, when he said he was going to “fundamentally change” this country when he got elected.

The problem with the electorate in this country is that we have gotten so used to our politicians lying to us that we assume they all do.

Why shouldn’t we have assumed that Obama was just lying or at least exaggerating when he made that remark?

After all, he is just a politician trying to get elected.

The answer is that Obama is not a politician. He is a radical community organizer and socialist ideologue who, because of his “cool” demeanor, was able to get elected.

Jack Kaufman, Suffern

Bronx beginnings

I read with interest “More Burning Questions,” referring to how the name “The Bronx” came to be (Dec. 2).

While I was growing up in The Bronx, I heard it differently.

If friends wanted to visit, they would say, “Let’s go to the Broncks,” just as you would say, “Let’s visit the Clintons.”

Bunny Abraham, Manhattan

A Lhota nonsense

Thanks for the picture of MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota modeling his new sweatshirt (“Far Rockaway Line Sets Sail,” Dec. 5).

I’m sure the thousands of riders standing in the aisles of Long Island Rail Road commuter trains every morning applauded upon seeing him on their commutes, as a small token of their appreciation for the way he has come to their aid and “fixed” the LIRR.

How many more months of standing for an hour-plus each way every morning must LIRR customers endure?

Can’t Joe take a small break from his modeling job to address this?

Glenn F. Hopps, Babylon

Dollar dilemma

The government’s idea of doing away with the dollar bill and replacing it with a dollar coin would be a tremendous inconvenience for most people (“Keep the Dollar Bill!” Josh Barro, PostScript, Dec. 2).

Instead, why not eliminate the penny, which costs more to make than the coin is worth?

Prices then can be rounded down to zero or up to five cents.

Chuck Eckstein, Brooklyn