Punishment, not yoga in jail

Yoga in jail? Really? Deschutes County is providing yoga instruction for the female inmates? Give us a break, Capt. Mike Schults! Jail time is not for the inmates to “feel more in their bodies”, as instructor Nancy Lumpkin was quoted as saying in the July 13 issue of The Bulletin. Jail time is punishment for wrongdoing; it should not be a spa. It’s not for the inmates to learn to feel good about themselves, or to learn how to sew, raise flowers, make tea or whatever else the goodie-goodies will come up with. It’s punishment, or should be punishment, plain and simple. Real punishment. Punishment to the point that the inmate vows that he or she will never commit another crime that would bring them back to jail; that they vow to become productive members of society. It doesn’t matter whether they are male or female, or uncertain about their gender, they need to understand they are being punished.

Instead of creative and relaxing recreational activities, the inmates should be required to pay for their crimes by hard work, simple meals and unpleasant conditions. They should be required to go out early in the mornings to work to better the community they ignored when they committed their crimes.

But yoga? To “feel more in their bodies”? No way. Instead of rewarding these miscreants, punish them.

Dennis Douglas

Bend

Trump appeases Putin

I listened Monday to the President’s press conference in Helsinki and heard as he abrogated his primary sworn duty to protect and defend this country from threats foreign and domestic.

By his own words and actions, Donald Trump has rendered this nation less safe and our democracy more vulnerable to attack. Helsinki will define his presidency. His Neville Chamberlain performance of appeasement to Russia will not be forgotten.

My fear is that Helsinki will be dissembled and dismissed by the partisan talk news noise machine and this real threat to our national security will be replaced by the next shiny object in the news cycle.

I can respect those who stood with Trump before Helsinki. To those who apologize, rationalize and stand with him after Helsinki, I will remember in November.

Jeff Rola

Tumalo

Time to remove Trump

After Monday’s Helsinki Summit debacle, it’s hard not to conclude that it’s time to remove President Trump from office (Yes, I am referring to the 25th amendment). He seems to be confused about what Russian interference means for our country and democracy, not grasping the gravity of the situation and danger of his submissiveness to Putin. Nor does he seem to comprehend the intelligence presented to him by Dan Coats (Director of National Intelligence).

His deference to Putin is so strong, it’s clear that Trump is too weak to be commander in chief. Using incoherent sentences and demented logic, Trump expressed enthusiasm about Putin’s suggestion to let the GRU assist with Mueller’s investigation. The longer he stays in office, the more danger he’ll expose everyone to, including himself.

I take this stand independent of the Mueller investigation, which is exposing the depth of Russian meddling that has sowed discord and instigated political divisions at a time when we should be coming together as Americans and stand with our allies, not enemies. Like it or not, the old world order has kept us safe from major invasion and war on American soil. Do we really want to give that up just to see someone “shake things up in Washington?” I don’t.

President Trump is simply in no condition to make sound decisions and protect us. And he holds the nuclear button!

If Trump won’t step down from office, he needs to be removed. Our democracy depends on it.

Holly Irish

Bend