As I wrote this letter on April 4, Northern Michigan was just beginning to recover from a historic ice storm. I had just finished reading numerous stories in The Alpena News of local communities’ efforts to help those in need — so many stories of kindness and generosity.

April 3 was the day of one of the worst, if not the worst, stock market crashes in decades, and as I write this on April 4, the stock market is again in a free fall.

And where was Donald Trump? Off to Mar-A-Lago for a long golf weekend. (Of course, this requires the use of Air Force One and more Secret Service protection, all paid for with our tax dollars.) You’re welcome, Donald Trump.

The arrogance of Trump, Elon Musk, and JD Vance is astounding. Remember Trump’s reply to a reporter who asked whether he would visit the Potomac River site after the tragic plane crash several weeks ago? Trump replied “No” and went on to say “what do you want me to do – go swimming.”

Remember, while the Trump Administration was firing thousands of federal workers, who still have mortgages, car loans, perhaps student loans, and families to support? Vance took his family on a ski vacation. Again, more Secret Service protection, and all paid for with our tax dollars. You’re welcome, JD Vance.

And Elon Musk’s brandishing a chainsaw to illustrate his approach to cutting the size of the federal government was classic arrogance. Too bad he doesn’t have to suffer the same economic insecurity as the thousands of people his “chainsaw” approach has hurt.

Trump also managed to post on his social media this is a great time to get richer and richer, but unlike the many good people in Northern Michigan, he is poor in spirit, and that’s something he can’t buy.

Mary Bray,

Alpena