Here are this week’s letters to the editor of the Herald Times Reporter. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.
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‘No Kings’ protesters march along Washington Street in Manitowoc
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People wait for a walk light as they carry signs along the Washington Street sidewalks near Washington Park during a No Kings Protest, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Manitowoc, Wis. Progressive Lakeshore People held the against the Trump administration and its actions.
The case for owning an electric car
As communities across the country grapple with rising fuel costs, air pollution and the growing impacts of the climate crisis, one solution is becoming increasingly clear: the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Electric cars offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. By producing zero tailpipe emissions, they reduce air pollution and improve public health — especially in urban areas where smog and poor air quality disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
When you factor in that EVs cost roughly 40% less to fuel, and with fewer moving parts, require about half the maintenance of internal combustion engines — eliminating oil changes and frequent brake replacements entirely — the total cost of ownership is now a clear win for the consumer.
Advances in battery technology have extended driving ranges, while the expansion of charging infrastructure is making electric vehicles more convenient than ever.
Many governments and utilities are also offering incentives that make the transition more affordable for everyday consumers.
Owning an electric car is not just a personal choice — it is a meaningful step toward a more sustainable future. By embracing this technology, we can reduce our dependence on carbon dioxide-polluting fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.
Ron Sadler
Manitowoc
Veteran shares view on Iran: To the people who read my guest view on not staying silent about Iran
‘Make America Competent Again’
Eight months after we “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites, we were suddenly told Iran was within weeks of launching a nuclear attack against the United States. We later learned this was untrue. U.S. intelligence had recently assessed Iran was years away from this sort of capability. The “imminent threat” was simply a convenient pretext to bypass the constitutional requirement of congressional approval for military action.
Iran has a recognized expertise in drone warfare, as demonstrated for years by their abundant supply of sophisticated drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. These inexpensive and plentiful drones are now exhausting a limited U.S. supply of expensive defense missiles. This important Iranian advantage was overlooked.
Iran’s geography allows them to militarily control marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Although the blockage is illegal, it is nevertheless a classic wartime strategy that should have been foreseen. Especially because the U.S. has done similar things very recently with our naval blockades of Venezuela and now Cuba.
And what happens when the U.S. leaves the Middle East? A wounded and angry Iran is now much more dangerous than it was before.
These are all unforced errors that would have been avoided with a more disciplined analysis by experienced professionals. The Trump administration has prioritized unquestioning loyalty to the president above competence in positions of leadership. Informed dissent is ignored. The result is an embarrassing display of ego and showmanship, which is costing American lives.
It’s utterly shameful. We, as voters, must “Make America Competent Again.”
Steve Lankton
Manitowoc
Reaction to the ‘No Kings’ rally
I attended the “No Kings” rally in Manitowoc recently. Why, at my advanced age of 86, did I do it?
Those present, myself included, know we are living in an unprecedented and dangerous time in American history. Our country, and even the world, appears to be hanging in the balance. The actions of American citizens today will help determine our future.
We are the wealthiest country in world history, and with breakthroughs in technology, we have the ability to create a nation where all people can enjoy an improved standard of living. We can reduce poverty, challenge bigotry and hatred, and live in a peaceful democracy built on love and compassion. This has always been the American dream, though not always the reality.
As the late Sen. Paul Wellstone once said, “We all do better when we all do better.” I believe most of us share this vision.
However, others believe we should give up democracy and rely on powerful elites to govern us. We are already seeing the dangers of concentrated wealth and power. The middle class is shrinking, and many struggle to afford food, health care and housing.
For me, my days are numbered. But I want my children and grandchildren to live in a just and peaceful democracy. Democracy is not a spectator sport — it takes effort.
Let’s do it! Voters vote, and legislators stop the “Voter Suppression Bill”!
Darlene Wellner
Manitowoc
Our letters policy
Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to htrnews@htrnews.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc letters on Trump, Iran, No Kings protests and electric cars
