Susan Grant: Got fooled by a con artist

Since I worked in consumer protection for many years, I know how easily a skilled con artist can fool smart, well-meaning people. That is what Donald J. Trump just did in the presidential election.

I’m not blaming the victims, but I’m confident that the people who voted for Trump are going to be very surprised and unhappy when the protections they currently have from fraud, dangerous products, predatory financial services, environmental degradation, unfair discrimination, and other hazards are severely weakened or even eliminated in the name of being good for business.

It’s not actually good for business, because any short-term gains will be more than offset by lack of confidence. There will be long-lasting damage to our economy, our health, and our financial security. Elon Musk and other rich guys may profit, but the rest of us — not only Trump voters but all of us “regular folks” — will suffer.

As a senior citizen, I won’t have time to rebuild my life. I hope that young people will agitate and change our course. And we should all complain to our elected officials, at all level of government, when we see that we are not being treated with the respect and fairness that we deserve.

Susan Grant

Easthampton