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To the editor:
The old Democratic Party “establishment" must be soundly rejected if Democrats have a chance to take the House of Representatives and the Senate. First, we must all support higher taxes for wealthy individuals and corporate tax hikes, eliminating individual and corporate tax loopholes that allow them to pay little or nothing in taxes.
Second, all forms of racism openly promoted by Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, and the whole MAGA base have to be identified, called out and publicly attacked constantly. If the racists who want to deprive Black people and other minorities of the right to vote and the right to be free to enjoy all the rights and benefits of American citizens, serious civil unrest that will most certainly happen will be on their heads.
Third, under Bibi Netanyahu, Israel is a genocidal nation, and America should stop giving any support to Israel until we get regime change there. Netanyahu must be removed from office, a two-state solution must be the goal for Israelis and Palestinians and Israel should be made to pay for the genocide and destruction of Gaza.
Israel should not be considered an ally of the United States until Netanyahu is removed from office.
Fourth, if "Medicare for all" seems impractical and too expensive, Democrats should support strengthening the Affordable Care Act by expanding federal premium subsidies, increasing tax credits and adding state-level reinsurance programs to fill the gaps in the present private insurance market.
Fifth, we should embrace the Green New Deal.
As many, including the Sierra Club point out, climate change and inequality are inextricably linked. If we are honest about this, we cannot tackle one without addressing the other. Correcting the twin crises of climate change and inequality would mobilize vast public resources to help us transform from an economy built on fossil fuels and exploitation to one driven by noble work and clean energy.
The Green New Deal would upgrade our infrastructure, rejuvenate our energy system, overhaul our buildings and restore our ecosystems. This would cut climate pollution while creating millions of jobs for working class families.
If the above offends hard line capitalists and/or Trump cultists, that’s a good thing because we have to put strict limits on capitalist greed, and if they want to call it socialism, that’s OK.
Michael Gorman
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Valete
You say to the Democratic Party, embrace progressive policies.
I say to the Democratic Party, reject progressive policies.
You say, increase taxes on the wealthy.
I say, do not increase taxes on the wealthy.
You say, combat racism.
I say, denounce racism.
You say, oppose Israel’s actions under Netanyahu.
I say, support Israel’s actions under Netanyahu.
You say, strengthen the Affordable Care Act.
I say, abolish the Affordable Care Act.
You say, embrace the Green Deal.
I say, reject the Green Deal.
You say, call it socialism.
I say, call it totalitarianism.
What do you say?
Wednesday, September 2 Report this
Admin
If you support making the wealthy paying their fare share of taxes, Word Man calls that totalitarianism. He constantly uses words to defend the indefensible. The only thing wrong with Gorman's otherwise perfect letter is when he expresses doubt on whether we can afford Medicare-for-all. All other developed countries have the equivalent of that. But they make the rich pay more in taxes.
Wednesday, September 2 Report this
Valete
You chide Word Man for criticizing the wealth tax, but you obscure reality. You use the phrase “fair share” in your essay. It is a political slogan and highly subjective phrasing. It is not an objective metric. The rich pay the majority of income tax. The wealth tax destroys wealth. By wrongly labeling criticism indefensible, you end the debate. You give a false analysis. You point to other developed countries but omit that they are ending the wealth tax. It is a proven failure. The wealth tax kills wealth and capital. It destroys incentives. High taxes ship innovation overseas and shrink the economic pie for everyone. European welfare states tax the rich, but they rely heavily on Value-Added Taxes (VAT). VAT is a regressive tax. It taxes the poor and middle class disproportionately.
Changing the US healthcare system is costly. A single-payer system is unaffordable. It would cause income taxes to double. Relying only on taxing the rich to pay the healthcare bill is mathematically impossible.
Thursday, September 3 Report this
krell1349
At this time, the rich and large corporations aren't paying their fair share of taxes. This needs to be changed. It's only fair since I pay more in Federal taxes than some corporations and rich people.
Friday, September 4 Report this
Valete
Perhaps, wealthy taxpayers maximize deductions, but it’s legal.
IRS data proves the top 50% of earners pay 97% of all federal individual income taxes-fact.
And before anyone points to payroll or sales taxes hitting lower incomes harder, remember that individual income taxes make up a massive 50% of the entire federal revenue pool-fact.
Raising the tax rate might sound good on paper, but historical data shows it could slow corporate investment and economic growth.
Tuesday, September 8 Report this