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To the editor:
Before President Trump put a 90-day pause on his tariffs, investor and Trump supporter Bill Ackman tweeted that they could bring an economic "nuclear winter." He saw them as being "severely negative" for Trump supporters. Numerous other Republicans and rich Trump supporters fear the consequences of a trade war.
But this is the consequence of their greed. The richest people are so desperate for more money by paying as little in taxes and paying their workers as little as possible that they will support the candidate whose policies cater to their insatiable greed. But when that candidate is a moronic incompetent egomaniac, that can come back to bite them in the butt.
The 125-percent tariff on China has not been rescinded. The U.S. is currently $759 billion in debt to China. The Chinese are the largest holders of U.S. debt. If they decide to start dumping U.S. bonds, I don't think that will help our economy.
Another issue is that some citizens think that having businessmen in power is a good idea. But most of us are either workers or retired workers. The idea that those who work so hard to keep salaries low will actually use their power to benefit us is illogical enough to make Mr. Spock's head explode.
Add to that a president who's an incompetent businessman who's had six bankruptcies. But even a competent businessman like Michael Bloomberg proved to be a bad mayor. City employees got nothing but real money pay cuts and wage freezes from him. So if this country's workers want to get ahead, they have to stop voting for their enemies.
Richard Warren
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reenjoe
Most of those who vote for GOP candidates wrongly believe Republicans are better stewards of the economy. They never seem to catch on that it is the GOP that pushed for Right-to-work laws, froze the minimum wage at $7.25 for 15 years, fought tooth and nail to oppose universal healthcare, eliminated tax write offs for credit card debt, interest on car loans, IRA contributions, State and Local taxes, medical expenses and more. All while cutting top tax rates for the ultrawealthy. Reagan, Bush41, Bush43 and Trump45 all crashed the economy. Yet working class, unionized workers continue to vote GOP believing, against all evidence, that Republicans are on their side. As Bill Maher noted "working class GOP voters are corporate America's useful idiots".
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
JDonne
reenjoe
For the record, if you do not claim the standard deduction, you may deduct medical and dental expenses, taxes paid, interest paid, charitable gifts, casualties and losses, and other miscellaneous deductions on Schedule A, Form 1040. Ironically, both Biden and the Democrats who brought him down persuaded “useful idiots” within the Democratic Party to support Harris and exclude all other potential candidates from the Democratic process of selecting a president. The majority of voters who vote for Democrat candidates expecting freebies are, as Lenin said, "simpletons."
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
JDonne
Critiquing wealthy Trump supporters for their perceived avarice, arguing that their support for Trump’s policies, such as tariffs, could potentially harm the economy, and questioning the effectiveness of business leaders, citing examples like Trump and Bloomberg, all stem from your subjective perspective. Consequently, your letter lacks substance and is pointless, unless you are writing a science fiction story, but even that lacks originality.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
Admin
Actually, it is JDonne's 2nd comment that is lacking in substance.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
JDonne
Political propaganda is the intentional spread of information, facts, arguments, rumors, half-truths, or outright lies to influence public opinion. Based on your letter, it seems like it’s based on biased facts and half-truths. Since you’re not happy with the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, you’re spreading misinformation that you’re passing off as fact. It’s easy to spot political propaganda. While you’re free to express your negative opinions about Donald Trump, please don’t spread political propaganda; it’s pretty obvious.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
reenjoe
@JDonne, Did you itemize or take the standard deduction for 2024? Since Trump's 2017 "tax cut" my wife and I have HAD to take the standard deduction thanks to the $10,000 limit placed upon SALT. We itemized for 30 years prior to Trump's disastrous "Tax cut and Jobs Act". I would think the same applies to nearly everyone who reads this paper as well as the overwhelming majority of retired and wage-earning Americans.
We also stopped IRA contributions and paid off our car loans after Reagan "reformed" the tax code in 1986 eliminating deductions for those.
Also remind me how right-to-work laws and a minimum wage that is lower today, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than at any time since 1956 help working Americans?
Finally, who, other than yourself, mentioned "freebies"? Or is it your contention that universal healthcare is a handout? If believing that healthcare is a basic human right makes Democrats like myself "simpletons", I plead guilty.
Thursday, April 17 Report this
JDonne
Hello reenjoe,
Post One:
You asserted that the GOP eliminated tax deductions, IRA contributions, state and local income tax deductions, medical expenses, and more. This is misinformation.
You also accused Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43, and Trump 45 of causing the economic downturn. This is disinformation.
Market downturns are caused by speculation, economic bubbles, panic selling, and global events. (Stock market crashes are not caused by either party.)
Post Two:
Standard Deduction:
You mentioned that you prefer taking the standard deduction; that’s a personal decision that you should discuss with your accountant.
2017 Tax Legislation:
Most people who understand the 2017 Tax Reform’s potential impact expect it to have a positive effect on them and their families in the coming years. 37% believe it will have a positive effect, while 28% believe it will have a negative effect. 32% believe it will have a minimal effect.
Right-To-Work Laws:
Right-To-Work Laws promote workforce freedom and can potentially lead to more effective unions. I support employees’ right to choose whether or not to join a union and pay dues.
Minimum Wage:
In 1956, the minimum wage was $1.00. Adjusted for inflation, it’s equivalent to $11.78 in 2025. New York State’s minimum wage is $16.50 in 2025. So, the minimum wage in 2025, accounting for inflation, is $4.72 more than in 1956.
Universal Health Care:
A universal or single-payer healthcare system is essential for all Americans. However, the primary obstacle is the significant cost involved in its implementation. Both Republican and Democratic parties have introduced bills to establish universal healthcare or a single-payer system, but neither party has been able to pass legislation.
Monday, April 21 Report this
reenjoe
JDonne, it's wonderful how you are able to summarily dismiss facts that contradict your views by labeling them misinformation or disinformation.
Fact - Reagan's 1986 tax reform law eliminated deductions for interest on personal loans, car loans and credit card debit as well as contributions to IRAs for those with pensions. The 1986 tax law also made medical expenses below 7.5% of adjusted gross income non-deductible. For an average worker that means you eat THOUSANDS of dollars spent on medical care. Example $100,000 AGI, no deduction for the first $7,500 in expenses.
Fact - Trump's 2017 tax reform removed personal exemption deductions and limited deductions for State and local income and property taxes to $10,000 making it very difficult if not impossible to claim a larger deduction from itemizing than by taking the standard deduction. It also included a "balloon" feature with rates scheduled to rise THIS YEAR if Congress takes no action.
Fact - EVERY recession in the past 45 years occurred during GOP administrations. If Biden caused inflation, then Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 & Trump 45 AND 47 own the market downturns during their times in office, period.
Fact - Right-to-work laws DO NOT promote workplace freedom or more effective Unions. The lowest Union participation rates are in RTW states. The only thing RTW laws accomplish is to suppress wages. Four of five states with the lowest average disposable wage - after adjusting for cost of living - are RTW states; W. Virginia, Mississippi, S. Dakota and Nevada. Only the very expensive state of Hawaii makes the worst 5. And, 4 of the next 5 worst are RTW states - Arkansas, Kentucky, Idaho and Louisiana.
Fact - The GOP has fought to keep the FEDERAL minimum wage, $7.25, at the lowest level since 1956. New York's minimum wage was raised by Democrats - state Republicans ALL voted against raising it. Nice try to deflect on this issue, but no cigar.
Fact - The GOP has NO universal healthcare plan and has never introduce a bill for one. They didn't have a proposal when they controlled the House, Senate and Presidency from 2017-18 and they have none now.
Monday, April 21 Report this
JDonne
reenjoe
In your previous post, you claim that the Republican Party lacks a comprehensive healthcare plan (and has never introduced a bill for one.)
Richard Nixon proposed a health reform plan to provide “universal health insurance” coverage, but unfortunately, the plan failed to be implemented.
KFF-Kaiser family Foundation
Media bias/ Fact check
Bias rating: Left of center
Factual Reporting: High
Media Type: Organization/ Foundation
MBFC credibility Rating: High Credibility
Get your facts straight, before you sound -off!
I could continue indefinitely, but I see no compelling reason to do so.
3 days ago Report this
reenjoe
I stand corrected.
I misstated the last of the six facts listed in my last post. Rather than saying the GOP has NEVER introduced a universal healthcare bill, I should have said the GOP hasn't introduced such a bill in the past 51 YEARS!
The other five facts stand unchallenged.
3 hours ago Report this