Letters: Democrats and the economy; Vote for substance, not neglect
Editor’s note: The Centre Daily Times welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the Nov. 8 election and will accept letters that are received by Nov. 3. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates.
Democrats and the economy
Terry Kordes wrote in to tell us all that it’s OK to let Doug Mastriano decide whether you should be allowed to use contraception because, the economy! Only an insane person would keep voting for Democrats who keep screwing up the economy, he says.
Let’s look at some facts. Since 1933, the economy has grown at an annual average rate of 4.6% under Democratic presidents and 2.4% under Republicans. If the economy had grown at the Democratic rate instead of the Republican the whole time, the average American would be making twice as much per year.
In fact the best Republican president in that period (Ronald Reagan, +31% GDP) did less well than Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and even (gasp!) Bill Clinton (+34%). George W. Bush’s +15% is beaten by Barack Obama’s +18%. So far under Joe Biden’s presidency the economy is growing at a 3.3% rate per year, more than double Trump’s 1.6% rate.
Did those dastardly Dems do this by increasing the national deficit more than Republicans? Actually, no. In the 12 years of Republican presidents from 1980-1992, the budget deficit increased by 142% (Reagan) and then 36% more (Bush 1). Clinton brought the deficit down by 1% before George W. Bush sent it shooting back up again by 57%. Obama increased it by 58%, Trump by 33.
According to Kordes one sign of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. If you care about the economy and keep voting Republican, what does that make you?
Vote for substance, not neglect
Over the last few months, my team and I have knocked over 25,000 doors in our attempt to reach every voter to discuss the issues affecting them and learn about their top concerns. We are still knocking doors in the 23 municipalities I hope to represent because I will work with and for you; not the wealthy few.
A common concern amongst PA House District 171 voters of all parties is that they are not being heard by those they elected to represent them. Voters are tired of “do-nothing” career politicians who are bought and paid for by corporations. These career politicians show up for a photo op or a fundraiser while refusing to directly engage with citizens by doing town halls or knocking on doors.
Not all voters will agree with all of my views, but I am and will remain a strong advocate for all constituents. I will continue to work hard for the people of Pennsylvania as I have done on the Millheim Borough Council. I fought for and brought high-speed rural broadband to over 2,000 households in the area. I pushed for the Millheim Borough to establish a solar field to reduce energy costs and our carbon footprint. While doing this I also worked to cut taxes and have obtained over $1 million in funding for infrastructure and economic development.
I show up for the people, and rural Pennsylvania needs a local advocate for everyone, not continued neglect from a complacent career politician.
No hesitation in vote for Fetterman
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, I will cast my vote for John Fetterman for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat without hesitation. We need him in Washington, D.C. fighting for the rights of workers, voters and minorities. I know that he will stand up for fair wages and safe working conditions for workers in Pennsylvania, even as he helps guide our state toward the greener economy — creating new jobs in PA and making us stronger. He will work to protect our right to privacy — whether that means my daughter’s right to choose or my friend’s right to love who they love. He will stand strong to protect our constitution and defend our democracy from those who would seek to overthrow it by denying the will of the people, turning back voter rights, and thwarting the peaceful transition of power. Thank you, John, for your willingness to serve our state and our nation, even as you are recovering from a stroke. It is a demonstration of your courage and selflessness. We couldn’t ask for a better representative.
To Mehmet Oz: Go back to Jersey and your fool-quackery. And please take Trump with you!
‘All Crime No Punishment’
No Dostoyevsky in sight.
He campaigns for his GOP.
No jail time to date for His myriad crimes against democracy.
All villains. No heroes.
His GOP fear strong women.
Toxic masculinity in the face of resistance.
“Be afraid”
We are coming for you.
At the ballot box, the courts, in your town halls.
His GOP say “no” to struggling students.
Yet, a resounding “yes”
for GOP accessing rewards for themselves
From “Paycheck Protection” funding
In the millions.
Not one vote from his GOP
to lower drug costs
to mitigate inflation
to lower health care costs
to feed hungry children.
Bills passed without them.
In President Biden’s budget.
And, their candidates
The thought-challenged, incoherent sports heroes
The heavy makeup, media faces
The trendy haircuts and tight skirts
The fascist rhetoric
To “respect the results of the next election… “
Only if they win.
All devils. No Jesus.
Threats to end aid to Ukraine.
Reassuring Putin.
The end of Social Security and Medicare.
Voting rights and health care
And women’s biological autonomy.
A robust GOP love affair
With the oil industry and the Saudi killers
Who funded 9/11, who murder reporters, who imprison women.
Who blackmail the free world.
Clean energy will free us
Tell OPEC and Russia to eat their oil.
“In times of universal deceit,
telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” (Orwell)
Make America honest again
Make America kind again
Make. America. Smart. Again.
On November 8, 2022
Vote for Democrats.
Wrong place for doctors’ opinions
The letter, “Doctors’ political parties” in the Oct. 31 CDT caused me to recall my reaction to the article the writer was referring to. As I read the letter I thought, “Is this front page news?” If these doctors, regardless of their political party affiliation, had an opinion they wished to express, would it not have been appropriate for them to have done so on the editorial pages? Perhaps they should have purchased a paid political advocacy advertisement.
Keep Social Security social and secure
For more than 85 years Social Security has been a contract between generations, with each generation paying in to support the current older people; and it works.
Social Security is the primary income source for 80% of older Americans. It’s also an international competitive advantage since China has nothing comparable for its rapidly aging population.
To be sure, Social Security needs some tweaks to assure its continued strength. In fact, the last overhaul of Social Security was by a bipartisan commission appointed by President Ronald Reagan. Experts, like Nobel laureate Peter Diamond, agree that we need to make some modest changes to the program. But for the last 20 years Republicans have been proposing radical and extreme changes to Social Security, including the possibility of eliminating it altogether.
These radical and extreme proposals aren’t social or secure. If you care about the economic well-being of today’s older adults, or if you want to assure your own economic security in later life, your choice on Nov. 8 is clear: Vote for the Democrats running for the United States House and Senate.