Letters: Dush’s definition of ‘insurrection’; Add a ‘per capita war tax’

Dush’s definition of ‘insurrection’

Millions of people, here and around the world, watched the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol on live TV.

We all saw a violent mob of Trump supporters attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next, one of the hallmarks of American democracy.

At least seven people lost their lives in connection with the Jan. 6 attack and about 150 officers from the Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and local agencies were injured, many of them permanently.

Since then, more than 800 people have been found guilty of various crimes and sentenced for their role in the violent attack.

Calling this event an “insurrection” seems entirely appropriate, perhaps even understated. But not to PA Senator Cris Dush.

Spotlight PA, a news service with over 100 media outlets in our state, reported that Dush admonished fellow State Senator Amanda Cappelleti for calling the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol an “insurrection.” Dush is quoted as telling Cappelleti: “We don’t use that (word) here.”

Senator Dush, since you haven’t responded to numerous requests for a Spotlight interview, perhaps you’ll respond to this letter to the editor and tell us how you would describe what we all saw happen on January 6?

If it wasn’t an insurrection, Senator Dush, then what was it?

Add a ‘per capita war tax’

Joe Biden and the majority of both parties in Congress — including Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman and Representative GT Thompson — continue to advocate for the unconditional support of Ukraine. So far, they’ve appropriated around $115 billion, and, if they have their way, much more will likely follow.

Among other things, these leaders claim that U.S. funding is necessary to preserve Ukrainian freedom and democracy and stop further Russian aggression. But for some reason, a funding source is never mentioned.

So, where is the money coming from?

Given that we’re $32 trillion in debt and on track to add another $1.4 trillion in FY2023, it seems pretty obvious that we’re simply adding these expenditures to our deficit/debt.

At this point, adding to the debt to fund yet another foreign war is absolute insanity. The national credit card is maxed out, and it’s time to start paying our bills.

That’s why I wrote each of my legislators (Casey, Fetterman and Thompson), asking them to consider imposing a “Per Capita War Tax.” This works out to about $343/person ($115 Billion/ 335 million people), or $1,372 for a family of four. Of course, as war funding increases, the tax liability must also increase.

The tax could be deducted from Social Security, welfare and unemployment payments. Employers could withhold the tax from paychecks, and self-employed could remit the tax along with quarterly tax payments.

The voters must decide. Shall we raise the debt, demand a war tax, or end Ukraine funding? It’s your choice.