letter to the editor

In response

Wed, 05/10/2017 - 9:00am

Dear Editor:

In response to Mr. Mayotte’s courteous and careful reading and response (Re: Destabilizing our nation and planet) of my April 20 letter, I will give brief answers to the first six of his ten questions.

1. The ‘feeback loops’ threatening the global environment (promoting fossil fuel consumption > increasing emissions of greenhouse gases > warming seas and atmosphere > rising sea levels, mass extinctions, famines, regional conflicts) and our nation’s social and political stability (Republican tax cuts, repeal of health care insurance, mass incarceration of ethnic minorities > greater disparities of income and family wealth > increased governmental corruption and plutocracy, diminished democracy) are greater by several orders of magnitude than “the previous administration choosing not to enforce laws it did not like.”

2. The ethics violations of the current administration are so numerous and egregious that the news media (outside the Fox/Breitbart bubble) have time to report little else. A monument to these assaults on governmental rectitude is located at 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C.

3. “Implementing the wishes of a donor,” while it may not be illegal, is the very antithesis of the spirit of the U.S. Constitution. We the people, not billionaire casino owners, are to benefit from a government sworn to “promote the general Welfare.”

4. Cutting Medicaid expenditures by $880 billion to offset a trillion-dollar tax cut (the current administration’s plan for health care and tax reform) will be a powerful accelerant to the growing rate of national income inequality.

5. Progressive taxation, universal health care, and investment in public education at all levels would reduce income inequality to more sustainable levels.

6. The governments of Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, and China are definitely kleptocratic. Our president is a fan of Mr. Xi and would “be honored” to meet with Mr. Kim.

Bill Hammond

Trevett