LETTERS TO THE - EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

$4.5 trillion tax cuts, mostly for the rich

To the Editor: During the next weeks congress will work out details on how to offset the $4.5 trillion tax cut which will benefit mostly the super-rich. Since the Reagan era, Republicans have strongly promoted a supply-side, “trickle-down” economic model. The premise has been to cut taxes for the wealthy in hopes of attracting international investment and stimulating innovation and production. But this theory has serious flaws.

In reality, many wealthy individuals used their tax savings not to invest in the economy, but to buy back stocks— boosting their own wealth—while hiding money in offshore tax havens, far from the IRS’s reach. Meanwhile, the middle class has struggled, losing purchasing power and contributing less to the economy. That matters, because markets are primarily demand-driven. It’s the working and middle classes— who tend to spend more of their income— that actually fuel economic growth.

These tax cuts have also reduced government revenue, increasing our national debt, which now stands at $106,000 per American. Congress is now considering another $4.5 trillion tax cut. While the middle class will get a small piece—partially offsetting rising costs due to tariffs—the overwhelming majority will go to the ultrawealthy, further widening the gap between rich and poor.

I understand that it may be difficult for Congressman Van Orden and Senator Johnson to vote against the interests of their wealthiest donors—but they were elected to represent all of us. It’s time to give us a break and tax the rich fairly.

Markus Fasel Chippewa Falls, WI

Democracy versus plutocratic oligarchic kleptocratic authoritarianism

To the Editor: Our American society is a big house. There is room for MAGA, Woke, liberals, conservatives, non-political…but not for the plutocratic oligarchic kleptocratic authoritarians now in charge of our government. We, as the people of the United States, are not in favor of a small group of billionaires taking over the government and mining it for our data and taxpayer money. What was it that Willie Sutton said when asked why he robbed banks? “That’s where the money is.”

Why are Musk, Zuckerberg and Bezos, and other one-percenters congregating around this administration? That is where the money and power are. Plutocracy is government by the wealthy. Oligarchy is government by a small elite group of powerful people. A kleptocracy is a government whose corrupt leaders use their power to steal the wealth of the citizenry they govern. Authoritarianism is a government by a central authority that exacts obedience to it’s rulings regardless of law and personal liberties.

How did this movement gather so much strength in the United States? Billionaires own most of our mass media. An example is Rupert Murdock, who set up the media giant, FOX News operation in the United States as a rightwing propaganda operation glorification wealth and the virtues of oligarchy. FOX’s message is for us to distrust each other, pitting whites versus people of color; unions versus non-union labor; men versus women; straight versus gay; white Christian nationalists versus every group that is “other;” “Americans” versus immigrants, victimized Americans versus all trading partners in the world, and democratic allies versus opportunistic alliances with dictators. What does all of this conflict lead to? We are manipulated to fear that we are up against forces beyond our control. Fear can lead us to hand our responsibility as voting and active citizens over to an elite. Oligarchic authoritarian propaganda loudly proclaims that they will protect us. Our identification with their wealth can make us “feel” powerful.

The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 laid out the exact policies needed to have a complete take over of our country by oligarchic forces. The process was given huge momentum in 2010 with the Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United ruling. That ruling opened the flood gates for big money to give unlimited funds to political campaigns under the guise that giving money is the equivalent of free speech. The result its that most of us can speak with a barely audible whisper compared to the billionaires who have control of mass media. The ruling also stated that corporations are individuals and have rights. Corporations are fictional legal organizations for the protection of investors who pool their money to create businesses. That is good on a small scale, but once multinational conglomerate corporations get big enough, they use their money and power to buy out competitors and sway elections and governments to do their bidding.

Why do billionaires and large corporations want influence in government? Regulations stop them from profitable utilization of resources and labor that are damaging to the environment and to the lives of working people. Milton Friedman, and the Chicago School of Economics taught that profit is the measure of morality. If a project is profitable, it is by definition, good. That is the laissez faire capitalist definition of morality. It is not what government should be about. Government is about setting up the guidelines for fair competition, an equitable distribution of wealth, and a fair voice for all citizens in the governance of society. Government should not be run like a business!

The oligarchic elite in our country would like us to believe in a majoritarian definition of democracy. If they can maneuver enough of us to vote in their favor they can claim mandate to dominate all other political positions. Real democracy is not defined that way! Real democracies protect the rights of minorities to attempt to become the majority. That is why all the parties, whether MAGA, woke, liberal, conservative or any other must join the opposition. Americans together form a big tent. We need not fear each other, but should band together to reconstruct a more democratic, equitable and fair society. The more differing voices, voices in the democratic marketplace, the better. We don’t all have to agree on governmental policies, but we need to agree to democratic principles and procedures. Our present administration’s obsession with constructing a plutocratic oligarchic kleptocratic authoritarianism will not move us in any positive directions.

Rick Lohr Wausau, WI

Public education is under attack here in Wisconsin

To the Editor: The 241 education referendum questions on the ballot last year, and another 94 this year, highlight the inadequate funding.

The funding burden is pushed back onto frustrated communities through continuous referendums. They decry the front line - our beleaguered school administrators, school boards and even teachers; while our legislature, who actually hold the purse strings, are sitting on a historic surplus.

There simply is no amount of “belt tightening” that will fix the current funding situation.

What will fix it is ending the statewide voucher program. Our representatives need to stand up to the powerful, deep-pocketed voucher school lobbies (that are huge donors to the majority party in our legislature and whose ultimate goal is to dismantle public education).

What will fix it is reimbursing public schools for special education at the same 90% rate that voucher schools receive.

What will fix it is adjusting public education funding to inflation and fixing the antiquated funding formulas.

We know the value of our schools, yet crazy complexities of education funding are difficult to understand and blame is often misplaced at our struggling, under-funded schools instead of on the lack of support from our elected officials.

They are counting on us not paying attention and bickering amongst ourselves instead of holding them accountable.

Our children deserve better. Speak up now during the budgeting process. Remind them that they represent the communities of their district,not the school choice lobby regardless of their campaign donations.

Kristina Reser Readstown, WI