Published in the Towns County Herald January 6, 2021
Without
regard to whether the stimulus check each of us will receive is $600 or $2,000,
those of us who do not need the money can make a choice about how to use it and
thereby correct a flaw in the program’s design.
Instead of spending the money on some frivolous thing or activity
consider donating it to a local charity or food bank.
I
understand the rationale for stimulus is to encourage spending that will boost
the economy. In the early days of the
pandemic that was a sound goal. However
now I find myself agreeing with Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) who was recently
interviewed about his opposition to the President’s demand for increasing the
stimulus to $2,000. Too many people who
will receive checks are doing well and therefore are already able to spend on their
needs and wants. Handing them free money
does not guarantee they will spend it in a way that alleviates existing weaknesses
in our economy. It is equally likely
these people will save the money rather than spend it, meaning it will not
directly benefit the economy at all.
Meanwhile, the checks drawn from an already overextended Treasury will
drain federal resources from critical health and public safety programs.
The
stimulus checks should have been targeted to people working in depressed areas
of the economy such as restaurant and hotel workers. They are suffering during the pandemic because
of reduced income from shorter hours or no income due to being laid off. These workers are some of the lowest paid in
our economy to begin with and often do not have savings to fall back on. They nonetheless have rent to pay, heating
bills due, and children to feed and clothe.
The
problem of an indiscriminate distribution of funds without regard to need or
effect does not have to result in the funds wastefully going to frivolous
spending or worse into savings that would have no immediate impact on people
suffering in weak areas of our economy.
The
Scriptures tell us that when we meet the needs of suffering people, we are
serving God. For my household, our
stimulus money will go to Hope House in Union County. Hope House meets the needs of people faced
with the crisis of eviction, loss of heat, or other financial troubles when
events such as sickness, job loss, or unexpected bills conspire to overwhelm
them. It was formed when churches in
Union County came together to pool and better administer resources for showing
Christ’s love to the neediest members of their community.
For
those who have enough, I hope you will also consider contributing your stimulus
check to one of the many organizations – your church, a local charity, or a
food bank – which are meeting the needs of the disadvantaged for housing,
warmth, and food this winter.
David Plunkett
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock speaks to North Georgia Democrats as he closes out his re-election campaign. Warnock visited North Georgia Sunday, Dec. 4, greeting an enthusiastic audience of Georgia voters in Gainesville. Picture by Charlotte Sleczkowski, Chair of Towns County Democrats.
October 22, 2020
Dear Editor,
I remember
when there was a Republican Party that stood for something. In place of a legacy of great men – Lincoln,
Roosevelt and Eisenhower – has arisen a political horror: the Trumpican
Party. With its cult-like adoration of a
failed businessman who tramples on all the principles that once guided
Republicans, the Trumpican Party exist only to demand blind loyalty to its
autocratic leader. Compare the
Republican Party Platform of 2012, the last time it was led by a Republican
nominee, to the Trumpican Party Resolution of 2020.
FREE
MARKETS:
“Republicans
will pursue free market policies that are the surest way to boost employment
and create job growth and economic prosperity for all.” Republican
Platform 2012.
“The
RNC, had the Platform Committee been able to convene in 2020, would have
undoubtedly unanimously agreed to reassert the Party’s strong support for
President Donald Trump…” Trumpican Party Resolution 2020.
(Trump has urged a boycott of Goodyear, demanded unjustified mailing
rates on Amazon, and blasted Nordstrom over its decision to drop Ivanka’s
fashion brand.)
FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY:
“Backed by a Republican Senate and House,
our next President will propose immediate reductions in federal spending, as a
down payment on the much larger task of long-range fiscal control.” Republican
Platform 2012
“The RNC
enthusiastically supports President Trump…” Trumpican Party Resolution 2020. (Annual deficits have risen in
every year of the Trump Presidency and this year exploded to over $3 TRILLION.)
SANCTITY
OF MARRIAGE:
“The institution of marriage is the
foundation of civil society.” Republican Platform 2012.
“Most people
know that Melania Trump isn’t Donald Trump’s first wife. With a reputation for …being
unfaithful to his spouses, Trump isn’t well-known for staying committed to just
one woman.” Showbiz
CheatSheet March 17, 2019.
CONSTITUTIONAL
FIDELITY:
“[Republican] adherence to the
Constitution stands in stark contrast to the antipathy toward the Constitution
demonstrated by the current Administration… by appointing "czars" to
evade the confirmation process, …using executive orders to bypass the
separation of powers…, encouraging illegal actions by regulatory agencies…,
openly and notoriously displaying contempt for Congress, the Judiciary, and the
Constitutional prerogatives of the individual States, [and] refusing to defend
the nation's laws in federal courts…” Republican Party Platform 2012.
Evading the
confirmation process: "I
like 'acting [agency heads]' because I can move so quickly," President Trump, Face the Nation Feb. 2019.
Using Executive Orders to bypass separation of powers: “…Republicans
roundly criticized President Obama’s famous assertion of using
his ‘pen and phone’ in the face of congressional intransigence, but President
Trump has hardly been reticent in issuing such orders himself” American Action Forum Aug. 6, 2020.
Encouraging illegal actions by agencies: The
courts have overturned 112 of 132 agency actions taken by the Trump
administration. Institute for Policy Integrity, NYU School of Law Sept. 11, 2020.
Displaying contempt for Congress, the Judiciary and
Constitutional prerogatives of the states:
·
“[T]he Trump administration has blocked
or refused to comply with 82 House
Committee requests for testimony and/or documents.” Forensic News Oct. 28,
2019.
·
“Donald Trump has displayed a
troubling pattern of attacking judges and the courts for rulings he disagrees
with…” Brennan Center for Justice” Feb.
14, 2020.
·
“Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has tweeted
requests for states to reopen various activities,
which he lacks the authority to compel as a federal official.” Business Insider July 8,
2020.
Refusing
to defend the nation’s laws: “[T]he Justice Department declined to do its job – that is to defend
the laws of the United States when attacked in court.” The Washington Post June 8, 2018.
I may
not have agreed with many of the policies supported by the Republican Party but
I enjoyed the opportunity to debate and search for common ground. That is what we should miss because Republicans
and Democrats working together for a better America is the only way our country
can emerge from the ugly and cultish reign of Trumpicanism.
Sincerely,
David Plunkett
Published October 14, 2020
Dear Editor,
“America’s
enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out.” Donald Trump 2017 in a speech critiquing
President Obama for “telegraphing” when the United States might withdraw
troops.
“We
should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in
Afghanistan home by Christmas.” Donald
Trump 2020 in an announcement Thursday which earned praise from the Taliban.
Once
again we see Draft-Dodger Don playing politics with our national security, showing
he has no core values or beliefs when it comes to protecting America from its
enemies. We probably should expect this
of a rich kid who played dress-up soldier at a preppy academy and now believes
he is smarter than the generals who actually served. Consider how he used and then demeaned our
military leaders: Generals Mattis (“overrated general”), Kelly (“he was way
over his head”), McChrystal (“big, dumb mouth”), and many others. I understand that Americans are free to
criticize their military leaders. My
father-in-law hated “Dougout” Doug. But
he earned the right to do that by putting on a Marine uniform and serving on
Guadalcanal. President Bone Spurs never
earned the right.
Trump
repeatedly demonstrates he is not fit to lead.
A commander accepts responsibility for those he sends into battle. President Truman kept a sign on his desk
reminding him “The Buck Stops Here.” Trump
believes his job is to pass the buck.
When Navy SEAL Ryan Owens died during a mission personally authorized by
Trump, Trump said this: “[the Generals] lost Ryan.” Where is the shame in this person who refuses
to take responsibility for the life of one who followed his orders, calls our
service men and women suckers and losers, stands at the grave of our war dead
and questions their sacrifice, seeks to hide those who bear the scars of
combat, and praises a dictator who put a bounty on our soldiers’ heads?
No
Trump – not his draft-dodging grandfather, his stay-at-home dad, Donald, nor
his adult sons – served a day in the military.
We have a name for such people.
Military service, of course, is not a prerequisite to being President, unless
as President you are pretending to be a military genius even as you contradict
your own strategy and insult those who actually served and sacrificed to defend
our nation.
David Plunkett
Published in the Towns County Herald October 12, 2020
Dear Editor,
The
editor’s note appended to the letter from Dave and Denise Phillips (Government
Leadership) in the July 29, 2020, edition was incorrect in asserting that the
Governor’s order on COVID-19 prohibits local election officials from mandating
that election workers wear masks during the August 11 runoff election. It does not.
Election
workers are “Critical Infrastructure” workers under the order. The provision on Critical Infrastructure states
“measures may include, but shall not be limited to the following”
(emphasis added). Because the order does
not represent the limits of what may be required, election officials would not
be inconsistent with it by requiring workers to wear face masks. In fact, later in the order, a provision on
Critical Infrastructure specifically states that “Providing Personal Protective
Equipment as available and appropriate to the function and location of the
Worker” should be implemented. It is
hard to picture a function and location more conducive to the spread of a
dangerous virus than a crowded polling place if workers and the public are not
masked. Just to emphasize this point,
the Governor’s order specifically mandates certain workers, such as restaurant
wait staff, wear face masks when they interact with the public.
As a former
member of the Election Board, I was deeply troubled by the Phillips’ letter. I fully sympathize with them and regret the
loss of two civic-minded volunteers at a time when the county is struggling to
fully staff its polling places.
The
decision not to require protective measures was improperly premised on an
incorrect interpretation of the Governor’s order. The Towns County Herald should correct its
editor’s note.
Jim Powell
Published in the Towns County Hearld Oct. 10, 2020
Dear Editor,
Once
again we see an irresponsible President attempting to corrupt our political
system through whatever means he can devise and regardless of the
consequences. President Trump’s latest
effort at vote buying is a plan to spend $7 billion of public money on issuing
$200 drug discount cards to 33 million of the 44 million seniors on Medicare.
If you
are a senior on Medicare, as I am, you should be incensed at this insult to our
intelligence and integrity. I hope I
speak for all seniors in Towns County when I say, “MY VOTE WILL NOT BE BOUGHT.”
His
plan to issue discount cards flies in the face of good policy (“A one-time
savings card will neither provide lasting help, nor advance the fundamental
reforms necessary to help seniors better afford their medicines,” according to
a spokesman for the drug industry trade group PhRMA.). But that’s not the primary reason for concern.
It also
reverses long-standing Republican consensus on free markets because it relies
for its funding on savings from a future program that would tie drug prices
paid by Medicare in the United States to prices paid in other countries. When Democrats have proposed such a linkage
to make drugs more affordable for seniors, Republicans and the drug industry
have fought it off in favor of allowing the marketplace to set prices.
Finally,
it follows a pattern of debt financing where the promise of future savings is
used to pay for current spending. It is
a pattern most often used to explain away the impact of tax cuts without a
concurrent reduction in spending on existing programs, and is the reason our
national debt (currently at more than $24 TRILLION) is approaching parity with
the GDP for the first time since World War II.
I am a
fiscally conservative Democrat. A point
of pride is that I worked for a Member of the U.S. House Budget Committee at
the one time in recent history when Congress not only produced a balanced
budget but actually generated surpluses and began paying down the national
debt. One of the things we fought
against was the tendency for some, both Democrats and Republicans, to throw a
party with unrealized gains (that is spending public money while relying on
future savings to pay the costs).
I do
not enjoy writing these letters, but I feel compelled because the outrages of
the current President will not cease.
But, more than that, a strong two-party system is critical to reaching
sound government policies that can unite our country. For that reason, I write to head off the
demise of the Republican Party before it is usurped by its Trumpican wing. Its demise is brought closer by this latest
vote-buying proposal that demonstrates the Trumpicans do not hold any
Republican values as sacred. Instead, its
adherents center their position on the deification of Donald J. Trump, a man
without morals, conscience, integrity, love of country, or respect for our
Constitution.
David Plunkett
