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Letter: Not everyone agrees on what’s best for America

| December 18, 2019 10:15 PM

Regarding the letter in the Herald by Duane Pitts: Mr. Pitts makes assumptions about what unites us apparently taken from the Democratic Party talking points.

First, he assumes poverty can be replaced by government subsidies. The “War on Poverty” was probably the biggest reason for poverty remaining as widespread as it did. The best cure for reducing poverty is a robust economy as we are seeing now.

As for health insurance, we already have Medicaid for those for those who can’t afford health insurance. Having health insurance does not necessarily mean having adequate health care.

Holding drug companies to profits no greater than the rate of inflation would dry up investments in developing new drugs, which can cost millions of dollars to bring to market.

Investment and research into green energy may be a good thing but green energy is nowhere near enough to be reliable or widespread enough to power our current lifestyles. Green energy should be able to stand on its own, without government subsidies.

A college education is too expensive but making it free deprives students of having any incentive to choose their courses wisely. Colleges should also be held responsible for the cost of tuition and be required to provide some finances for student loans.

Increasing taxes on corporations would not improve the economy but dry up sources of investment and drive businesses to cut back on hiring and expansion. Lower taxes are one reason our economy is booming.

Some may be upset by the gap in wealth between the well-off and everyone else. Personally, I really don’t care what the CEO of Boeing or Microsoft makes, if I am doing OK. I would ask Mr. Pitts if he’s ever worked for a poor person.

Putting different groups and ethnicities against each other is a favorite tactic of certain politicians in order to sow the seeds of victimhood, thereby ensuring the politicians remain in power by continuing to receive the votes of the “victims.”

One topic Mr. Pitts doesn’t mention, upon which most people would agree, is the need to secure our borders.

Robert D. Lyons

Moses Lake