Letter to the Editor / SAUSAGE MAKING

By Roger C. Kostmayer

It is generally accepted that our nation and our democratic form of government are under stress and that we face a series of crises.  These crises include a deadly global pandemic, global warming, catastrophic weather events, crumbling infrastructure, child and elderly poverty, and more.  The American people overwhelmingly agree about the urgent need for national solutions, regardless of their political affiliation.

When you look at the necessary steps to reach big solutions to these big challenges, ones that involve major investments in our people and our future, there is reason for hope.  These  steps aren’t complicated and we are on our way, but not certain, to get to where we need to be.  The first step was recognition and ANALYSIS of the long term threats we face.  That’s been done.  Strategic SOLUTIONS must follow, and be well thought out.  Done.  Thirdly, the price and COST of implementing all the critical solutions must be determined, and Cost means the amount of money needed for solutions for which there’s no funding plan other than debt, and that would increase our national debt.  It can be argued that since the proposed legislative plans call for tax reforms (that don’t affect taxpayers with less than $400,000 of taxable income, but does require individual and corporate billionaires to pay their fair share), which would offset most of the legislation’s projected costs over less than 10 years.  Thus, the price of the solutions could be high but the additional cost would be low due to increased tax revenue, and there would be no significant negative impact on the national debt.

Real democracy requires CITIZEN SUPPORT for major long term actions, and that applies to the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that focuses on the hard transportation/communication/modernization rebuilding plan, as well as the broad investment in people dealing with climate change; health & education; jobs; and children’s welfare that are in the larger Reconciliation Bill.  And citizen support is a fact.

The final piece of the puzzle is the repulsive and frustrating process referred to as “SAUSAGE MAKING”, the legislative process of turning solution based Bills into law – or not.  What’s needed now is for a few politicians from each party to put the country’s needs above partisan politics.  If that happens, it should produce good faith negotiations, compromise and the passing of the two essential pending bills in both the US House and Senate, which would be a  transformative moment in US history.

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