In my last column, I listed many of the actions that Democrats have taken to make our lives better – climate action, voting rights, women’s rights, record jobs creation and wages, record investment in infrastructure, sustainable economic revitalization, advancing public safety and criminal justice reform – towards a more equitable society and why I urge the election of Democrats throughout the ballot, as well as voting yes on the environmental bond.
NONE of these things would have happened if Republicans were in control, and ALL of these things will be reversed or repealed if Republicans get control of Congress and our state and local governments. Republicans have already threatened to crash the full faith and credit of the nation and with it, the economy. Republicans already show their zeal to shut down government to extort Democratic administrations.
Instead of doing the people’s business, they have stated their intention to devote themselves to impeaching and investigating everyone and anyone they don’t like, from Biden and Harris to the Jan. 6 committee (one word: Benghazi).
Indeed, Republicans are using inflation, crime and “parental rights” as their go-tos to ramp up anger, frustration and grievance. But they offer lies and hyperbole, ignore the facts such as that inflation is higher in 100 other countries, is due to forces beyond a president’s control, including COVID and supply chain issues, and Putin’s genocidal war in Ukraine. They also fail to mention that crime rates are increasing as a percentage after decades of decline and reflect a surge in gun violence, hate crimes and political violence fomented by Trumpism and easy access to guns. Can you imagine Lee Zeldin prosecuting domestic violence or hate crimes the way Gov. Kathy Hochul has?
But while Republicans revel in the problems, they offer no actual solutions (unless you consider cutting Medicare and Social Security, repealing Biden’s student debt relief, as solutions to reduce inflation; massively promoting access to guns including weapons of war as a solution to crime; and banning books in schools and libraries and overturning school and public health requirements for vaccinations an adequate answer to “parental rights”). Republicans even refuse to allocate funding for COVID prevention or to bolster the nation’s protections against a new pandemic. Their solution to crime? Reversing criminal justice reforms, bail reform, and expanding access to guns.
In fact, Republicans also are actively working to obstruct solutions to ease suffering: voting against prosecuting price gouging at the pump or grocery store amid record profits; voting against sending aid for mental health to schools and communities along with gun safety; voting against voting rights, civil rights, immigration reform, even climate disaster aid, suing to stop student debt relief. The so-called “law and order” party even threaten to defund the FBI. (Two words: Jan. 6).
What is the Republican agenda – to the extent they have admitted to it – if they take control of Congress and our state government?
They will ban abortion nationwide, rendering women second-class citizens without the same autonomy, self-determination, and ability to forge their own future or even save their own life, as the men who impregnate them have. A Republican just introduced a bill outlawing contraception.
Under the guise of “parental rights” Republicans advocate book banning and curriculum censorship, overturing public health requirements like vaccinations. A Republican in Congress introduced a national “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would defund schools and libraries.
“Parental rights are supreme,” said Vibhuti N. Jha, Republican challenging Gina Silletti for state Assembly.
As for abortion, Jha casually said without any relevance to fact, “86 percent of abortions are for casual reasons.”
Republicans will repeal the Affordable Health Care Act – for the 71st time –which would leave the millions inflicted with long-term Covid and millions more with pre-existing conditions unable to afford health insurance. And they will repeal the hard-won ability of Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cap out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare recipients at $2000, and repeal the cap on the price of insulin (which costs $10 to make) at $35, instead of as much as $600.
Biden’s economic policies – oriented around sustainable, steady growth – have resulted in a record $1.4 trillion reduction in the budget deficit, while producing a record 10 million new jobs and wage hikes that impact people’s well-being for a lifetime; inflation is transitory.
Instead, Republicans intend to expand the 2017 tax cuts that only benefited the wealthiest 0.1% and corporations and added $2 trillion to the national debt, while repealing Biden’s 15 percent minimum tax on the wealthiest corporations. They plan cuts to Social Security and Medicare, even extending the eligibility age to 75, and require reauthorization every five years or even annually.
Republicans will reverse the all-of-government press for climate action, which New York has maintained through its ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Zeldin has stated his enthusiasm for renewing fracking and installing gas pipelines through the state.
Indeed, New Yorkers should vote yes on the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act – which wouldn’t even be proposed with Republicans in power.
“We need to end the war on producing energy in the U.S. – that is the cause of inflation, that is what is leading to recession.” George Santos, the Republican running against Democrat Robert Zimmerman for Congress (3rd) said, showing his ignorance that gasoline prices are set on a world market.
Meanwhile, Santos would be a vote for Kevin McCarthy refusing to provide additional aid to Ukraine.
Voting rights? Using the Big Lie as an excuse, Republicans around the country are abusing their power and suppressing voting, intimidating voters and election officials.
Jack Martins, who torpedoed New York’s first Independent Redistricting Commission and is now trying to regain his state Senate seat from Democrat Anna Kaplan, said he supports a suit overturning New York’s law allowing those afraid of contracting COVID to vote by absentee ballot, saying it’s just that he wants only eligible voters to vote.
How does protecting yourself from a deadly disease render your eligibility in question? New York’s rules for absentee voting are much more restrictive than most other states, contributing to low voter turnout (that benefits Republicans and Martins knows it); one of the reasons turnout was so strong in 2020 (besides hatred for Trump who lost by 7 million votes amid record turnout) was that states all eased access to the ballot the way it should be.
Democracy is on the ballot.
Vote Democrat. New York’s early voting is Oct. 29-Nov. 6; Election Day is Nov. 7. More information: www.nassaucountyny.gov/3419/Voting-Elections.
