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Letters
The Art Of Being Human

As human persons, we are imperfect and our institutions all too often reflect that imperfection. We daily experience the "evil which men and our government commits" and it has become the practice of our media and politicians to highlight the consequences of these acts of evil and imperfections. However, when we open our eyes and attention, we are witnessing the goodness expressed by individuals and institutions to the call to serve one another. As for a "compass" we have a "Declaration of Independence," a "Constitution and Bill of Rights" and the "Law of Love: Love your Creator, your neighbor and self."

What is necessary is to bring to the public square the understanding that our freedoms come from God and not from government, and that when we respond to our spiritual values over material values we reflect our true exceptionalism and our commitment to the art of being human.

Paul Jankiewicz, Ph.D.
Ulster Park


Time To Make EZ Pass Fair

EZ Pass was created in 1987 with the idea that EZ Pass holders would get discounts on toll roads in states that use it. Great idea until Cuomo got the not so bright idea to not give EZ Pass holders from other states the discounts that NY holders have on NY toll roads. Predictably other states followed suit.

Time for the governors in member states to get together and re-introduce same EZ pass rates for all EZ Pass holders in all roads that honor EZ pass.

Ken Mitchell
Newburgh


What, More "Hate"?

Well, I see Mr. Bob Prener is back in the July 13th Journal with his continuing thesis on "hate."

Where to start?

Mr. Prener seems to conflate "resistance" with "hate." Why? History is loaded with laudable and patriotic resistance to out of control administrations. Count me proudly in this group.

On subject of "resistance": was Mitch McConnell's ("make Obama a one term president") and his eight years of blatant resistance to all of Obama's efforts to improve the welfare of ALL American's, not just the wealthy GOP supporters; Hate?

Mr. Prener seems to want to make resistance a left or right issue with the press. That, I would argue, is not the issue with Trump. It is a FACT versus FAKE issue. Trump shows almost daily that he just can't stand facts and shows hatred toward the press that keeps these facts in circulation. Why this hate of facts? History has shown that one of the first signs of dictatorial regimes is when the "leaders" seek to crush the free press. And with Putin (who controls all Russian media) as Trump's most obvious international idol this should be scary to all of us that value independent, fact based, Journalism.

Mr. Prener goes on to somehow try to attach Hillary to Trump's shameful birther crusade. Really? So it was Hillary that spent years pounding out this outrageous conspiracy to help Trump establish his primary national identity and basis for GOP support?

More troublesome facts: Obama was born in 1961 in Hawaii making him 48 at inauguration. Obama's mom moved him back to Hawaii (part of US) in 1970 and he's been a US resident ever since. That makes 39 years. If you only get news from Fox, et al, facts can be an issue.

Obama first held elected state wide office in Illinois in 1996.

Trump's credentials include inherited wealth, multiple bankruptcies, multiple failed businesses, many litigations from unpaid suppliers or defrauded students, his name on stuff, his saying "you're fired" and his birther claims.

Finally, Trump's winning the electrical college while losing the popular vote by almost 3 million (if they can't find Trump's 5 million illegal voters) in no way makes me and those who may think like me "losers." Nor does it make you a "winner."

Based on Trump's track record as a narcissistic con-man (Mr. Romney and Bush and Rubio's claim, not mine), a showboat as candidate and now president who has shown time and again to only care about his image, then we ALL stand to lose with a weakened (dumbed-down) press, less democracy and diminished standing in the world where facts and ethics no longer matter and 40 percent or so of our population look up to the guy from the "Access Hollywood" video.

Under these circumstances I would argue resistance (in the form of satire, letters, free press or demonstrations) is clearly patriotic not hateful.

Mr. Prener is entitled to his own opinion (and it seems facts) but leave me out of it.

Bill Lucas
Phillipsport


Democracy Tomorrow?

OK. We should know that elections can be bought, because commercials cost a good deal of money. Yes, there are more of us than there are of them — in fact, there are only 540 billionaires in the USA and approximately 122,294,978 voters. If our average donation to a campaign is $5- each and theirs is approximately from $5 million to $40 million, Our $5.-donation just doesn't count as much as theirs.

Up until about 75 years ago, elections were not won by those that could afford television commercials. They didn't take off until Eisenhower and Nixon, but in my opinion they shouldn't exist at all. Free TV debates are the way to go, so that an opponent can catch a lie as it happens.

My point is that the billionaires are in charge unless We, the people stand up for our rights. First of all, we need to know that democracy is not a lifetime gift. It only continues to thrive with citizens coming together and sharing what they are voting for.

Second, we can look at what they've done with their lives before running for president. Was it only money? And/or fame? Or was it working for and with We, the people?

We are living in a crucial time. We need to come together to share our beliefs and to fight for the rights of all of us.

We have already seen local and world-wide protests becoming more and more popular. Apparently, We, the People have to understand that our future is in our hands and in our voices. It's summer, so we will get the benefit of our beautiful outdoors, and nature will help to turn up the volume of our voices. Hope to see you soon.

Jill Paperno
Glenford


Regarding Faso's 'Accomplishments'

In his recently sent "Constituent Guide," U.S Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, outlines his "accomplishments" in the recent House health care legislation.

He touts his "Property Tax Reduction Act." While I agree the burden of Medicaid costs might better be shared on a different basis, simply shifting the costs from counties to the state in New York without any well-defined plan to replace cuts does not constitute "relief" or a "tax cut."

The same "health care" legislation supported by Faso that allows this tax shift on the one hand actually cuts Medicaid by $772 billion on the other. States are being left alone to make up the loss in revenue that supports things like nursing homes, drug addiction programs, mental health care, birthing services and more. What do you think that will do to our state taxes, or health care options, while the wealthy get nearly $707 billion in tax reductions?

And though Faso says insurance companies "cannot directly deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions," they are, under state waivers, allowed to eliminate essential benefits, thus rendering coverage unavailable.

"No member of Congress is exempt from changes in the law," he also says. That should go without saying. Bragging about it seems odd.

He also says there is "$138 billion included to cover health-related costs." That's inadequate, dwarfed alone by the $772 billion in Medicaid cuts he's fostered.

The bill Faso backs offers "health care tax credits," but for individuals 55 to 64 years old making $26,000 per year, only $4.000 comes off estimated premiums of $14,000 to $16,000. That unaffordable.

The costs of the House and Senate proposals are draconian compared to Faso's claim of "savings."

Marcus Arthur
Saugerties


America Needs The People's Budget

While members of the Republican majority are competing to see who can make the deepest cuts, there is a budget proposal before Congress that would boost the economy for all of us while cutting the number of people in poverty in half.

It's The People's Budget, proposed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The People's Budget invests in safe and productive infrastructure, education, affordable housing, health care and nutrition, child care and working family tax credits. It also calls for increasing the minimum wage. These investments will create 3.6 million jobs and set us on a path to cut poverty in half in 10 years. The People's Budget invests $2 trillion in infrastructure spending while expanding rural broadband access, universal pre-K and free tuition at state and community colleges.

Every year, without fail, our elected representatives give more than half of the discretionary federal budget to the Pentagon, leaving less than half to be divided up to fund education, health care, environmental spending, infrastructure and everything else.

Douglas Langenau
Salt Point


A Statement From The Governor

The token changes to the Senate health care bill are a thinly veiled attempt to disguise the same cruel bill. Far from improving our health care system, the Senate Republican health care bill is still a death trap for New York. The bill delivers tax cuts to insurance companies, medical device companies and high-income people while jeopardizing health care coverage for millions of middle class New Yorkers, exacerbating the opioid epidemic ravaging the country and driving up costs for people with preexisting conditions.

The Senate Republican bill continues the assault on Medicaid, with devastating cuts that will cost New York billions and put New Yorkers' health in jeopardy. Thanks to Congressmen Faso and Collins, this bill includes an additional $2.3 billion in cuts—cynically disguised as property tax relief—that will cripple hospitals, nursing homes, and home care providers. Make no mistake: Faso and Collins are shamefully working to hurt the very New Yorkers they were sent to Washington to protect.

In New York, we believe that health care is a right, not a luxury, and we will continue to fight for access to quality and affordable health. I urge all New Yorkers to continue to make their voices heard, and I call on our entire Congressional delegation to protect New Yorkers and stop this bill."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Albany



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