Embarrassed to be a West Virginian
My wife and I love living here in Morgantown, where we have great friends and are surrounded by countless outdoor places to recreate. There are great eateries and shopping possibilities … alas, not safe right now due to COVID and omicron.
My embarrassment comes from the reality that we live in a Republican-controlled state. Even our Democratic Sen. Manchin is really a Republican in sheep’s clothing, acting against the better interests of West Virginians.
Why embarrassment?
As Americans, we were brought up to believe that the two-party system worked to balance the affairs of state. Our representatives would have to work with the party in power to get things done, to pass laws and measures that benefit citizens. However, now the Republicans are only about defeating everything the Democrats propose. This opposition is not to protect the basic principles of their party platform, but only to defeat the Democrats.
Further embarrassment comes from how the pandemic is being handled. Our president is trying to promote effective ways to stop the spread, including mask and vaccine mandates; the Republicans are trying to foil those activities. McKinley and Capito just joined a Republican-led multistate challenge to the Biden administration’s OSHA vaccine mandate.
To be clear, Biden and OSHA are trying their best to protect citizens while the Republican effort is only meant to defeat Biden.
Maybe embarrassment is not the right word for my reaction … outrage may be better.
How do we get out of this predicament? A short-term thought is to encourage folks to vote Democratic in the mid-terms, but such vote outcomes generally do not go this way in mid-term elections. Would putting Trump in jail help? I am for it, but that might inflame his supporters to more violence.
Deep down, I believe the only way to reunite this country is a stand for truth; to get citizens to realize that lies and alternate realities have no part in politics. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, but not freedom to deceive as Republicans have been doing.
Larry Harris
Morgantown
Who do our senators think they represent?
The Morgantown Quakers are called to bear witness to the increasing economic inequality in our country because equality is a cornerstone of our faith.
Sens. Manchin and Capito’s lack of support for the Build Back Better Act (BBB) is deeply troubling. Economists are projecting reduced economic growth without BBB. In addition, this legislation would make a significant economic difference in our state.
One in five children in West Virginia live in poverty, and the median household income is second lowest in the country. Seven counties have no child care services, limiting parents’ participation in the workforce.
The BBB contains historic investments to address child care deserts, health and food insecurity and lack of good paying jobs.
The Child Tax Credit would lift 22,000 West Virginia children above the poverty line. BBB would expand availability and affordability of quality child care for 89,607 West Virginia children. The BBB will bring 31,000 jobs to West Virginia, many in rural communities, such as clean energy manufacturing jobs and the Civilian Climate Corps, which will put people to work in land restoration.
The BBB allows Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, penalizes pharmaceutical companies that unfairly raise prices and caps annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors at $2,000. Nearly 600,000 West Virginians with chronic conditions will see their prescription drug cost go down.
The BBB invests $85/ton into equipping coal and gas power plants with carbon capture technology, helping these power sources stay online even as our country transitions towards a zero-carbon economy.
The BBB is paid for by closing loopholes that allow corporations to pay no taxes, stopping incentives for companies to take jobs overseas and increasing taxes on incomes greater than $10 million.
Who are Sens. Manchin and Capito serving? West Virginians who are struggling to put food on the table or corporations?
Catherine Tall
Morgantown
Is American democracy on the decline?
American patriots like Bob Dole and Colin Powell bring back memories of what it is to be on the front line, fighting for the nation they so revered and respected. They are true heroes in every sense and leave us with indelible prints in the history of our nation.
One cannot but draw a contrast to what a so-called political party has become these days, dragging its people to a world of violence, discourtesy and incivility. Political leaders engage in defiance against original facts — the truth.
Now I realize that democracy is not a given, but something to be fought at every stage. We see red flags waved at the institution and Constitution every single day, dotted with undemocratic, unpatriotic actions.
Nine states have passed restrictive voting bills making it harder to vote for people of color. We are witnessing aggressive tactics to push back against protests and general discontent.
Threats of authoritarianism are on the rise around the world and pose increasing threats to democracies around the globe.
Our nation is not immune from that threat. What is true around the world is also true at home. Democracy doesn’t die in darkness but dies in plain sight.
Recently, we saw bipartisan agreement on economic matters and the same need to apply bipartisanship regarding voting rights also.
It is high time to pass the Voting Rights Act with a simple 51 majority votes, to uphold the constitutional guarantee of voting rights for everyone.
Democrats need to step up, Sens. Manchin and Sinema leading the way.
Without affirming democratic rights at the national and international level, there will not be a United States, Beacon of Democracy. Other nations on the world stage are looking to America for leadership and the values of democracy. People are not interested in the process — only in the results.
It will be a perilous life for all citizens concerned if we fail to act. It is time for action by the people to make sure that authoritarianism does not drown the embers of democracy.
Syamala Jagannathan
Morgantown
