Greeting the new year with skepticism
It is the time for looking forward to the coming year: Trepidation and dystopian? Optimism, even utopian? Fear, or longing for the return to better shades of normalcy?
Doyle McManus opened with optimism (DP-12-31-21) and Hoppy Kercheval found a bit of agreement between our current and immediate-past presidents (DP-12-31-21). The degree of disagreement between our two major political parties and within Congress, however, is reason to view the new year with skepticism.
In Congress, and perhaps in the nation’s populace, among Democrats the extreme left has led to tail wagging the dog into more than it could chew, while the radical right has proved to be all tail and no dog.
One Democrat senator appears to prevent a majority vote on critical legislation, while 50 senators march obediently to an opposition drummer. Is it fair in this case to castigate the one in the face of the 50, augmented perhaps by some in his own party? I think not.
West Virginia’s Democratic United States senator has duties to the Constitution, a sovereign nation, a state constituency and a personal mind and conscience. In a fitful nation, and in the face of incorrigible opposition, a senator can do little more than weigh the issues and his duties and act.
In an ideal republic, each senator would be expected to act for the people’s benefit. But we do not live in an ideal republic; and as we may infer from Benjamin Franklin — “A republic, if you can keep it” — our senators and representatives may not act ideally.
But act they should. At the end of the day, they have our nation to govern.
Bill Wyant
Morgantown
North-central W.Va. lucky to have McKinley
At this time in our nation’s history, I suggest most of us are tired of the trash-talking members of Congress who would prefer to bad-mouth those across the aisle rather than move to solve problems facing our country.
Those of us in the First Congressional District of West Virginia are fortunate to be represented by Dave McKinley, who understands the importance of finding solutions. He’s a representative who takes action and is not afraid to reach across the aisle to get results.
In voting for the original infrastructure legislation, he helped pass legislation that provides much needed money to improve our roads and bridges, as well as take broadband service to areas of our state not now properly served. This is what we have a right to expect our members of Congress to do.
Watching television commercials from his primary opponent, we’d think Congressman McKinley had two heads, was the devil reincarnate and the male twin of Nancy Pelosi. Nothing can be further from the truth — we are lucky to have McKinley represent us in Congress: a representative of action, a problem solver.
A candidate who would run the type of commercial noted above is one who doesn’t have a record of his own on which to run. McKinley has a record of accomplishment in Congress and deserves to be re-elected.
C. D. “Tony” Hylton III
Morgantown
Don’t complain about GOP when Dems do it too
In response to Larry Harris’ letter Jan. 9, I’m outraged by Democrats who cry foul when subjected to similar antics that the Democratic Party pulled during the Trump administration.
Biden accused Trump of not having the country’s best interest at heart through the pandemic. His efforts haven’t been much of an improvement. It’s time Democrats realize a president can only do so much when the opposing party’s influence is against him. Now they know what Trump was up against.
I see “the kettle calling the pot black” in Harris’ letter. Democrats need to stop whining the party’s own tactics are being used against them. The Democrats deceive just as much, if not more. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
As for Manchin, he seems to be the only elected official “trying” to balance the scales in Washington to accomplish what’s best for the nation. His plan looks like a good start: cut taxes for working people; universal pre-kindergarten; lower health care cost; and invest in local businesses to create jobs paid by the rich and out-of-state corporations.
Truth be told, Biden can’t have all the power. He was elected to compromise with the Republicans, not to rule over this country. The previous Democratic administration divided our country by race and religion, and Biden’s agenda is similar.
I know of Democrats as well as Republicans who are actively trying to foil mask and vaccine mandates. The only way to reunite this country is for both parties to join forces to become one. People are looking for leaders to repair our country of previous damage. We don’t care which party accomplishes it, we just want it done. Period. It’s time to stop slinging mud and start promoting a united nation.
Brenda Bonnett
Arthurdale
