Smaller Government Would Mean Less Services

To The Editor:
We are seeing a manipulation of a frustrated people by a wealthy and influential group. They use disingenuous references of God, home and country to lure folks to their cause. The only interest they have is to keep what has been gifted them and add to it at whatever cost to anyone else. They are frightening the average person with words like “socialism,” while they are implementing a class warfare that has never been rivaled.
With Karl Rove and the American grassroots movement coming from one direction and the tea party movement coming from another, most people are falling for what these groups spew without understanding their motives. The tea party group has been mostly funded by billionaire boys such as the Koch brothers, (long time libertarians) and are far short of a grassroots effort.
These folks are here to protect the wealthiest among us. The trickle down theory is a myth that has been disproved many times. The tax cuts that these folks wish to extend have been in effect throughout this economic downturn with no reinvestment from the wealthy that is obvious or in any way helpful. History and reality have taught us that the wealthy save while the rest of us are forced to spend, as our total income is disposable for luxuries such as food, shelter and transportation.
My concern is the assault on the social programs that have made this country the great nation it is today. My parents never owned a home. With the help of many social programs, my siblings and I were raised in our station and became contributors to society. My four daughters are teachers, nurses employee advocates and supervisors in health care. All are contributors at the greatest levels. All are mothers of wonderful children and involved in their community.
All this is because generations before them provided the necessary funds from their hard-earned salaries so that they could share in the dream. Now a very few are disguising their own motives behind cries of “smaller government and lower taxes.” Smaller government will simply manifest as less services to everyone. As for lower taxes, that’s hilarious. What have any of the politicians given up? Many of our representatives make more than five times as much as the front line soldier who is risking their life every day, while the staff and salaries of politicians continue to grow.
Edward Wolff is a professor of economics at New York University. He is the author of “Top Heavy: The Increasing Inequality of Wealth in America.” He states, “In the United States, the richest 1 percent of households owns 38 percent of all wealth.” This disparity has been increasing at an alarming rate, no accident for sure.
If we abandon our infrastructure projects, water down our social programs and continue our war on public servants at every level, if we refuse to invest for future generations, your descendants and mine, the rich get richer, the middle class shrinks and the dream ends here.
I know many of the very people I hope to reach, not only elected “W,” they reelected him as well. I understand they are part of the electorate that think Sarah would be a great president. I know how little my chances are of convincing this group of anything outside of their political dogma, but when I think of the wonderful opportunities that were afforded to me, I want to believe they can happen for others as well.
SAM KELLY
Swainton