To the Editor:
I participated in the “No Kings” event in Cape May Court House. Everyone in Cape May County should have been there too. No matter who you voted for, we all must stand up to this administration’s disregard of our Constitution. It is not who is a Democrat or Republican. It is between what is right and wrong.
There have been so many violations of the foundation the United States was built on. Mass deportations of people who have peacefully lived here, worked and paid taxes. Calling people vermin and treating them like animals is not the American way. These are human beings. They came here just like all of our ancestors to start a new life in a safe environment.
The criminals should be removed, but most of these people are not criminals. There should be a better system for immigrants to come here legally and be able to stay. Currently there is no immigration lawyer in South Jersey. People have to travel hours north to find one. It costs around $800 and requires finding transportation and taking off from their jobs multiple times.
As you can see there are effects due to losing these workers. Farmers, restaurant owners and hotel owners have reached out begging for the arrests to stop. The administration has listened to states he favors because it now affects our pockets.
Then there was the parade costing $25-$45 million dollars while veterans are losing benefits. A parade at a time of massive cuts in hundreds of programs in order to save the taxpayers money. The impending chance of cuts coming to SNAP, Liheap, Medicaid, food banks, WIC and Social Services will not only impact those in need but all of us.
Hospitals will be affected, services will be reduced or cut. Housing programs for the elderly, nursing homes, housing for the handicapped, services for children with disabilities will all be reduced. No one gets out of this untouched.
Newspapers and reporters are being silenced. Cities are being targeted. Programs like FEMA are being thrown on the states, along with education. Our taxes will surely have to go up to continue the many programs the federal government has funded in the past.
There is nothing wrong with reducing waste and fraud, but to decimate entire agencies and all their programs is reckless and irresponsible.
The low-income residents of N.J. will end up spending more of their incomes while the rich sit back and get tax breaks. This is so unfair.
We all need to stand up to the king and say “No.” This is not what we want. This is not what America needs. We put presidents in power to work for us, not against us. We still are We the People. It is the responsibility of everyone of us to make our voices heard.
During the Holocaust, no one spoke up for each of the groups that were targeted. More groups were added until there was no one left to speak out for anyone. We are supposed to learn from the past to do better, not hopelessly repeat it. Stand up, speak up, before it is too late.
Barbara Allison, Erma