The article by The Associated Press on the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act (“Dems push to retool health care programs for millions,” Sept. 20) highlighted the divisions within the Democratic Party to pass this legislation. If the Democrats cannot rally around this bill, it should not be passed in its current form.
First, until this program is clearly defined and financing locked in, this is likely money that we don’t have to spend. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill was to be fully funded, but the Congressional Budget Office has forecast a more than $200 billion deficit in its funding. Consider the dire situation in Illinois with our budget deficit and huge unfunded pension liability. We should not look to duplicate this financial instability at the federal level.
Second, this appears to be a significant wealth redistribution/giveaway program championed by progressives such as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders has stated that he originally wanted to have $6 trillion, so the lower amount should be a value.
Let us invest in programs that are worthwhile. A smaller bill that would focus on reasonable programs addressing climate change and enhancing funding for community colleges, trade schools and pre-K education would receive more popular support. However, blanket funding for community colleges in which students do not partially pay at all, giveaway programs such as a Civilian Climate Corps, and other wealth redistribution programs that cannot be paid for will just increase the deficit without appropriate returns.
The Democrats in Congress should focus on reasonable changes such as those being championed by Sen. Joe Manchin. A massive giveaway bill like the Build Better Act will only give fuel to the Republican Party with its claims that the Democratic Party has gone far left, which will be very damaging to the Democrats in the midterm elections.
— Steve Bosse, Northbrook
Averting attention
The Tribune Editorial Board advises Republicans to “consign Trump to the past” (“Republicans must heed the message from California and consign Trump to the past,” Sept. 17). Democrats surely welcome the board’s focus on Donald Trump.
This can avert attention from the destruction of our southern border, from the deaths of our soldiers amid the chaos and the desertion of Americans and allies in Afghanistan, from the billions of dollars in military equipment abandoned to those who hate us, from the drone strikes that kill innocents, from the colossal insult to our French ally, from the divisiveness President Joe Biden promised to heal, etc.
The sad truth for all of us is that when the 2024 presidential election is held, it won’t matter who the candidates are.
— Jack Kenesey, Palatine
Wishful thinking
There’s a lot of wishful thinking in the Sept. 17 editorial. Some lines verged on the hilarious: “The only question now is how to excise (Donald Trump) without upsetting his adherents. … Empathy will help. Appeals to patriotism and decency should not be discounted.”
And yet, a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll indicated two-thirds of Republicans believe the 2020 election was rigged. (Of course, that sentiment applies only to races Republicans lost.) So much for patriotism and decency.
Trump’s reign had all the markings of a dictator wannabe, and yet he barely lost. And the editorial board wants him to be excised without upsetting his adherents?
As the editorial states near its conclusion, “Good luck with that, of course.”
— Kevin Coughlin, Chicago
Automatic avoidance
Regarding the editorial on Sept. 16, “It’s a lousy moment for an automatic aldermanic pay raise,” I say anytime is a lousy moment for an automatic pay raise. Our fearless aldermen don’t have enough backbone to face the music in voting for a pay raise, if they really even deserve one.
Likewise, the city seems to be making a habit of raising fees annually based on inflation, notably the city sticker and the even more egregious property tax.
Nothing like a good gimmick to avoid taking controversial votes.
— Mario Caruso, Chicago
France’s debt to us
I hope that the French politicians, diplomats and businesspeople who are so upset about the U.S. and Australia negotiating in secret to build nuclear submarines, have a chance to visit the graves near the beaches of Normandy that are occupied by the remains of 9,400 American servicemen. Those Americans died while helping liberate France from the Nazis.
— Wally Salganik, Buffalo Grove
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