Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 4-6-23

Where are the good ones?

Assessing government achievements is surely seen differently from a partisan perspective but most Americans would agree that achievements in economic enhancements, jobs, workplace conditions, clean water and air, enhanced education, voting access, disease prevention, poverty reduction, senior care are noteworthy achievements. In the past, achievements in these areas were the stuff of media headlines at the local, the state, and the national level. These issues and policy arenas were important, were the talking points of politicians, were what Governors and Senators leveraged to run for the Presidency. Seventeen Governors and seventeen Senators have been the American President.

Today state governing headlines have been reconstructed:

— Ten state Republican led legislatures refuse federally funded Medicaid for this nation’s poorest Americans (Mississippi, Alabama at the bottom of the bottom fiscally, educationally, life expectancy….)

— States, with Roe overturned, are enacting extreme abortion and contraceptive restrictions, prevention, incarcerations that are enhancing the U.S.’s already high maternal mortality.

— Ten state Republican-led legislatures have introduced 27 election restriction legislation to accompany 150 voting suppression bills. Current election restriction laws focus on college students – make it harder for them to vote.

— Utah requires parental permission for minors to access social media.

— Book banning, Michelangelo art, anything with a diversity tag is scrutinized for suppression.

— Halley, Scott, Paul, and DeSantis condemn the due process of federal and state law, crimes being prosecuted in the judicial system where one is innocent until found guilty.

— The highest cause of death to children in the U.S. is guns. Political sway prevents the American preference for gun safety, for leaving war weapons with the military.

— One bridge in Ohio, Brent Sprint Bridge, has received key positive coverage as bipartisan, a vibrant community enhancement (Biden’s infrastructure policies in action) that is too rare.

So where have all the good ones gone? Governors, Senators? My memory is jammed with nightly news snippets, newspaper/news magazines, internet postings regarding Senators Mike Mansfield, Everett Dirksen, Olivia Snowe, John McCain, Dick Lugar. Governors acclaimed for powerful accomplishments for their states, shaping the nation: Julius Gunter, Linda Lingle, Mitch Daniels, Larry Hogan, Charlie Baker, Mitt Romney, Dick Lugar. All of these elected officials Republicans — all of these elected officials respected and regarded by the public, not just their party — the good and the great Republican politicians. Where have they gone? Will the likes of them ever return?

A fifth generation Nebraskan, thought in 2015 to be a potential Republican President, Senator Ben Sasse served Nebraska in the Senate from 2015 to 2023 when he resigned. Sasse was a beleaguered Republican like Romney — of the Grand Old Party until it was no longer grand — it was Trump’s Party. Sasse accepted the presidency of Florida State University. Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for tis better to be alone than in bad company.

—George Washington

Kathy Herald-Marlowe

Sharon

Let’s team up for shared success

What might we do locally to see the points shared by many about disparities in living in America (and yes, the world.) People with ties to other places may support missions or small areas. Let’s learn from them help all in our towns and school districts.

Matthew Desmond, author of Poverty by America, asserts in an Apple Podcast that the systems for elderly or low-income are poorly designed, not readily supported nor easy to use for many.

About 1 in 5 people do not get one or more kinds of help who qualify!

Some people need help with access, filling out whether paper or forms on a laptop or even on an iPhone or Android (with phone apps.)

Teams doing outreach and offering support to every household would be a game-changer for many who are missing out on help, programs and funds and a general sense of connection for future needs.

The funds for TANF — Temporary Aid to Needy Families — go to states which can use them for programs, leaving a small percent for cash assistance. SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) is based on income limits and needs to be renewed every six months (with a month to review further if needed).

Some states offered fuel assistance if someone with SNAP lived in the home. There is more help for elderly or special needs folks to live at home and have government funding for some help. Few know in advance about planning for such possibilities.

There is $175 billion in uncollected or unpaid (or evaded) taxes in the top tier that could ‘level the playing field,’  Mr. Desmond suggests. He encourages more citizens.  to join endpoverty.org.

Along with 350.org and others, I encourage people out of concern for climate change and sharing natural resources, to show how more schools, non-profits and businesses as well as individuals can join together along these lines for mutual benefit and shared advocacy.

With traditional efforts (such as nonprofits and the Schumacher Center) in the tri-corner area (MA/NY/CT, “The Many Connect Area” as I explore on my blog) we can make  strides toward enhanced services, education, accessibility and more over the life span, especially ‘at the beginning and in the later years’.

Let’s get dreaming and teaming up for shared success this spring and each season of the year and of life!

Catherine Palmer Paton

Falls Village