Originalist judges and our rights

Many thanks to Roy Tedoff in his letter to the editor in the September 20 issue for raising the issue of Republican judges subscribing to “originalist” interpretations of the Constitution. This important issue is neither wonkish nor merely in the theoretical “weeds”.

Despite popular conservative legend, the 18th-century framers (all elderly white males) did not sit down with Jesus and write the last word in government rule of law. They missed freeing the slaves, giving the right to vote to women and African Americans, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. In fact, there have been 27 constitutional amendments and famously, we even fought a domestic war to further flesh out this admittedly admirable but incomplete document.

More pointedly (a call-out to seniors), there are no rights to Social Security or Medicare in our Constitution. Amidst great turmoil in the 20th century, Congress and presidential power established those rights. A majority originalist Supreme Court acting with “God’s eye” about framer intent could (and likely may) try to excise any or many of our rights as purportedly “unconstitutional.” Popularly, people worry over Roe v. Wade. A woman’s vital right to an abortion is actually, yet again, just another law that the framers never intended (see “God’s eye,” above). Obviously, there are others.

The Democrats talk about Republican attacks on the social safety net, and some see it as disingenuous political rhetoric. Since the Trump presidential malignancy and his packing of conservative cronies to the judiciary, threats to the social safety net have morphed ever closer to reality. Despite lip-service praise to the Constitution, it’s hardly surprising that opportunist congressional Republicans (in fact, almost all Republicans) will not rise to defend it.

To stem current and potentially impending attacks on our rights and to restore some semblance of balance in our government, we urgently need a massive “Blue Wave” in November. Vote like your right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” depended on it. In many ways, it does.

John Pace

Wayne County 4 Action

Honesdale, PA

$900 billion in interest

The Congressional Budget Office is projecting that next year our country will owe $390 billion in interest because of the national deficit. Thanks to the GOP massive tax cuts, that is 50% more than in 2017. In 10 years, our country is estimated to be paying $900 billion a year in interest. That will be more than the cost of any other U.S. government program, including what is spent on the military.

In the past, GOP officials used the deficit as their excuse for not funding government programs. We are told that there is no money to improve education, to provide health care for children, or to improve our infrastructure. This month, the GOP introduced legislation to make their most recent tax cuts permanent, including the massive tax cuts to the wealthy. The next time you hit a pothole in the road, or worry about how to pay for health care and a decent education for your children, you can thank the GOP for over-extending our national credit card, causing the U.S. deficit to reach $1 trillion next year.

(Facts and figures were provided by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office.)

Marlene Bowman

Shohola, PA

Who is Matt Cartwright?

With the midterm election coming fast upon us, one might ask, who is Matt Cartwright and what can he do for Wayne County? After meeting Cartwright, Wayne County’s new U.S. Congressman after recent redistricting, I am finding something I don’t typically find in my representatives: someone who is there, who listens to his constituents, who works up and down the aisle to find common ground, and ranks number two in the House in gaining bipartisan support when introducing legislation. I am finding a true advocate with a proven, long-standing record for action on important issues such as programs for veterans, for rural Pennsylvania, for healthcare and for economic development, among others.

Take, for example, his record on Social Security and Medicare. Cartwright was endorsed by the National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare. He introduced the Social Security 2100 Act, which stands to cut taxes for Social Security recipients, provide a benefit bump for current and future beneficiaries, and keep the system strong for generations to come. He voted against last year’s budget cuts, which cut $486 billion from Medicare and would turn it into a voucher program. In fact, Cartwright strongly opposes any budget compromises that involve cuts to these programs, dating back to the Obama administration.

With Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block to make up for recent tax cuts for the wealthy, which added more than $1 trillion to the deficit, Cartwright would continue to be a much-needed champion for these programs. Not surprisingly, Chrin is running many incorrect ads about him, including one that says he voted to cut Medicare by billions citing an article from 2012, before he was even in office. In a time of fake news, cyber warfare and politics as usual, I urge voters to truly get to know their candidates; their lives may depend on it.

Angela Lauffenburger

Honesdale, PA

TV commercials driving me nuts

The TV commercials have gotten so beyond ridiculous that they’re driving me nuts, and I know I’m not the only one!

That 10-minute one where they rub some junk on the guy’s face to remove the bags under his eyes is particularly annoying. They put his ugly face right up close on the TV screen. It’s disgusting and obnoxious.

Other ads repeat their telephone number four times in a row. That’s when I turn off that channel and boycott their product. I wish everyone did that.

Elvis would shoot the TV, but I can’t afford to buy a new one.

So if you see someone running down the road screaming and pulling his hair out, it’s probably me after the commercials drove me over the edge.

Be kind, just ignore me!

Philip Yacino Jr.

Narrowsburg, NY