Parties need to stand for something

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

One of the key phrases there is, “promote the general welfare.” That means looking out for each other, helping your neighbor in need. And there is this … “and that government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Yet not one Republican in Congress voted for the popular American Rescue Plan, which supplied emergency funds to out-of-work families, due to COVID. This stimulated the economy. And now, unemployment is the lowest in decades. But congressional Republicans vote, in a bloc, rejecting virtually every piece of legislation proposed by the president, including the original infrastructure bill. It is interesting, however, that many of them returned to their home districts and took credit for the funds flowing to their state.

So — the reason for my letter. I have a question for the Republican Party. What are you for? Name me one thing that you are for. How do you propose to “promote the general welfare”?

Mitch McConnell was asked what the party platform would be in the fall and he said Republicans would not be releasing a legislative agenda ahead of this year’s vote. And I’m supposed to vote for that?

So will somebody write a letter to the editor and tell me — What are you for? Christopher T B Murphy

Bethany