Up or down?

To the Editor: Which path will we choose? Will we allow corporations and rich people to control Congress? Will congresspeople work only for their donors, while creating a cloud of fear and anger to distract us, their voters?

Will we change the tax laws? Or, will we allow corporations to profit from government grants, government funded university research, government subsidized university education, roads, docks, and other infrastructure, but only pay 7% of federal income tax? Will we allow the very rich to accumulate trillions and pay less of their income in taxes than working people?

Political donors are pulling the strings — pulling them hard. The results? Kyrsten Sinema won't allow an increase in tax rates for rich people or corporations. “Moderate” congresspeople won't allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices. They're protecting their real constituents, their donors: rich people, corporations, and especially, coal, oil, and drug companies.

It's OK to spend $5 trillion for two wars, almost $1 trillion to bail out the banks that crashed our economy, $2 trillion on tax cuts for corporations and the rich, and $10 trillion over 10 years for the military. But, $2 trillion over 10 years for pre-k and childcare, for community college, for climate change, for lower drug prices, dental and hearing aids, and for a tax cut that supports our children — that's labelled excessive.

Countries around the world are investing in their people. The U.S. is not. To be successful, countries must have high-skilled, welltrained workers. Working parents need affordable childcare.

Our future has two possible Americas. One America has a very small, very rich class, with 90% of Americans struggling or very poor. Another America has a well-educated, highly-skilled workforce and tax laws that encourage investment in America — an America, where most Americans do well and good opportunities abound.

Which path will we choose?

Marvin Keshner

Sonora