Sound Off for May 7: Seems a gamble

Gone is gone

The House Republicans just passed a huge tax cut for the rich, disguised as health-care reform. They said they could remove billions of dollars from health care while providing better care to all of us. When that tax money is gone, it will never go back into the health-care system again because Democrats have lost elections for the last 30 years trying to get financing for health care for all. Republicans believe all health care should be left to the marketplace, including Medicare, Medicaid and veterans’ care. The path is clear for all of us to be left to the tender mercies of the insurance CEOs. That means an equally huge transfer of our taxes upward into overhead and profits instead of benefits. Never believe anything a con man tells you.

For our future

No American president has ever taken away a national monument. Teddy Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to protect the Grand Canyon. Obama used it to make the canyons of Bears Ears, Utah, a national monument — preserving it for future generations. Who would object?

Seems a gamble

Last week, Paul Hampton reported the state’s bond rating has been downgraded. Friday, the Sun Herald reports the governor is looking into new revenue strategies. Like a state lottery. Great, Phil! Gaming is your solution?

Big relief, right?

Thank goodness Obama is no longer in office. Conservatives no longer have to constantly complain about the president signing an excessive number of executive orders or playing golf excessively or spending an excessive amount of tax dollars vacationing outside of Washington. Thank goodness for those frugal conservative watchdogs in red states ensuring the president doesn’t waste tax money or abuse his power.

Consequences

One more thing to consider: The taxes imposed on the rich by the ACA created many well-paying jobs in the health-care field. That was the best example of trickle-down economics. Those jobs will disappear when it’s repealed.

Missed our plane

Hats off to Mayor Gilich in his efforts to get an Air Force jet back on display at White Avenue and U.W. 90. Keesler AFB has been an integral part of Biloxi’s history since before WWII and many of us Air Force veterans and retirees have missed the sight of that jet. Thanks!

This story was originally published May 7, 2017 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Sound Off for May 7: Seems a gamble."