Letters to the Editor by Carole Clark

September 20, 2022

     Kari Lake and Mark Finchem want to end early and by-mail voting. They also want to empower the state Legislature to discount actual election results as they continue to rant about nonexistent and non-proven fraud. They’ve embraced the most outlandish QAnon and Oath Keeper conspiracy theories as well as encouraged violence as “legitimate political discourse." Abe Hamedeh is an election denier and proposes shoving women’s rights back to the 1800s. Blake Masters wants a federal abortion ban and the end of Social Security. T.J. Shope, Teresa Martinez and Rob Hudelson fully support all the same nonsense on the state level but go further by pledging more tax money for the private education of Arizona’s wealthiest families. None of these MAGA candidates offer a single legitimate problem-solving solution for our state’s dire water crisis or teacher shortage.

     Arizona families and businesses need pragmatic and sensible leaders. Katie Hobbs will be a governor with specific plans aimed at water, education and shared prosperity. Adrian Fontes will be a secretary of state working to make voting secure and accessible to all. Kris Mayes will be an attorney general committed to protecting consumers while enabling law enforcement to be where and when we need them. Mark Kelly will continue to be our commonsense voice in the U.S. Senate. Taylor Kerby and Keith Seaman will fight in the state Legislature on behalf of every Arizona family and business regardless of ZIP code.

     By rejecting the ideological extremism of MAGA, voters will have one clear choice: Elect those who represent your best interests — vote Blue in 2022 up and down ballot!

July 27, 2022

     If you’ve watched the televised Jan. 6 hearings or followed any of the unbiased news coverage, you’re aware that the case has been unequivocally made that Donald Trump personally led an attempted coup to overthrow the government of the USA. Despite knowing that he was defeated at the ballot box and lost every legal attempt to stay in office, he resorted to violence and illegal coercion. Trump spit on the Constitution, democracy and America’s long-standing tradition of a peaceful transition of power. He watched and cheered as the Capital was stormed and police officers were beaten. He put a target on his VP’s back for doing his constitutional duty as Trump failed to do his.

     Remarkably, there are still many who either ignore the facts or don’t care about truth. They remain loyal to someone who cares nothing about them but demands unwavering subservience. As he lies to their face, they shower him with adulation, money and a commitment to making him the first American dictator.

     While some GOP candidates are looking beyond their Trump blinders, they remain in 100% lock step in their attempts to weaken democracy. In unison, they attack longstanding rights of women, LGBTQ, minorities and teachers. Their vision is an America with fewer protections for workers, consumers and those most vulnerable.

     Our nation is at a crossroads — voters are being asked to choose a future of expanding or reducing democratic choice. Do we advance opportunity for all or submit to the will of the rich and powerful? The insurrection results will be left to us at this year’s ballot box   

May 19, 2022

     Let’s be honest about the extent free market forces actually control America’s economy. Adam Smith’s so-called “invisible hand” (supply and demand) theory of capitalism is wholly embraced by wealthy conservatives except when it slaps them in the wallet — then they wail and cry about unfairness.  

     The American economy has lost much of its “free marketness” since the days of Reaganomics. Prior to that, working families had a real voice in setting fiscal priorities. The '50s and '60s saw booms in public education, civil rights, home construction, roads, bridges, power grids, etc. — the middle class grew and prospered dramatically. Much of that investment was due to “fair share” tax policies driven by organized labor. American prosperity was available to every American.  

     Those days are gone, my friend. Shifts in taxes and lack of corporate accountability have left us a middle class that’s a shrinking bit of nostalgia. Unions are demonized because they stand firmly in the way of expanded corporate greed and power. Chambers of Commerce, however, have become legislative lobbyists for widening the already gross income gap, rising prices, higher regressive sales taxes and disproportionate political influence.   

     Not since the 1920s has America seen such an unmitigated rise in corporate power over our everyday lives. The wealthy fear the public and any government action to protect citizens. Sadly, many Americans care more about the short-term price of a gallon of gas than the long-term cost of losing democracy and economic fairness.  

     Today’s "invisible hand" must be the unselfish act of voters who choose D to protect what’s left of our voice in America’s future.

December 8, 2021 

     Ms Broome correctly points out that misinformed and cherry-picked descriptions of political and economic systems fail to add anything constructive to public discourse.  America, in the strictest of definitions, is neither capitalist nor socialist - it’s a hybrid economy leaning heavily in favor of the wealthy. Oligarchy and authoritarianism seem to be what’s next.

     B. Brannigan is in total denial about unbridled capitalism - no child labor laws, no workplace safety or worker rights, no consumer protections - laissez-faire means everyone’s on their own; survival of the fittest!  Gratefully, America woke up and took action.  He also wants you to believe that post pandemic supply problems are caused by Democratic policies - did he blame the toilet paper shortage on Trump?  Why doesn’t he call out subsidies to the fossil fuel industry as socialism?

     Let’s take a moment to evaluate policy priorities without misleading labels.  With COVID and gun violence sweeping through schools across the country, Republicans scream for fewer mask and vaccine requirements as well as more relaxed gun safety precautions.  As the income gap widens between the top 1% and working families, the GOP pushes larger tax cuts for the wealthy and more burden on those barely getting by.  With global warming threatening food sources, forests and coast lines, those on the right clamor for more drilling and burning.  With racial tensions still simmering, GOP lawmakers continue to stoke fear, hatred and violence.  Also, remember who’s attacking our election system and women’s rights. 

     Democrats are all about finding solutions to America’s formidable problems. Arguments about socialism, communism, capitalism, “CRTism", and the rest are distractions meant to keep the public from seeing the plain truth.  Democracy will only survive if voters get informed and demand action.  Without our effort and engagement, sound bites and labels will continue to defeat the American experiment.

October 30, 2021 

     The U.S. has never been energy independent. We’ve imported oil from abroad nonstop. The Keystone Pipeline was never operational. It was a bad idea pushing the most environmentally hazardous sludge oil across our farmlands. Inflation and supply chain issues are being felt globally and are the anticipated lagging results of a pandemic that cost millions of lives. Fuel and food prices abroad are much higher than here at home.

     Faced with a multitude of problems, I want to ask, “What is the GOP proposing as solutions?” Where are their plans on health care, education, environment, income inequality, racial injustice, water shortage, infrastructure or any other issues too numerous to list. The hard truth is that the GOP is AWOL. Their stated agenda is twofold: obstruct all legislation and attack election integrity. They label every problem-solving plan as “socialist” and continue to spread the “Big Lie” about fraud in the 2020 election.

     Democrats, while not claiming to have the perfect answer to every problem, are committed to working nonstop to find pragmatic solutions that will benefit the American people. Democrats continue to work around the clock to make sure families worried about their future get some help. Reducing the cost of health care and prescriptions; improving public education and good-paying job opportunities; taking real steps to secure clean and abundant water along with clean and renewable energy are among the real life problems getting direct action from Democrats.

     The U.S. today sees excessive wealth accumulation at the cost of meeting the needs of working and low-income families. Too many tax shelters allow the billionaires to fail in their responsibility to pay their fair share. Investing in America through equitable tax policy is not socialism — it is the bedrock of a fair and sustainable economy.

     America needs bold solutions to big problems. Thankfully, Democrats are on the job!

August 17, 2021 

     Spoiler alert: Infrastructure bills are not socialism!

Big shout out to AZCD1 Congressman Tom O’Halleran for pointing out how Pinal County will benefit from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Believe it or not, this and its reconciliation partner bill contain almost everything for which Arizona voters are clamoring.

     The Center for the Future of Arizona published a stunning report: The 2020 Gallup Arizona Project. It lists Arizona’s top shared public values: 1. Quality public education 2. Affordable health care and well being 3. Good-paying jobs and economic opportunity 4. Environmental protections for a sustainable future 5. Civic engagement and leadership 6. Fair and equitable systems for all people regardless of race 7. Immigration reform including citizenship and support for “Dreamers."

     Based on this detailed survey, Arizonans strongly support fixing roads, bridges, rail and other “hard components, but also an increased investment in our families." This is a clear call to reverse the 40-year trend of economic policies favoring the wealthy over the middle class and low-income workers. It’s a real opportunity for our hardworking families to share in a rebounding economic prosperity.

     Nearly a quarter way through the 21st century, we need to begin making a serious investment in the America of the 22nd century. While no one has a crystal ball, it’s fair to say that a commitment to the top seven public values listed above is the safe bet for Arizona and the USA. Any delays will result in even greater costs.

     I urge you to contact Sens. Sinema and Kelly, along with Congressman O’Halleran. Thank them for the work already done and encourage them to fully pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act followed by passing the reconciliation bill. This is how we build an America with a brighter future!

(Full 2020 Gallup survey on our website: DemsOfCasaGrande.org)