Bergman’s “Statement”

EDITOR,

I was eager to read the statement issued by Congressman Jack Bergman that was highlighted on the front page of the Gazette on May 23. I hoped to be enlightened about how he was serving his constituents.

Perhaps he would explain the fantastic outcomes of the Big, Billionaire Tax Relief Bill he voted for last summer? The bill that is driving health insurance costs up by over $1,000/yr and pushing thousands of Michiganders off of ACA coverage. And causing small businesses to drop employee health coverage because of rate increases.

Perhaps he would say how he planned to address the 20% of children going hungry in his district because of the Big, Billionaire Tax Relief Bill? Or why he supported firing 575 veterans affairs staff in Michigan, many of whom are themselves veterans?

Maybe he would describe the benefits to our Michigan forests of shutting down local Forest Service research offices, moving local management to Utah, and cutting jobs in Houghton?

Or explain how we are safer from the next global pandemic after eliminating on-the-ground early detection and response programs around the world? Or how cancer patients are grateful that medical research has been slashed and at least 380 clinical trials have been canceled or disrupted by his cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)?

As a veteran himself, I thought Representative Bergman might have something to say about an inept war that has already cost over $50 Billion and shot gas prices through the roof. I am keen to hear his account of how his MI-01constituents are benefiting from Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Not seeing any of those topics in his statement, I thought instead he might address the outrageous corruption in Washington, where the grifter-in-chief has given himself a $1.8 Billion slush fund to hand out to thugs who assaulted police officers and other criminals and misfits. Or a billion-dollar taxpayer handout for the president’s “privately funded” ballroom. Or presidential stock trades; the Qatari gift airplane; Trump family crypto grifts; insider bets on government actions; pardons for purchase, and too many others to list.

Alas, none of these topics appeared in his statement. Instead he whined about the candidates who propose they could do a better job representing MI-01. According to Bergman, those who don’t agree that the economy is booming and that everything is hunky-dory should shut up and line up behind his wannabe king.

This statement wasn’t for Bergman’s constituents, it was an undisguised pander to his mob boss.

Sarah Green

Calumet

Jacks America First Membership

Editor:

Jack Bergman has recently claimed to be a member of the American First movement. Folks the American First movement was started and is run by Nick Fuentes. Nick is, by his admission, a huge fan of Hitler and a white supremacist who say’s … well if I repeated what he say’s the Gazette wouldn’t print it.

Jack is an old man now, 79, so maybe early dementia is causing bad judgement. But I tend to believe age much like alcohol let’s the real you come out.

We already know he is a carpetbagger afraid of his own voters who is not by any definition a Yooper. Now we know for sure what he thinks as far as being a proud member of Nick Fuentes fan club.

Let’s remember how many, oh so many, ways Jack has failed us next time he comes up for election people … and elect a real Yooper because no carpet bagger can ever know the real issues we have and understand them. Let alone a 79 year old fan of a movement started by Fuentes.

America proud is a great thing but the America First movement is a specific group not just some random words.

Arthur Aho

Houghton

Wealth Inequality

Editor,

Wealth inequality in the United States has reached levels that should concern every American. While millions of working families struggle to afford housing, healthcare, childcare, and higher education, while a small percentage of the population continues to accumulate enormous wealth at a historic pace.

Hard work should provide stability and opportunity, yet many full-time workers live paycheck to paycheck. At the same time, large corporations and the wealthiest Americans often benefit from tax loopholes and economic policies that widen the gap between rich and poor.

Historically, federal income tax rates for the top earners in 1965 were 70%. Today, the top federal rate is 37% and the top corporate rate is 21% — a decrease from over 52% in the 1960s. These massive decreases in tax rates on the rich and corporations occurred under the Reagan, Bush and Trump administrations.

Extreme inequality weakens our democracy and undermines social trust. A healthy economy depends on a strong middle class, fair wages, affordable education and equal opportunity.

We should support policies that empower workers, ensure fair taxation, expand access to healthcare and education and create economic opportunity for everyone, not just those at the top.

America succeeds when prosperity is shared more broadly. It is time to address wealth inequality before the divide grows even larger. Please reach out to your elected officials and demand that they increase taxation of the rich and corporations to make it more equitable for all Americans, and pay down our massive Federal debt.

Jon Miller

Holland, Mich.