Dear editor:
Do you love the United States? Like the fact that unemployment is down; the stock market is up? Don't tell me that the stock market is just for the rich. Every 401(k), insurance annuity, and retirement plan for every citizen of the U.S. is invested heavily in the stock market. Everyone benefits. Approximately 230,000 new jobs have been created per month in the past 20 months -- more job opportunities than there are people to fill those jobs.
Like the fact that there are more jobs available now and more citizens working now than in over 40 years -- since the 1970s? Fewer women and fewer African-Americans are unemployed than ever before in history. The unemployment rate is lower than it has been in decades. Just two years ago, there were fewer people actually working than there were in 1972. Employment numbers have soared. Tax revenues have increased.
Like the fact that individual income taxes have decreased?
Like the fact that you are no longer required to have health insurance or pay a penalty if you do not?
Like the fact that we have challenged tariffs placed by foreign countries on goods manufactured in the U.S. and then shipped to those foreign countries?
Like the fact that we have challenged subsidies paid by foreign governments so their people can import items that sell for less in the U.S. we can manufacture them or grow them?
Like the idea that we are placing tariffs on goods manufactured in foreign countries so that manufacturers in the U.S. can increase sales and thus increase employees and payrolls?
Like the idea that the Supreme Court will now interpret the words of the Constitution, instead of making up laws according to political whims?
Like the fact that medical and pharmaceutical costs are being challenged here in the U.S. with the goal of lowering those costs?
Like the fact that proposals have been made to stop the flow of trespassers into the U.S. who then are allowed to receive federal entitlements and benefits when they are not even U.S. citizens? Every U.S. citizen should want entitlements to be primarily for the benefit of U.S. citizens who need help.
Like the fact that efforts are in process to make our public schools and our colleges more tuned to the needs of our children and more affordable?
Like the idea of increased border security, instead of dissolving our borders and allowing trespassers and terrorists to invade our great country?
Like the fact that efforts are in process to make the Veterans Administration and the VA hospitals more tuned to the needs of our veterans?
Like the idea that picture voter identification cards can lower illegal voting on both the state and national level?
Like the idea that the pathway to U.S. citizenship is being modernized?
Like the idea of making entitlement benefits harder to obtain so that Social Security benefits can increase to those who have retired?
If you like these things, would you please support a conservative candidate for public office.
John Grillo
Hot Springs
Editorial on 08/21/2018