To the Editor:

The 113,255 Northern New Yorkers who voted for Matt Castelli “get it”. The once “nice” conservative rule-of-law patriotic Republican Party no longer exists because the GOP is desperate to control all aspects of the US economy simply to benefit themselves (not you). That’s why President Biden is calling for a post-Covid Windfall Profit Tax on corporations (like gas companies) that have raised their prices resulting in price-gouging inflation for average Americans.

Small communities and rural counties across the nation still vote against their own best interests; believing Republicans are protecting them. They don’t want to tolerate societal shifts or adapt to change. They don’t want Black, brown and LGBTQ people in their towns. Without any problem-solving proposals by the GOP, they still naively believe there’ll be less crime, lower taxes, more jobs, more Christianity and no government telling them what to do.

Even mainstream media perpetuates this myth to cover-up the Republican’s wealth-centric agenda. They echo repetitive attacks against initiatives which America can well afford; especially if corporate America starts paying more taxes instead of rewarding their already wealthy shareholders and CEOs. Media certainly makes no effort to explain or praise President Biden’s numerous positive programs that support working America.

But 113,255 Northern New Yorkers voting Democrat were paying attention. (Stefanik received 23,015 fewer votes than in her 2020 election). They noticed that the GOP bows to the Wall Street powerbrokers, the 1% and the corporate CEOs; 75% of whom fund the Republican Party. They noticed the evidence of the GOP’s fear-mongering, twisted accusations and abuse of our justice system.

Donald Trump is the GOP’s last-ditch effort to keep the masses entertained while they repeal or undermine legislation after legislation meant to protect our environment, women, seniors, children, veterans and low wage earners. Even as Democrats endure death threats, social media trolling and slander, they still bravely work to benefit the many, not the few.

For that reason, those voting Democrat across America “get it”. They’re not distracted by the Republican’s attention-getting schemes. They know the GOP is favoring the wealthiest 10% that own 84% of stocks, not the average $109,000 401K account of middle America. Hopefully more Northern New Yorkers will start spending less time complaining about the price of gas and more time learning how billionaires dominate and manipulate the Republican Party for their economic gain, not the paycheck-dependent Americans they're successfully deceiving.

Martha Hodges
Massena