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Opinion: Recent letter disservice to veterans, says Rensselaer Falls man

Posted 9/10/21

To the Editor: In her letter, Ms. Hodges labels Ms. Stefanik a hypocrite for seeking to help veterans by increasing funds for the VA in rural areas as being the same as supporting institutional …

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Opinion: Recent letter disservice to veterans, says Rensselaer Falls man

Posted

To the Editor:

In her letter, Ms. Hodges labels Ms. Stefanik a hypocrite for seeking to help veterans by increasing funds for the VA in rural areas as being the same as supporting institutional socialism. Ms. Hodges does our vets a disservice criticizing Ms. Stefanik for attempting to help them, to make a political jab. If Ms. Stefanik did not support the initiative, I'm a positive Ms. Hodges would have condemned Ms. Stefanik for not doing so.

A singular agency such as the VA whose purpose is help our military members suffering physical and mental wounds after serving in harm's way on behalf of our nation is a small recompense of a huge debt we own them. It is not to be conflated as the same as practicing socialism.

Ms. Hodges further accuses Rep. Stefanik and Republicans of fear-mongering and misusing the term “radical liberal socialism". In view of the fact that Biden and the Democrat majority seek to spend several trillions of money on infrastructure and other projects is a good indication that is exactly their goal, to install a cradle-to-grave society solely dependent on the government.

Such a trillion dollar stimulus will further push our national debt bubble to bursting, and lay a tax burden on the shoulders of our children, their children and beyond to pay for. It is economically unsustainable, regardless how much the rich are taxed. It makes the government the Sugar Daddy of the citizens, fostering a financial and moral hazard.

It is a justified concern that citizens in the future could become permanently dependent upon government largess. Rome tried it with bread and circuses, and it did not bode well with them.

Ron Shirtz
Rensselaer Falls