Republicans are panicked about democratic socialism. Calm down | Opinion

Socialists aim to make wealthy pay

Democratic socialists want the very wealthy to pay more taxes so that government can afford to provide working class and poorer Americans what they need for a better living. It’s comparable to what the northern Europeans do.

For example, the U.S. is the only rich country that doesn’t provide health care to its citizens regardless of ability to pay. Trump and the GOP are calling this “communism” because they want to scare the hell out of Americans. That’s the only way they can win elections.

There’s an affectionate joke about how you tell if a Texan is lying. “Watch his lips, if they’re moving he’s lying.”

That’s pretty much how you tell if Trump and his minions are lying too, but it isn’t teasing or funny.

Voters, including Democrats, can disagree with democratic socialists but should reject panic over phony words and ask real policy questions. That’s what scares Republicans because they don’t have answers. Cutting taxes on the wealthiest Americans, enriching themselves, throwing some trinkets to everybody else and then creating anger and fear of their opponents is their formula for success.

Greg Carl, Richland

District 4’s rep. must live in district

One thing I don’t need is someone from D.C. who hasn’t been in eastern Washington in over a decade and has never even set foot in the 4th Congressional District who’s telling me who will best represent me.

Matt Boehnke’s yard signs have been in our yard since he ran for and was elected to the Kennewick City Council in 2015. We’ve supported him every election since. He went on to serve in the state House in 2018 and the state Senate in 2022, where, always a minority member, he stood firm on our priorities while working across party lines on student safety, higher education, mental health, work force development and reliable energy.

Boehnke also served more than 21 years as a combat veteran helicopter pilot, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, and remains active in our veteran community.

His intelligence and expertise are fully displayed by his service as a helicopter pilot, cybersecurity expert and tenured professor at Columbia Basin College.

No, I don’t need someone from D.C. telling me who should represent me. I know who can do it best! Don’t take my word for it. Visit mattboehnke.com and decide for yourself based on past performance — the best predictor of future performance.

Bill Sheretz, Kennewick

America not likely to see its 500th

It’s good to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Another‘s unlikely.

The love of money has won.

Our self-absorbed culture has become rotten throughout:

• We glorify conspicuous consumption

• We envy unconstrained, insatiable greed

• We let our children starve. (One in six children in America now suffers from ‘food insecurity’)

• We grow ignorance. (Far from the top of the many other countries that are now better educating their children, America consistently drops in the achievement rankings. When did this become okay?)

• We treat those suffering from addictions as sub-humans

• Sick? Forget about it. We’re only one bad germ away from pain and poverty

We once stood for high ideals; the War on Poverty, the Great Society. Helping the poor up was a top priority.

Compassion and empathy have become supplanted by blame and shame.

The mantra has proven successful:

1. Keep people ignorant of alternatives

2. Attempt to eat more than your belly can hold

3. To heck with any less fortunate

Celebrate America’s glorious Fourth by fully recognizing how far we have fallen away from our founder’s democratic vision.

“We the People” have failed.

Grieve for the lofty ideals our country has lost. Personal greed now trumps community good.

Perhaps forever?

Michael J. Harrington, Pasco

Authoritarianism is here and at work

On the Fourth of July, I watched the celebration of our 250th anniversary on NBC. It made me feel good about being a citizen of the greatest country in the world. I purposely avoided watching any of the celebrations initiated by Trump in Washington, D.C.

I know Trump’s devious propaganda would be practiced, making Americans think our country is being run in their best interests.

In actual practice, Trump, the Republican Congress and the Supreme Court are practicing authoritarianism and using propaganda to blind Americans to the fact that they no longer live in a democratic country.

Trump, Republicans in Congress, corporations and billionaires are all getting richer on the backs of mainstream citizens.

If you want to understand what the Trump administration, Congress and the Supreme Court are doing to democracy, visit bit.ly/4f6WgrY.

Jim Tow, Richland

Boehnke the right pick in 4th District

Matt Boehnke is a champion for Energy and Technology. With leadership, we can be a national leader in next generation clean energy, nuclear fuel manufacturing and SMR production.

Agriculture is our lifeblood. Boehnke is committed to protecting our water rights, securing fair trade policies for our growers, and ensuring that Central Washington’s family farms, orchards and vineyards have the federal backing they need to thrive and feed the nation

Boehnke is a great, highly-qualified candidate.

Carl Holder, Richland

Boehnke is right for Fourth District

This November, voters will decide who to represent them in the Fourth District congressional race. I have had the privilege to sit next to Sen. Matt Boehnke in Olympia and have witnessed first-hand his work ethic and common-sense approach to problem-solving.

His dedicated service in Olympia will serve him well in Congress. He isn’t the only candidate, yet he has earned the spot to be by far, the most qualified person to serve the voters. Please mark your ballot for Boehnke.

Sen. Jeff Wilson, Longview, 19th Legislative District