Devil in details

Dear Editor,

The word “bundle” is defined as: a number of like things tied, wrapped or otherwise held together. The word was never intended to be a legislative strategy or be the means of limiting debate on hundreds of items in the bundled massive expenditures currently labeled “Biden’s Build Better Bill.

Henceforth, I will refer to that proposed legislation as “Biden’s, Brainless, Budget-Busting, Bill.” or “BBBB, Bill.”

I am opposed to this bill because it was done in secret, and the bill’s contents that we know about are wasteful and includes programs that are meant only to buy them votes.

There is amnesty for millions illegal immigrants and criminals. They want to give them free health care, welfare, free education including college, and free housing.

Biden wants to give reparations of $450,000 to each illegal who was separated from their family when they came here uninvited over a period from 1970 to the present.

Who is paying for that?

One proposal is to offer permanent green cards to foreign nationals with special skills or training to come here to work at a lower rate than what our own workers get with the same skills. The corporations are salivating over that one! A boatload of new money is headed to the IRS so they can spy on our bank and other accounts which contain $600 or more. That would include anyone who deposits a pay check.

There was such an uproar over that one that the Democrats said, “OK we will raise that to $10,000.” No! They have no business snooping in the finances of law abiding citizens.

My first reaction to that was, “OK, I will just take all of my money out of the bank.” On second thought, I reasoned that their ultimate goal is to replace banks with government-run entities. The proof of that statement is in Biden’s nomination of a female Marxist who openly expresses her desire to cancel our banking system.

Nancy Pelosi got away with bundling thousands of pages of hidden stuff in the Obama Care bill when she famously said, “We have to pass the bill to know what is in it.”

Remember, “You can keep your plan and you can keep your doctor?” Those weren’t the only lies! Not a single Republican voted for it. That is no way to legislate or to govern. If they really believed in these hundreds of give-aways, in the BBBB Bill, they would be willing to take them individually and defend them to Congress proving how the project will make the life of the American People better. Then, take a vote UP or DOWN. That is the way it is supposed to work.

We the people can then judge our representative’s and senator’s commitment to or wishes. Since every vote of the 435 Reps. and 100 Senators affects not only their constituents but all of us, we must contact as many of these people as possible. Let them know that you want them to stop the bundling and express other opinions while you have their attention.

Plan what you want to say and repeat it for each member’s call. Phone numbers for all Representatives are listed by state at www.house.gov/representatives . Senators may be called from the list at

Our tax dollars pay these government officials as full-time employees. They bundle bills because they are lazy. We cannot be lazy in calling to remind them who pays their salary, health care, retirement.

Joanne Oviatt,

Pittsfield

Stronger chain

Dear Editor,

For years the nation has had a serious shortage of long-haul truck drivers. Trucks are the final link in the supply chain that stretches around the globe,

The American Trucking Association’s motto is “If you got it, a truck brought it.” The situation is worse now because there are other weak links in the supply chain. There is also a shortage of containers, container ships, and container port personnel. Biden’s plan to operate the container ports 24/7 might solve only part of the problem. When the ships are unloaded there are not enough trucks to carry the freight to its final destination.

A simple solution to get more truck drivers would be for the federal government to 100% subsidize CDL (Commercial Drivers License) training.

When we are talking trillions of dollars for social infrastructure spending, the cost of paying for CDL training nationwide would be peanuts.

Long-haul truck drivers are well-paid and many potential drivers may not be able to pay for training.

For people who fear “Big Government,” let them live with empty store shelves. This is a serious need that we can easily address. Congress should get the final link in the global supply chain moving again.

Bruce Williams,

Warren