LTE: A verruca on our body politics

Editor, Gettysburg Times,

I’ve given some thought to the way our country is moving, and I’ve concluded that we are far more united in our thinking and in our values than the public, social media, and far too many politicians have us believe. The real barrier to our common good is the leadership of the Republican Party. Two years ago, perhaps even last year, I would have never made such a statement because I respect the role political parties play in our governance. However, the facts speak for themselves.

• We all – both Democrats and Republicans – want to constrain how guns and what kind of guns are available for purchase.

• A significant majority believe that abortion services should be available to all.

• Many of us want to supply the Ukrainians with the weapons they need to combat the Russian invasion.

• All of us want infants to have access to infant formula.

• All of us want to see a reasonable answer to immigration.

• All of us want to combat terrorism.

• All of us want to reform our incarceration policies.

• All of us want to see our political leaders pursue truth and transparency, yet far too many refused to respond to the Jan. 6 subpoenas.

The list goes on. According to the Federal Reserve, 78% of us believe we are well off financially.

Why are these policy initiatives stalled or abandoned? Look at the record; the GOP has consistently blocked these policies in Congress, and most of these policies are not even subject to debate or negotiation. The GOP is consumed with cultural issues: ban books, don’t teach CRT…consistently looking into the past instead of solving problems for a better future.

The GOP has become a wart on our body politics; it’s time to decide for progress.

Tony McNevin,
Gettysburg