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Next; repeal of the 2017 tax cuts.

We have infrastructure to rebuild, and children to educate without the burden of a heavy debt stapled to their diploma.

There is much to be done.

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Such a relief to get my Covid vaccine today! Teachers are being called in in droves! I couldn’t get an appointment even though I have been on the waiting list since December. I literally was in the wrong zip code. But now, every teacher who wants the vaccine can get it. I’ve been getting texts from every list I had registered on. Getting this relief in the finance side, is icing on the cake! Relief all around!

Thank you, Heather! Great news tonight!

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May it be the first of many moves towards bettering the lives of all Americans.

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I am delighted it passed because although we knew it would, the past year has made it hard to trust that some strange last minute twist wouldn't derail the next great thing. Because of the careful level headed tone of HCR's presentation of a factual summary of each day's most important news, the usual commenting audience tends toward the range of Democrat opinions, but even so there is a range here which is a good thing. If there weren't, these comments would just be a chorus of ayes and contain nothing to expand one's scope of knowledge, provide new perspectives (whether we agree with them or not it's instructive to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses), and exercise the old argumentation muscles. It's an opportunity to flex and strengthen expression but not demand total conformity to some mono-culture of thought. If we can't tolerate listening to ideas we don't agree with (so long as they are presented civilly and opposing ideas are permitted) and if we can't argue constructively with references, facts, even anecdotes, then we become as bad as Fox News.

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Heather, you kept us informed and sane over the last year and I thank you! So fitting that you deliver the best news in years to an anxious audience but one who can and will move forward. We are indebted to you but also well aware of the gifts you gave us over this long length of time. Hugs all around. XOXOXO

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Back in 2009, my husband ended up on life support without insurance.

And even after getting some discounts, we still owed over $75,000.

He couldn't get insurance because of a pre-existing condition. And if you think those doctors and the hospital were nice about paying them, think again.

So we came close to losing everything. And it took us until a few years ago to finally get some money in the bank and be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

But that relief is starting to turn into worry.

I now have to face the reality that if I have to put my husband in a care home, it's going to cost at least $10,000 a month to put him in a place that will deal with his issues.

Or I could spend half of that and put him in a place that barely passes the basics of care. I hear so many stories about how bad the care is for people who can't afford the best care.

And then there's the stay at home costs. I know that having someone from a place like Visiting Angels is $25 an hour and that's if you use a referral via The Alzheimer's Foundation.

Based on eight hours a day for 30 days, that is $6,000 a month.

I spend many an early morning like today worrying and crying thinking about his final days and that I will fail him. That I will end up having to put him in a shitty place.

This is what so many people in the USA are dealing with.

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The difference between the governing philosophies of Democrats and Republicans could not be more clear. From economic justice and social justice, climate justice and criminal justice, voting rights and civil rights, Democrats side with American families and Republicans side with ... well, who the Hell do they side with?

It is time for Americans to reclaim our Democracy for the people! Throw the rascals who do not represent us out!

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Since Trump pays no income tax, Trump must report less than $75,000 in taxable income. Biden should personally send Donald the check as a photo-op.

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Eighty-three million Americans make a daily choice to pay bills OR buy groceries. That is enough to know why, and worthy of reflection. That’s more than voted for either presidential candidate by 10 million. And what did we spend on the last election? I don’t know these numbers, but I’m willing to bet that a fraction of the total campaign spending could have reduced the food insecurity by 100%.

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And to all a good early night!

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The trickle down theory has been proven not to work. And why should wealth and benefits TRICKLE down? Why should the rich at the top automatically get the benefits, and the people who do the actual hard work, and directly put back into the economy suffer? I say the Republicans have been wrong since before Reagan and they have turned into the antithesis of what they used to be. Go President Biden and the Democrats. The ultra wealthy have not helped the people of this country. By and large they have only helped themselves.

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Great post. On a slightly different subject, have you had an opportunity to read the WaPo article posted today regarding the Filibuster? I would certainly love to hear your take on it. Here is the link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/03/02/manchin-filibuster-never-sinema/

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So as an antidote to the level of "WTF"-ness going on in response to our resident molotov cocktail thrower, DC, I am posting this link to John Pavolvitz's latest blog post. It is in the spirit of this community, and its humanity and sanity says a lot about the man, but also about where I, personally, would like to be. https://johnpavlovitz.com/2021/03/07/im-fine-thanks-for-masking-a-letter-to-compassionate-people/

As for DC: I don't really care about your opinion. And that is because my hope is that in a very few months the positive benefits of the legislation that is working its way through the houses of Congress--unsupported by the Gormless Obstructionists or not--will be felt across the country. The boyz and girlz who want to have temper tantrums about the "deficit" (which they did not give a rip about when the billionaire tax cut happened in 2017) mean nothing to me. I will be seeing my students and my neighbors (not I--my white privilege has given me untold advantages that make me ineligible for any of the benefits of the American Rescue Plan and I actually pay more in taxes now than I did in 2016 because of the "tax cut": fell into the chasm between those of the middle class who got a very modest benefit and those of the upper 10% who made out like goniffs) be able to afford to pay their rent, repair their broken cars, feed their children, buy books for class. I will see my university maybe (maybe!) hire more faculty and staff because budget cuts have eviscerated the faculty. It might actually be possible to get a raise for faculty salaries, which have not seen a raise in 4 years--and have not seen a raise that meets cost of living increases in 15 years.

I don't care if you and your ilk don't like it, DC. This is going to work. And that is what drives the Gormless Obstructionists nuts.

Now on to other important tasks, like H1 and the Equality Act. Respect for all citizens. Security for the right to vote for all citizens. This is what we have to do.

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The American Rescue Plan was passed by the senate last evening. It will change the USA, and change will continue to grace us. Heather composed a calm summary of the plan; its meaning for the American people, and placed it in the context of FDR's administration to Reagan's. Her understanding of The American Rescue Plan's ramifications is what makes Letters from an American an exceptional source of our enlightenment.

I can't swear to it, but Heather seemed to temper her deep relief and joy concerning the plan. A bit of those feelings, however, may have hit the page.

'It is hard to overestimate the importance of this measure both for the present moment and as a sign of the direction in which the Democrats in charge of the United States hope to take the nation.'

This plan is a RESCUE beyond the effects of the pandemic and its catastrophic mishandling. It is a bottom up plan, for which the poor, in particular, have been waiting, but it rescues all of us. Biden likes to say, 'America is back', and Joe is bringing back government, too.

This makes for the best Sunday that I can remember.

After this post, I will post one more. The MINIMUM WAGE HIKE did not get past. it will be back soon and all legislators in the House and Senate have to be contacted. They need to hear our voices in support of a wage hike. Please be on the job.

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I'm grateful the rescue plan passed. We will see an infusion of cash at the "Bottom" of the economic ladder where it will be spent on everything from diapers to rent to "Big Macs" with fries. It will not be used to buy back stock, it will not be used to increase profits for big corporations so they can cut production and lay off workers. The police in Podunk USA will stay on the job and so will his firefighter brother. ER medical staff might see their kids go back to school so they will not have that on their minds as they try to convince some dying patient that it is the COVID-19 virus that is the culprit not the flu bug. So I'm grateful the Dems pushed it through and we are not stuck paying for some rich guys custom Lamborghini. I'll help pay for the Big Mac with fries any day.

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This bill, together with the progress on the vaccine will get us on the road to recovery.

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