Idaho’s school vouchers, tax cuts are socialism for the rich | Opinion

Vouchers are socialism for the rich

Idaho’s $50 million private school voucher program rewards high-income families that have enjoyed tax cuts by providing hand-outs to send their kids to private schools, an option simply not affordable for those at the bottom of Idaho’s economy. Idaho’s Center for Fiscal Policy reports that income tax cuts for Idaho’s top 1% has reduced their overall tax rate to 6.1% while those in the bottom quintile now pay 9.6% of their total income in taxes. Adding insult to injury, the average tax reduction for families in the top 1% category is now around $20,000 per year while those in bottom quintile get a grand total tax savings of $33 per year.

The regressive tax structure that was built by the GOP over the last five years is a massive transfer of wealth to families that do not need this kind of socialist support. Many who rely upon public schools have no real chance of taking advantage of such a limited system. With massive public school budget deficits intentionally created by politicians in Idaho, those at the bottom will suffer reduced staffing, services, and problematic school facilities. Socialism for the rich, free enterprise for everyone else!

Bart Harloe, Boise

Iran war costing American lives

When questioned about the possibility of troops on the ground in Iran, the press secretary replied that ground troops are “not part of the current plan right now, but the president wisely keeps his options on the table.”

Today we learned that a seventh American service member was killed in action during the war with Iran. This is a continuing travesty that should not be happening.

Mary Feeny, Boise

Economy looking grim these days

Trump said we have the best economy ever, but state budgets tell a different story. Our surplus is gone and we are cutting all major programs, because our economy is the best it’s ever been? I assume that Trump is lying to us, but no Republican can bring himself to tell us that fact. I’m sure that this war with Iran will improve the lives of Iranians and Americans. When did war ever make things worse? For either side? In Trump’s mind, this will make lives better for Americans and Iranians, even the ones who are killed. Let’s call this what it really is, a war to protect our Epstein-file-hiding president from being held accountable.

Allen Wenger, Boise

Legislature should hang heads and go home

Who is electing these people? Year after year, watching what occurs in the Idaho Legislature, this is the question that keeps coming to mind. The budget is in shambles, they can’t or won’t spend the time to put together a good budget bill, yet they have all kinds of time to work on all kinds of fringe bills, culture war bills, putting their fingers in local government’s pie bills. Why can’t they just do their job and go home? Take care of the state’s business instead of going off the rails. Actually serve the real needs of Idahoans instead of following the lead of some national PAC. Most importantly, why aren’t voters holding them into account for the messes they are making?

Rob Stark, Boise

Support Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act

To secure a future that is free and fair for all, we have to ask ourselves what decisions we are willing to make. And there is no better place to do that than at the ballot box by voting yes on the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act.

Whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, one thing still stands when deciding to sign the petition or potentially vote for the initiative: considering whether your actions support women having autonomy and equality over their own bodies.

The issue of abortion is not a black and white picture; it isn’t about making some sanctimonious arguments about what is righteous. The stakes are clear — we are heading towards a reality where many women will have their right to decide what to do with their own bodies taken away from them.

Do we truly think there is any merit in trying to legislate morality? If so, how does seeking to minimize the already narrow exceptions in the Idaho abortion laws, proactive? What’s the objective? A reaction such as this shows that the goal has never been concerned with women’s safety but rather subjugating women to submission by controlling their uteruses.

Asha Muhingi, Nampa

Oppose Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act

There is a ballot initiative circulating in Idaho called the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act. It proposes a new law that would codify a “right to make private reproductive health care decisions, including abortion up to fetal viability and in medical emergencies.”

Consider “private reproductive healthcare:”

1. How is this a “private” decision by one person when there is another person involved who has no voice?

2. Human reproduction means that a new person is being produced.

3. Healthcare means looking out for the health and well-being of a human person. How is abortion “healthcare” when its aim is the death of one of those involved?

There are a lot of carefully chosen words in this act which are intended to make the whole idea of killing an unborn child seem like a good thing. How can someone have a “right” to do something that is wrong? A new life begins at conception, not at viability.

This proposed Act would essentially remove any legal consequences in taking the life of an unborn child, binding and gagging opposition to this so-called “freedom.” Please don’t let them get away with this.

Roselle Caesar, Sandpoint