Editor, Times-Union:
Did you know ... if Trump (Sgt. Schultz) and Tom Homan (Colonel Klink) are successful in deporting millions of people of their choosing, the U.S. unemployment rate will once again skyrocket?
Did you know ... if that happens, the cost of produce, hotel rooms, restaurant prices, and hundreds of other everyday services and necessities could become unaffordable and that inflation will again rise and drive our economy into another recession?
Did you know ... if that happens, your local, state and federal taxes may increase astronomically because those millions of deported people were working people paying taxes, and somebody will have to make up the difference?
Did you know ... if Trump’s picks to run all the government departments and agencies are approved, millions more workers could lose their jobs (those departments and agencies may be cut or eliminated) — adding even more to unemployment numbers, higher taxes for you, etc., etc.? (See above)
Did you know ... if the Department of Education is eliminated, your special needs child and many other “undesirables” may lose their rights to a free education, may not be accepted by a private school, may lose all financial assistance for any education that the subject matter taught in the new government-run schools will depend on the approval of an autocratic leader and a handful of citizens who insist their beliefs should override everyone else’s?
Did you know ... if RFK, Jr., becomes head of all departments related to health, the number of deaths caused by diseases once controlled by vaccines could increase and the number of illnesses and deaths caused by contaminated food and bad drugs could increase?
Did you know ... if Trump’s picks to lead the Justice Department and the Department of Defense are accepted, your right to peacefully protest, to speak out against anything governmental, your right to be treated equally in every aspect of life will cease to exist, or could even be violently stopped?
Did you know ... if Trump’s tariffs are put in place, you will be spending thousands more dollars per year for nearly everything you buy … from cars to groceries? He says the exporters must pay the tariff. He is wrong. You will pay the added tariff. Ask auto sales dealers, department stores, WalMart. Look how they are already raising prices in anticipation of those tariffs.
Did you know ... if Trump’s nonexistent Department of Government Efficiency becomes a reality, seniors may become indigent (or have to move in with their kids!) because of Social Security and/or Medicare-Medicaid cuts or elimination ... that our veterans could lose their health care (Trump says they are suckers and losers anyway) ... that billions of dollars will be cut from dozens of programs like PBS, Head Start, NASA, housing assistance and even NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration …. it only provides us with severe storm warnings, weather forecasts, and climate monitoring)?
Did you know that Trump’s guru, Elon Musk — the world’s richest man — said Americans will need to endure “temporary hardship.”
Wow! America is going to be great, don’tcha think?
Jeanne Tuka Schutz
Winona Lake, via email