Not my granddad's GOP
The first time I ever voted, I chose all Republican candidates.
Growing up, I was deeply influenced by my conservative (and loving) grandfather. However, the Republican Party in those years was very different from the party it is today.
The leaders of the Republican Party have evolved into individuals who put self-interest over what is best for our country, starting decades ago with legislation that continuously lowered taxes on the rich. Federal income tax rates for the top earners in 1965 were 70%. Today, the top rate is 37%, and the top corporate rate is 21%, a decrease from over 50% in the 1960s.
Furthermore, the vast majority of Republican leaders have shown a complete lack of backbone, refusing to stand up to the most corrupt president our
country has ever seen.
Conversely, Democratic candidates offer practical solutions that invest in working families. They protect Social Security and Medicare, defend voting rights, and expand access to affordable health care and education. Democrats also champion policies that create American jobs through infrastructure projects, clean energy investments and domestic manufacturing growth.
Voting is not just about party labels.
It is about choosing leaders who believe the government can work for ordinary people and who are committed to protecting freedoms and opportunities for everyone. I encourage voters to support Democratic candidates who are working to build a fairer, more inclusive and more hopeful future for our country.
Ron Sadler, Columbus
Your temporary inconvenience
Central Ohio experienced an intense storm that caused power outages for days. Some suffered home damage and significant expenses. For others, it was inconvenient but manageable.
As power was restored, I discovered my refrigerator wouldn't restart. I can't get a technician until Aug. 25 – no refrigeration for two weeks. That's more than inconvenient.
While figuring out where to get my next meal, I realized: What if this wasn't temporary?
What if this were your daily reality? How do families manage not having enough food? It requires extra work, planning and creates stress.
Millions of families with children, people with disabilities and the elderly rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to buy groceries. It is both successful and necessary. Yet Congress has cut SNAP benefits severely – 4 million people have lost coverage in the past year. Worse, some states are now forced to share costs the federal government traditionally carried, leaving states no choice but to cut more people.
We must speak out: Either reverse these cuts or grant states a two-year delay to prepare. Hunger isn't inevitable – it's a policy choice. It shouldn't take a storm to make us see it.
Virginia Vogts, Columbus
Take the advantage
Re "New Ohio kindergarten law leaves families stranded," Aug. 19: I am a longtime retired upper elementary teacher, and I fully support the new law. Kindergarten is now the "new first grade," and children are taught to read earlier than in the past.
Throughout my teaching career, I have seen children struggle academically because they were among the youngest in the class. Ohio is being proactive in ensuring that all children learn to read well.
I doubt that Amanda Klein-Cox's daughter will be damaged by one more year of preschool; being among the oldest in her class could be an advantage.
Mary Spicer, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: My grandpa's GOP is dead. His party is run by most corrupt president we've ever seen | Letters
