Letter: Cutbacks not remedy for bad economy

Republicans are making it very hard for the majority of us to make a decent living and have decent social services like single-payer health care ["Obama: $450B for jobs," News, Sept. 9]. Republicans sure did not mind starting two wars with no monetary sacrifice from anybody, knowing full well the bill will have to get paid. Republicans love giving money to the wealthy and appearing to be good guys.

I read that car sales are up but home sales are down. Unemployment is high and the "help wanted" section keeps getting smaller and smaller. People get paid less and work more.

Now we do not dare raise taxes on the rich; better to just go all austere and cut social services and health care because those of us who are not rich are apparently not deserving, according to those running our businesses and lobbying our government. We do not dare shift to renewable energy lest we hurt our best buddies in the dirty energy business.

Our country needs to come together and create more government jobs that pay decent wages and give proper benefits.

Marguerite Pastirchak, Port Jefferson Station