Yes, it is Christmas Day. The annual traditional celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, marked by good cheer, and the exchange of greetings gifts.
This Christmas, some “gifts” are being offered which seems to be coming from the Grinch, who according to the popular ‘Christmas Story’ is bent of stealing the joy out of Christmas.
For several weeks now, the Republican administration and the incumbent US president has been furiously trying to put together a tax package they claim benefit the middle class. The plan was approved last week, rushed to the president’s desk and signed into law before Christmas Day. President Trump says the new tax package is the “best Christmas present” Americans will receive.
Gift of nasty needles
But this gift seems to be one wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a golden bow, but inside the wrapper is a porcupine with nasty needles.
On one hand, the promo surrounding this tax package claims it will result in most Americans paying less taxes, placing more spending money in their pockets. However, on the other, and most importantly, the implementation of this new tax package means the government will increase the national debt by well over a trillion dollars.
Govt will be forced to cut social programs
To reduce this massive increase in the national debt, the government will be forced to cut programs funded from the federal budget. Already, the Republican leadership in Congress has indicated among the priorities of the 2018 agenda is the reduction of entitlements. These entitlements include programs for senior and low-income Americans; programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Meals on Wheels, Food Stamps, WIC, and the Children Health Program.
So this much hailed gift of a beneficial tax package is being given with the right hand while the left hand is poised to take away the benefits it’s proposed to give.
Net neutrality another bad gift
Another package that the Republican administration has been preoccupied in preparing for American consumers, one which seems determined to take the joy out of this Christmas is changing the way the Internet is used.
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to end the policy of Net Neutrality which the Obama administration introduced in 2015 to govern the operations of Internet providers like Comcast and AT&T.
Under net neutrality, Internet providers are required to provide all content equally without giving preference to some digital content providers. In other words, under net neutrality consumers are free to access any website, app, video, etc., equally, regardless of where the content is hosted.
The intent of the Obama administration was to ensure information provided over the Internet is as open as possible. Comcast, for example, was not permitted to make access to one website slower than another, or charge a fee to access more popular websites like YouTube.
Threatens the open Internet
The FCC vote now threatens the open Internet. If this policy is implemented it means that Comcast, ATT, Verizon etc., could make it more difficult to access popularly visited websites. Internet providers would be able to operate the Internet similar to Cable-TV providers. The latter markets some channels as part of a basic, less expensive package, but market channels like HBO and Showtime as primary channels at a higher fee to consumers.
This reversal of the net neutrality policy could have negative impact on how businesses conduct research on the Internet; how students access information related to their respective courses of study; and how the general public access information and use the Internet.
Of course, the Internet providers will benefit significantly if the policy is implemented.
Democrats must be more aggressive
The impact of the new tax package and net neutrality can be averted if members of Congress, mostly Democrats, be more aggressive in opposing them. It’s anticipated Congressional Democrats will be more aggressive in ensuring that entitlements due to seniors and low-income Americans are not compromised. These Democrats also have a responsibility to ensure Americans have access to free, easily accessible information through an open Internet.
Greetings from Caribbean National Weekly
Meanwhile, we at Caribbean National Weekly.com hope our readers, associates, and advertisers will receive other gifts they truly deserve this Christmas.
We also hope the message of “Merry Christmas” will resonate with meaning throughout your families and businesses.
