Taxing the Rich is Wise Capitalism

To the Reader’s Forum:

I was driving the other day and saw an orange yard sign with a simple handwritten message; Tax the Rich.

When I got home, I read an article on how 100 billionaire families had contributed $2.6 billion to politicians in 2024, 70% going to Republican candidates. Since the 2010 Citizens United decision, there has been a 160-fold increase in billionaire political contributions. The gist of the article was, they paid for the politicians now they’ve come to collect. A more recent example is Trump’s blatant pay-to-play crypto dinner. Crypto analysis firm Chainalysis found that Trump and business entities connected to him made more than $1.3 million in trading fees in the days after the dinner was announced. Several of the ‘guests’ were quite clear as to why they paid millions to attend; to influence Trump for their own benefit. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word bribe as: money or some other benefit given to a person in power, especially a public official, in an effort to cause the person to take a particular action.

I then read another article on how the billionaire Elon Musk, who literally tried bribing Wisconsin voters, could reap the largest personal tax cut in US history should the Republicans extend the tax cut they passed in 2017. This while Musk was laughing over laying off tens of thousands of civil servants. Over the past few years, Musk and his companies have received $38 billion in credits, grants and loans from the federal government. The kind of ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ he is now supposedly eliminating, though he’s produced few details.

Adam Smith, widely regarded as ‘the father of capitalism’, wrote, “Our merchants and masters complain much of the bad effects of high wages in raising the price and lessening the sale of goods. They say nothing concerning the bad effects of high profits.” I wonder what Smith would say today about the billionaires who bought and are destroying our government, starting with government oversight, to enrich themselves.

Smith also wrote, “It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.”

Essentially, Mr. Smith, the father of capitalism, is saying, ‘Tax the Rich’.

Tom Meara

Jamestown

Supporting Energy

Independence and

Honoring Our Veterans

To The Reader’s Forum:

As a member of the Chautauqua County Legislature, I want to express my strong support for the efforts of Congressman Nick Langworthy and County Executive PJ Wendel in advancing energy solutions that benefit both our local economy and national security.

For far too long, communities like ours have been held back by federal policies that restrict responsible energy development. Congressman Langworthy has consistently highlighted the opportunities right beneath our feet–resources that, if tapped wisely, can help lower energy costs, create good-paying jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers. We can pursue energy independence while continuing to invest in cleaner, more efficient technologies–these goals are not mutually exclusive.

One of the most important opportunities on the table is the restoration and revitalization of the NRG power plant in Dunkirk. I fully support the ongoing discussions between Congressman Langworthy, Executive Wendel, and community stakeholders to determine the best path forward for this facility. A productive, modern use of the NRG site has the potential to once again anchor economic growth in our region while helping meet our broader energy needs.

Unfortunately, there will always be a vocal few in our community who choose to build coalitions around opposition, negativity, and political division rather than constructive solutions. Their focus on tearing down progress only distracts from what truly matters to our residents–lower costs, stable jobs, and a future that allows families to thrive. We should be focused on working together, not against one another. When energy is more affordable, everything becomes more affordable–from groceries and transportation to manufacturing and heating our homes.

In addition to his work on energy, Congressman Langworthy has shown a deep commitment to honoring our veterans. Last July, he hosted a 50th Anniversary Vietnam-Era Veteran Pinning Ceremony at Cassadaga Valley High School, recognizing hundreds local veterans for their service and sacrifice. This event was a meaningful recognition that resonated deeply within our community. With Memorial Day fast approaching, it’s heartening to see our Congressman keeping veterans at the forefront, year round, and giving them the respect they deserve.

We need to move forward with commonsense–balancing environmental stewardship with economic reality. I’m grateful to our leaders for prioritizing energy solutions that make sense for working families in Chautauqua County and beyond.

Phil Landy

Chautauqua County Legislator

District 9 Jamestown