Sep 16, 2018 2 min read

Republican David Ball’s irritability is plain as cheese on a cracker with the title to his tirade, “Smell the odor of progressive rot,” published in the Observer-Reporter on Sept. 9.

Progressive rot? Really? Where does he start? With a Rasmussen poll. Oh, would that be the same Rasmussen poll that has been identified as leaning right? Yes.

He goes on to tell everyone not to believe polls because of progressive rot. When I consider polls I try looking at more than one. How were the questions phrased? Is this a push poll? Are they talking to the general population or just likely voters? Reliable polling requires serious effort. Evaluating them also takes effort.

His next bit of rot is the Nobel Prize-winning Paul Krugman. Ball is allowed to spew anger at the left, but when Krugman criticizes right-wing policies, it’s rot. I’m rubber. You’re glue.

Then we get to the praise of the tax cut. Would that be the same tax cut that gives the richest of the rich a wonderful pay day but most ordinary people won’t see a thing? Yep. That tax cut. The same one that is letting corporations do massive stock buybacks – which, in turn, helps even more of the richest rich.

Ball talks about big-box stores that are doing great. I wonder if he saw the reports on Sam’s Clubs being closed or Walmart stores shutting down. Sears? JCPenney? Kmart?

Finally, he believes that the only message out there is, “Hate Trump!”

No, Mr. Ball. You’re really writhing in “rot-land” if you believe that. I dare you – go to any local Democratic candidate meet-up. Know what you’ll hear? Education. Health care. Infrastructure. Elder issues. Employment. Job training. Sensible gun laws. Sustainable energy.

By the way, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. By nearly three million votes. Tell us again what stinks.

Kitty Lagorio

Venetia